code4lib

There was a session at code4lib 2006 on using IM bots to deliver library services. I was at a different session, but I thought about it a bit and realized that the "jake-like" queries to the CUFTS database could fairly easily be adapted to the IM world. "jake-like" queries being "where is this journal indexed?", "where is there fulltext for this journal and what's the coverage", etc. I started on a quick bot while I was there, got that working and finished up a fairly comprehensive version last week.

Connecting the bot to the IM network was very easy thanks to Net::OSCAR. Unfortunately, it doesn't include file transfers, but everything else I wanted was there. Since I already had the database and queries mostly written, the bulk of the work was formatting the results for IM size display, handling "more" commands, and writing help.

So, you can now add "CUFTS2" as a contact on AOL/AIM/ICQ (they're all on the OSCAR network) and send it queries. Here's an example transcript.

> help

This bot is used to search the CUFTS journals database for information on where journals are indexed, available in fulltext, and what the coverage periods are.
"help commands" will give a list of valid commands.
Example Usage:
search outlook
select 4
coverage
results
site BVAS
urls 2

> search american journal of b

1: American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology [1553-3468]
2: American Journal of Bioethics [1536-0075, 1526-5161]
3: American Journal of Bioethics
4: American Journal of Botany [0032-0919, 0002-9122]

> select 2

Current selection: 2: American Journal of Bioethics

> full

Academic Search Alumni Edition - EBSCO
citation: 2001-01-01 -
Academic Search Premier - EBSCO
fulltext: 2001-01-01 -
citation: 2001-01-01 -
Biomedical Reference Collection: Comprehensive - EBSCO
fulltext: 2001-01-01 -
citation: 2001-01-01 -
Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate - EBSCO
fulltext: 2001-01-01 -
citation: 2001-01-01 -
CINAHL - EBSCO
No coverage information available.

( more )

> more

INAHL Plus with Fulltext - EBSCO
No coverage information available.
CINAHL with Fulltext - EBSCO
No coverage information available.
EBSCO Electronic Journal Service - EBSCO
fulltext: 2001-09-01 (v.1 i.1) - 2005-09-30 (v.5 i.5)
EBSCO MegaFILE - EBSCO
fulltext: 2001-01-01 -
citation: 2001-01-01 -
Expanded Academic ASAP (with Ingenta) - Gale
citation: 2001-01-01 -
InfoTracâ„¢ OneFile (with Ingenta) - Gale

( more )

> site BVAS

Current site is: Simon Fraser University

> current

Current selection: 2: American Journal of Bioethics

> urls

Project Muse Standard - Project Muse
journal: http://proxy.lib.sfu.ca/login?url=http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_journal_of_bioethics
Taylor and Francis - MetaPress
journal: http://proxy.lib.sfu.ca/login?url=http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/openurl.asp?genre=journal&issn=15265161

> urls 1 open

Directory of Open Access Journals - DOAJ
journal: http://www.scipub.us/c4p.php?j_id=ajbb

> coverage 1

Directory of Open Access Journals - DOAJ
fulltext: 2005-01-01 -

> titles 1

American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

> titles

American Journal of Bioethics
The American Journal of Bioethics
American journal of bioethics

> search outlook

1: OUT-LOOK [0896-7733]
2: Outlook [0273-835X]
3: Outlook [0834-0242]
4: Outlook
5: Outlook [1206-033X]
6: Outlook (14993627) [1499-3627]
7: Outlook - Medical Post
8: Outlook / Department of the Solicitor General of Canada [1201-9496]
9: Outlook on Agriculture [0030-7270]
10: Outlook on Science Policy [1471-5473, 0165-0262]
11: Outlook, The
12: Outlooks on Pest Management [1743-1034, 1743-1026]
13: Outlooks on Pest Management

> search exact outlook

1: OUT-LOOK [0896-7733]
2: Outlook [0273-835X]
3: Outlook [0834-0242]
4: Outlook
5: Outlook [1206-033X]

> search Tourism Management

1: Tourism Management [0261-5177]

> marc 1

LDR 00307 2200109 4500
022 _a02615177
245 00 _aTourism management. --
246 00 _aTourism Management
650 0 _aTourism
_xPeriodicals.
780 00 _tInternational journal of tourism management
_x0143-2516
260 00 _aGuildford, U.K. :
_bButterworths,
050 0 _aG155.A1

...

* Note that the "site" command only works if you're a current CUFTS site (COPPUL and ELN sites right now).