OCLC's xISBN web service is pretty cool. Feed it an ISBN number (via a GET), and it'll send you back a nice list of other ISBNs for that same title.
I have an idea floating around in the back of my head for a little web app that would allow you to store a list of books (a reading list, or an Amazon-style wish list, for example). You'd simply punch in the ISBN of the edition you found, then it could check with xISBN for a list of all other editions (hardback, paperback, audio, whatever). Then, the app could reach out and see if the book was available at the library, or how much it cost on Amazon. Too bad the library doesn't expose it's catalog as a web service...
Posted by Karl
October 3, 2004 05:27 PM