# /research/projects/curiouser/default.htm

originally: http://www.oclc.org/research/projects/curiouser/default.htm

# Curiouser

The Curiouser project will produce a prototype system that provides a works-based view of Open WorldCat (OWC) content

## Goal

The goal of this project is to enhance the utility of Open WorldCat by

- Exploiting structured data of bibliographic, authority and holdings records
- Exploring the potential usefulness of other available data, e.g. pathfinders and third-party web services

## Project description

Curiouser is

- an approach to making the best use of data available about items in WorldCat
- a user interface for exploring and selecting works and items.

The project integrates previously developed and new techniques for display and navigation of records in a FRBR context.

Initial connections to Open WorldCat will be though bookmarklets, although as the prototype matures it may merit a link off one of the Find-it-in-a-library pages.

Initial work will concentrate on the most highly held works in WorldCat.

## Why OCLC is conducting this research and how it helps libraries

The Curiouser project

- makes Open WorldCat more attractive
- leverages the value of the cooperative by exploiting WorldCat bibliographic & holdings data
- enhances existing assets by exploiting the bibliographic data in member records in new ways
- contributes to scholarship, especially regarding efforts to explore the influence of libraries in the open web environment
- promotes collaboration / consensus by contributing toward an improved understanding of strengths and weaknesses of the Open WorldCat model.

In addition, the prototype system

- employs the OCLC FRBR work-set algorithm and FictionFinder
- is a unique contribution to the library community
- contributes to the improved understanding of influence of libraries in the open Web environment.

## Research Methodology

- Requirements analysis
- Prototyping
- Usability testing
- Analysis of public use

## Duration

- January 2005 to December 2005.

## Team members

- Thom Hickey
- Diane Vizine-Goetz