Links into Open WorldCat

You can now link into Open WorldCat with ISBNs, ISSNs, and OCLC numbers.  Here's a page explaining how to do it.  So now when you want to link to one of your favorite books, you can use http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/isbn/0679601686 instead of something like http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679601686. Or even link to a classic edition: http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/oclc/855736.  And, I was pleased to note, the FRBR work we've done bringing together editions of works means that if you click on the 'Other editions of item' link in the Find in a library page, you'll see that the same list comes up for both.

The WorldCat pages seem to come up quicker than Amazon's too.

Update (February 2007): These links still work, but the form is deprecated.  Follow the page link for the latest information.

--Th

Comments

[Bill Drew]

Why didn't you use OpenURL 1.0 to do this? Why create another syntax when one already exists that fits a standard now widely used?

[Thom]

Would that be Open URL 0.1 or 1.0?
Actually, I've suggested that we support OpenURLs for this, and I believe we plan to. This syntax was used because it was already in place for the Partners' program. We probably should have used OpenURL originally for that, but if I remember correctly, there was some reluctance to do so, since we were only going to support such a small part of what OpenURLs promise.
--Th