GD: Can you tell us about the new 'borrow from your local library' feature at Suite101?
SS: We are all really happy with this feature. It allows people to - at the click of a button - connect to their public library catalogues (if their library has an online catalogue).
Using the Related Subject terms assigned to the Topic (Library of Congress Subject Headings), they can search their library catalogues for related materials using the language that libraries use.
We did throw around with the idea of using Z39.50 to pull the results to our site and customize a search interface that would be common to our site, but we wanted our visitors to be able to take full advantage of a library's catalogue and Web site, including placing reserves on items, checking hours, etc. We also included a “close frame” option in case people want to break out of the frame and see only their library's catalogue or Web site.
GD: Are there any other new features in development at Suite101 that you can tell us about?
SS: We are working on two complementary features at the moment: Buy and Browse.
The Buy function will enable our visitors to link to online booksellers from Suite101.com Topics, allowing them to quickly and easily locate works related to the subjects of our Topics that are available for purchase online.
The browse function will enable them to link to other Dewey-organized Web directories from Suite101.com Topics. We are hoping to have these going by the end of the summer.
GD: What are some of your thoughts on the future trends of information organization on the Web? Do you see more Web directories employing 'traditional' library-oriented schemes such as the DDC, the LCC, or the LCSH?
SS: That would certainly be the prudent thing to do - why reinvent the wheel? I can't say for sure if they will, but we are willing to share our experiences if any other directories are looking into the possibilities. We would love to see a world where all directories use Dewey and LCSH. Imagine it! You could be at Looksmart, get a Dewey number or Subject Heading of subject and then come to our site and search for that exact Dewey number or heading then, maybe, go to Yahoo and find a related site there. It's really too bad that making money is the driving force behind so many Web directories - if only they would think outside the box. Commercial directories could learn a lot from libraries.
