RedLightGreen and the power of the Platform

An important component of the emerging Library Platform is a robust Directory of information about libraries, their services, and their collections. Learn about ways in which RLG and Talis are cooperating to enrich the RedLightGreen service with the help of just such a Directory, and share your ideas on how you might contribute to or benefit from the same shared technology.

The Talis Directory Service is a component of the new Talis Library Platform, developed in collaboration with RLG for use with their RedLightGreen service; an online database of bibliographic descriptions available to everyone. The project, designed to make accessing books easier, allows users of RedLightGreen to link directly to detailed bibliographic information from any Talis customer. Talis and RLG are working closely to further extend the use of Talis’ Directory Service to provide current and accurate data on all libraries listed in RedLightGreen.

The benefits of enhancing both resource discovery and access are compelling. Union catalogues like RedLightGreen have demonstrated the value of deep-linking to the user’s OPAC of choice. However, traditionally it has proven difficult to sustain such as service due to the significant effort that is required to search for, and implement the changes in the way that individual libraries permit linking to their systems. The Talis Directory Service solves this problem; RLG no longer has to worry about maintaining any link information themselves. Most importantly, though, users of the service will enjoy a more reliable, and therefore better, experience.

Lee Cox – Head of Business Development for Talis commented on the partnership, saying “We are delighted to be working with such a forward thinking organisation as RLG, this is a great step forward in making access to worldwide collections easier and more cost effective. We look forward to working with other consumers of Talis’ Directory service”

Susan Yoder – Director of Product Management for RLG said “Users of RedLightGreen benefit directly from the capabilities of Talis’ Directory Service, as it consistently and reliably ensures that they are able to link through from books found via RedLightGreen to physical copies of those books in libraries close to them.”

RLG talk about their involvement in a post to their blog, here, and more information on the Talis Library Platform is available in a recent white paper discussed here.

How might you contribute to the building and maintenance of such a shared Directory, and what could you do with it?