Beta Apps (From the Lab at MSU Library)
Below you'll find a sample list of our experiments and trials with digital media and applications. It's an example of our research and development initiatives. Please have a look and kick the tires.
Current Beta Projects
- "BookMeUp" - a book suggestion tool with a hat tip to reader's advisory
- "BookMeUp" uses the Amazon Product Advertising API to suggest related books to read based on a user's location and/or search query.
- This app is built with php, javascript, and html and optimized for mobile environments. Other APIs used for data sources include: MapFast from OCLC, the Worldcat Search API, and the Open Library Cover Image API.
- MSU Library Mobile Web Site
- A mobile version of the MSU Library Web Site; a web app built with the jQuery mobile framework.
- Beta site: MSU Library Mobile Web Site
- Subject Map for Montana State University Library
- Browse the MSU collection using Library of Congress Subject Headings. This interactive map shows you the arrangement of our stacks on each floor. Uses Flash and HMTL to make it go.
- Set your Terms, Master your Searches
- A mashup of the top related terms for a query according to the Yahoo Search Index. This is a proof of concept app. We are using it internally to build a loose, natural language search index for our article database search. It could be a candidate for a public app as a "Term Recommendation" engine. Would like to build off concept to help students work out better terms for searching library resources. Need to find more sources for related terms from Google or Wikipedia search indices and work with public services staff to refine. Built with PHP, HTML and Javascript.
- Google Gadgets for Montana State University Library
- A range of applications you can add to your personalized Google homepage, Blackboard, or any other Web page. Uses XML, Google gadgets API, javascript and HMTL to make it go.
- mediaHub
- An experiment where library media on YouTube or blip.tv are "mashed up" to create a search/browse app. The goal is to create a central hub for all categories of library media - interviews, promotions, tutorials, events, classes, etc. Uses the YouTube API or blip.tv API, PHP, and xHTML to make it happen.
- Feed Me Some Worldcat
- Run a search on Worldcat - Get an Opensearch feed for your feedreader. Sit back and get updates on Worldcat topics. What is a feed? Learn more about feeds from this video.
- MSU Digital Collections in Flickr
- Selected photographs and papers from the Montana State University Library Special Collections are now available on Montana State University Library's Photostream at Flickr.com.
- Library Lifestream
- Watch the social web activity at the library. As our staff members, bookmark, tweet, listen and blog - the results are recorded here.
- libTweets
- A collection of tweets from MSU Library affiliated twitterers. What is twitter? Learn more about twitter from this video.
- iPhone/SmartPhone View of MSU Digital Initiatives Flickr Stream
- An experiment where the most recent photos uploaded to Flickr by MSU Digital Initiatives are "mashed up" to create a mobile app. Uses the Flickr feed service API, jQuery, PHP, and good old xHTML to make it happen.
- Mobile view of MSU blog feed
- An experiment where the most recent entries from the MSU blog are "mashed up" to work in a mobile environment. Uses the Google Ajax Feed API, jQuery, and good old xHTML to make it happen.
- Journal Table of Contents (TOC) Service
- An attempt to aggregate academic journal table of contents listings tailored for specific university departmental interests. Uses the Google Ajax Feed API, javascript, RSS or Atom feeds, and PHP to make it go.
- New Yorker Fiction Podcast Mashup (iTunes compatible)
- A mashup or remix of a podcast feed of contemporary authors reading and discussing short stories. Uses RSS or Atom feeds and PHP to make it go. Code is available and could be used as template for displaying podcast feeds.
