More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data

Citation

Kay Neville (2015), "More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data", Library Review, Vol. 64 No. 4/5, pp. 395-396. https://doi.org/10.1108/LR-02-2015-0020

Libraries are embracing new ways to deliver relevant, exciting and useful content to their patrons. More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data is an original book with many inspirational and innovative ideas for librarians to use data in interesting ways to add value to the digital content of their libraries. A mashup is a combination of two separate and distinct ideas to create a new one and is frequently used in relation to music. In 2009, Nicole C. Engard edited a book that introduced the idea of mashing up library data to provide better services for patrons and looked at a variety of value-added data. In this updated new version, 24 library professionals contribute chapters to describe a range of projects to enhance library Web sites and subject guides, and to use catalog data to add value and utilize underused digital information, such as archival photographs and documents, in new ways.

The book is divided into five main sections, from the basics of data mashups, through mashing up library Web sites and catalog data and concluding with mashups for value-added service. Web sites mentioned in each chapter are listed in alphabetical order in the Appendix and this provides the reader with a ready reference list of useful Web sites. Part 1 introduces basic mashups that most librarians could manage, such as OpenRefine (openrefine.org), to transform and link messy data and ArcGIS Online (www.arcgis.com) which uses mapping apps to collect and share information across the library and with the public as map mashups. Part II includes tools for cover images, library event calendars using Edvanced Events (evancedsolutions.com) and Drupal (www.drupal.org), subject guides and social networks to enhance library Web sites.

Catalog mashups have always been challenging; however, in Part III, there are several examples of successful catalog mashups, such as answering reference questions on Twitter and delivering catalog records using Wikipedia current awareness. Part IV describes mashups for value-added service and outlines diverse range of mashups from a selection of libraries. Their individual experiences and the tips and tricks that the librarians have discovered when introducing mashups are described. Examples include using geovisualization to tell narratives and data stories, using Google Fusion Tables to create map mashups, and creating computer availability maps for libraries. Houston Public Library used TimelineJS (timeline.knightlab.com) to create timelines for their digital archives from non-interactive static digital objects, developing a dynamic resource that can be used to highlight collections that were previously underutilized and thus to attract and engage visitors.

Meghan Frazer describes a practical example of a new mashup where 12 scholars at George Mason University conceived and developed a research tool: Serendip-o-matic. This can be used to connect personal sources to digital materials in libraries, museums and archives, such as the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and Flickr Commons, to discover photographs, maps, documents and primary sources simply by adding text to a box.

Editor Nicole C. Engard is a librarian, author, and was named as one of Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers in 2007. She has an educational background in both libraries and computer programming and she has a comprehensive knowledge of emerging technologies useful for libraries. Her Web site, What I Learned Today […] www.web2learning.net, lists new library technologies and open-source resources.

This book has many inspirational ideas for practicing librarians to use in their work and has a complementary Web site at: http://mashups.web2learning.net. It explores a myriad of interesting and cutting-edge methods to mashup library data and services and is suitable for librarians who are new to digital tools in addition to providing fresh ideas and projects for the experienced digital librarian.