# /research/announcements/2004-01-26.xml

originally: http://www.oclc.org/research/announcements/2004-01-26.htm

        Experimental service accepts an ISBN, returns set of ISBNs associated with same FRBR work; bookmarklet then uses to query library holdings
        The experimental xISBN service supplies ISBNs associated with individual intellectual works represented in the OCLC WorldCat database.
        hickey@oclc.org

        http://www.oclc.org/research/announcements/
        http://www.oclc.org/research/announcements/oclc_research_news.rdf
        January 26, 2004

        <P>Give it an ISBN, and it returns a list of associated ISBNs.</P>
    <P>The ISBNs returned from the service can in turn be re-used in a query to a bibliographic database (e.g., via a <A href="http://purl.oclc.org/NET/xisbn/Bookmarks.html">FRBR Bookmarklet</A>) to improve the chances of a user finding any/all instances of the work in a given database.</P>
    <P>A user finding an item of interest at an online bookseller's (for example) could conveniently query his/her local library online catalog to find out if any editions or printings (hardback or paperback, first printing or third printing, and even cases where various titles have been used) of the item are held by the library.</P>
    <P>As an experimental project of OCLC Research, this service is available without charge or guarantee. Access does not require registration or authentication. OCLC reserves the right to modify or discontinue the service without prior notice. The xISBN server is believed to be stable, have good uptime, and to have the capacity to handle a reasonably high volume of requests without a significant degradation of response time or service failures, but OCLC does not guarantee service levels for experimental systems.</P>
        <P>xISBN project page <BR><A href="http://www.oclc.org/research/projects/xisbn/">http://www.oclc.org/research/projects/xisbn/</A></P>
    <P>OCLC's FRBR bookmarklets project<BR><A href="http://purl.oclc.org/NET/xisbn/Bookmarks.html">http://purl.oclc.org/NET/xisbn/Bookmarks.html</A></P>

        Thom Hickey
        +1-614-764-6075

        Bob Bolander
        bolander@oclc.org
        +1-614-761-5207

        Chief Scientist
        OCLC Research
        Communications &amp; Programs Manager
        OCLC Research