Houston E-Library Portal

[rmoscowitz]

Houston residents can check out digital media from a number of different services provided by multiple library systems. This project seeks to provide a simpler method for accessing digital resources.

Hackathon

• How to get library cards!
• How to use e-books
• Both Houston Public Library and the Harris County Public Library use Overdrive to provide access to e-books and audio books. For the hackathon, let's utilize Overdrive's Discovery API to at least create a unified search experience.
• English & Spanish

Long Term

• checking out/returning with Overdrive's Circulation API
• incorporate other library systems like Fort Bend County Library
• explore other services like Hoopla
• Related suggestion from @fileunderjeff: freedom of information act request for inventory of both systems to analyze usage / find redundancies

[fileunderjeff]

this is such a good idea

[zenjen777]

Totally agree...as an MLIS, needless to say I love this idea! 😊

Jen Greer

On May 16, 2017 8:18 PM, "Jeff Reichman" notifications@github.com wrote:

this is such a good idea

— You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/sketch-city/project-ideas/issues/114#issuecomment-301958056, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AY-44-Dg7XylJ___Sj3UfrNYEIWCT-Chks5r6krUgaJpZM4NdQKy .

[rmoscowitz]

How to get a library card...

Houston Public Library (must be a Texas resident)

• MY Link - apply online

Harris County Public Library (must be a resident of Harris County)

• iKnow Digital Library - apply online (more info)
• Knowledge Card (full service) - full service, must apply in person or by mail

[meremaines]

Oh awesome! I thought you had to be a Houston resident for a HPL card. I'm in Fort Bend, but if "Texan" is the only qualification, I need to go get a card! :)

[rmoscowitz]

@meremaines Try it out (and let me know how it goes)!

I just looked at the Fort Bend County LIbrary and apparently they say the same thing! "To get your free, permanent library card, bring a government-issued photo ID and proof of Texas residency within 30 days of receiving this temporary number. Out-of-state residents must pay a fee for the permanent card." I may have to get a FBCL card too! 😄

I didn't have the same luck with Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin or San Antonio. They all say you must be a resident of that specific area.

I also discovered this: "Non-Residents can apply for a free limited access Library Card by presenting their current/valid TexShare card from a participating library system." Might be worth investigating later.

[meremaines]

@rmoscowitz awesome, I'll try it! Glad Houston gets to claim the inclusiveness award. Hahah!

[antonywu]

Also, just want to mention that Houston Public library has access to Lynda content for free http://lynda.com/portal/sip?org=houstonlibrary.org

[rmoscowitz]

I'll be working on this project for the 2017 hackathon! I'll be in #elibrary-portal on slack and welcome help/pointers/opinions.

[betterways]

Overdrive is terrible. Can we use the API to make something much more useable? HooplaDigital works much, much better, but they don't offer an awful lot of audiobooks you'd think they'd have, i.e. Malcom Gladwell's books. And the hoopla app can't be installed on my older android phone that I'd like to give to my grandmother as a player.

[rmoscowitz]

@betterways, I agree that the Overdrive app is terrible (I basically only use their website now). For this weekend, I'm planning on using Overdrive's data (hence the API) and making a (hopefully more user-friendly) alternative.

Also thanks for the vote for Hoopla! I haven't used it before, but I noticed they also have an API and might be a good service to integrate in the future.

For this weekend, I'm not sure we'll tackle anything mobile. However, I'm really curious how other people consume digital media from the library. Will you be at the hackathon? I'd like to ask you about how you (and your grandmother) use it.

[palasaram]

@rmoscowitz Really cool project. Do you have approval/license to use the Overdrive's Discovery API ?

[rmoscowitz]

Yes! I have this level (for now):

Client authentication gets you access to our Discovery APIs only. If you're only going to use the OverDrive APIs to search a collection, access title metadata, or retrieve availability information for specific titles, the Discovery APIs should suit your needs. This level of access does not allow you to let users place holds or borrow titles from an OverDrive digital collection. If you would like to use our integration test library (optional), you'll need to request access.

I just tested it out, I was able to successfully make requests to the Library, Search, Metatdata and Availability endpoints for both Harris Co & Houston.

[rmoscowitz]

We're up and running!

Code: https://github.com/rmoscowitz/houston-elibrary-portal Site: http://houstonbook.link/