Of all the networking tools on the internet, mashups may be the most useful to libraries and patrons alike. A mashup, combining multiple data sources into one website, brings together data-trails that users would logically follow on their own into one convenient place. Not only would this be a time-saver in finding information from different sources, but an interesting way to introduce new ideas the user may not have thought of previously. A simple search of a library catalog could access a map of a local branch; view its hours, and even surrounding places of interest. Conveniently placed icons could link patrons to those websites as well. Fundraising could also be brought to the map with a link to a fund-raising program such as Amazon or a local Friends of the Library website. Community Walk, a map-creating application and website, could make this kind of “mashing” available to even small libraries.
Wow! I didn't even know such a place existed. Mashups sound like a great tool for your immediate search as well as a window into more in depth information on the subject of interest. It is also a nice feature that Mashups allows you to view related areas of interest.
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