Some days, the serendipity is almost too perfect. I woke up this morning to find the following email from Mike Copley waiting for me:

“I'm a Library Assistant/Web Developer from a library in New Zealand and thought you might be interested in seeing a dynamic library map in action. Our OPAC (DRA Web2) integrates with a PHP script to provide floor plans with markers for an exact shelf location. Example:

http://draweb2.shorelibraries.govt.nz/web2/tramp2.exe/do_ccl_search/guest?setting_key=English&servers=1home&howsearch=keyword&query=ln%20ABS0576

(Just click on one of the View Map links)

Also on that full details page, the book cover is powered by Amazon (freedom from Syndetics) and the Read Review image integrates with the Reviews section on our website (external to the OPAC).”

So of course the main reason I’m highlighting Mike’s email is that this is such a cool service from within the catalog! Imagine when RFID and GPS become embedded in everything and you can lead the patron by the ear to the exact location of the item! Until then, though, great job, Mike and NSL!

So I’m smiling big as I’m reading his message, but then I get to the last paragraph of his message:

“I also noticed that you talked about III's XML backend, it's just a pity that III's web OPAC isn't as flexible -- we're moving from DRA to III's Millennium and in the process their OPAC cannot be customized to the level of DRA's years old system and in a few months time the maps won't be dynamic anymore (no red marker).”

So, echoing the problems that Casey has encountered, the North Shore Libraries took a big step forward on their own but when they migrate to III, they’ll take a step backwards. That’s pretty difficult to swallow in 2005, isn’t it? In part, because I’m sure that like Casey, Mike has lots of great ideas for how to build even further on those cool maps.

Which is what I was thinking when I read Lorcan Dempsey’s message to the WEB4LIB mailing list today that ended with the following:

“Check out http://www.paulrademacher.com/housing/ for an interesting 'blend' of services .... Clearly, this is suggestive of other services including library services ....”

That link he highlights does indeed fall into the “too-damn-cool” category and thanks to Mike’s work, you have a visual quickstart for how library catalogs might provide alternate views for browsing, visual locators, etc. (not through Google Maps itself, but using a similar interface). But in order to roll your own “Library Maps” service, you’ll need a more standard XML backend, which is why it’s so surprising to me that Innovative lacks such a beast. Hopefully this will change in 2005 (which I know is easy for someone on the outside of the company to say out loud, but I’m saying it anyway).

And just for the record, in last night’s IM conversation, Casey and I both agreed that everyone we’ve met at Innovative is great. I pick on III because they’re the vendor for my consortium, but I still respect what they do. I just want them to do a few other things a little faster.  ;-)