MapHappy is partnering with the University of Minnesota to beta test a project to link Google Maps with maps from library collections. When viewing Google's map of the United States, a patron can either search for maps by keyword, or zoom in to get a visual of the library's collections of a particular region. I think this is a great idea, and it would be fun to implement something similar with our map collection if this project goes open source.

Just realized I haven't posted anything since December. Can anyone say slacker?

Today I stumbled across a library that integrates Wikipedia articles into their OPAC by cataloging them. While I doubt it's something we would ever try, I think it's an interesting concept. While including Wikipedia articles on general interest topics, such as abortion, doesn't seem like the best idea to me since it would be better to direct patrons to more scholarly resources on the topic, I liked how the library included articles on more local interest topics for which the library doesn't have other resources.

I was just reading Heather's blog entry about the Encyclopedia of Life, and it got me to thinking about digitization of library resources and how it can provide access to people who didn't previously have it. This in turn makes me think, we've got an archives downstairs, full of pictures and artifacts that people on campus or part of the greater NU community (alumni, etc.) may enjoy seeing. Is there any reason we couldn't/shouldn't digitize at least part of it? Any thoughts?

LibraryThing for Libraries just came out with book reviews for OPACs. It would be cool if we could implement something like this.

University of South Carolina's Beaufort Library has an interesting tutorial on how to search the web. I like how it lists the capabilities of individual search engines.

Here are a few privacy issues to think about if we ever start displaying photos online, like on Flickr.

Anybody up for this?