Related Items Bookshelf -- Virtual Shelf Browse for Tomcat WebVoyage
Tags: intermediate
, webvoyage
, tomcat
, javascript
, xsl
, java
, elympics
, browse
Last Updated: Aug 25, 2010 22:50
- Description
The Related Items Bookshelf is a virtual shelf browsing tool. Embedded into the bottom of an item's Tomcat WebVoyage record page, it displays a scrollable, virtual bookshelf of the catalog items shelved next to the primary item, in call number order.
- Author: Maccabee Levine
- Additional author(s):
- Institution: University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
- Year: 2010
- License: Apache License 2.0
- Short description: Use, modification and distribution of the code are permitted provided the copyright notice, list of conditions and disclaimer appear in all related material.
- Link to terms: Detailed license terms
- Skill required for using this code:
Intermediate. The user should have experience with other WebVoyage customization, i.e. tweaking XSL files according to written instructions, and basic server command-line skills. The installation guide's target audience is system librarians, and only one small step may require assistance from a Voyager server administrator.
Full Description
The Related Items Bookshelf is a virtual shelf browsing tool. Embedded into the bottom of an item's Tomcat WebVoyage record page, it displays a scrollable, virtual bookshelf of the catalog items shelved next to the primary item, in call number order. Books are represented by their cover art where available (by a generated image otherwise), and display their title, author, publication date, availability status and location, as well as links to Google Book Search where applicable. The user may scroll the shelf in either direction to discover more related items, and can click any item to load its own WebVoyage record page. This duplicates for a web catalog user the real-world benefit of browsing the library stacks.
The Related Items Bookshelf website has more information on functionality, technical design, and known issues .
State
In Development due to future plans and some known issues, but beta-tested at four institutions and reasonably stable.
Programming language
Java (J2EE) server, HTML/CSS/JS client, minimal XSL for WebVoyage integration.
Software requirements
Server: Voyager 7.1+ with Tomcat WebVoyage. Client: Firefox 2.0+ or Internet Explorer 7+. Detailed requirements here.
Screen captures
Author(s) homepage
http://www.uwosh.edu/facstaff/levinem/projects/related-items-bookshelf
Download
Please see the download page for the most recent version and release notes.
Working example
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh catalog -- search for any item with an LC call number and scroll to the bottom of the record page.
Example item page: http://oshlib.wisconsin.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=620466
Using the following Ex Libris open interfaces
Voyager's XML over HTTP web services:
- SearchService
- SearchResultsService
- GetHoldingsService
Release Notes & Known Issues
Please see the website for release notes and known issues.
Installation instructions
The most recent Installation & Administration Guide is linked from the Related Items Bookshelf website Download page, and is included in the Installation Files download.
TO DO list
Solve the Known Issues, refactor the server code to increase reusability by different applications, and implement any popular user suggestions.
Comments
Please provide any feedback on this page or by emailing me directly. Thanks!
5 Comments
comments.show.hideMar 23, 2010
Laura Guy
This is really great! Thank you for posting it!
Mar 23, 2010
Haihua Li
That's fantastic! You and your library rock!
Apr 01, 2010
Maccabee Levine
Thanks for the nice comments. For any Ex Libris folks keeping score, the bookshelf was downloaded from the Related Items Bookshelf website 62 times (and the source code 42 times) during March.
Apr 06, 2010
Benjamin Rawlins
This is a great feature!! Our librarians and patrons love it. Thanks for posting it!
Apr 18, 2010
Paul Haire
This is really an eyecatching and useful add-on even at version 1.0, and I'm impressed with Maccabee's commitment to tweaking it toward perfection. Bravo!