Mashups

Adding a favorite restaurant to the ProjectPlay sandbox at mapbuilder was interesting. Although, I did have a bit of trouble with the Save versus Add buttons. I was also confused when the Bellwood PA address remained at the top of the screen. I finally noticed this address is perpetual. As with all new learning, however, such confusion is to be expected.

Our library has 9 locations; a mashup of the catalogue of items to the locations wherein the item is in library would be fantastic. Customers could click and find the branch location on the map wherein the item was in stock. Although much work would be needed for the entire catalogue, perhaps "niche items" could be mapped from a list to the branch location. For example, if the system owns 50 DVDs in French, a mashup to the branch locations would help customers decide which branch to go to to find the most French language items.

Customer data could be very usefully "mashed up" to aid in adding items to the various library locations. Census districts or ZIP code districts combined with demographic data currently directs progarms and collection development; a mashup might make this easier. Where should Spanish language materials be emphasized, where is the need greatest for parenting materials, and many other collection ideas could be aided by a good mashup.

Promotion of items is also important, and as the "Hot Titles Carousel" in Ontario, Canada demonstrates libraries can mix it up for presentations.