OCLC is is loosening up and having some fun in a Google Labs kind of way!

OCLC Research Software Contest

“In celebration of libraries and their heritage of technological innovation, OCLC Research is sponsoring a software contest to encourage innovation in the use of web-based services for libraries.

Prize

• $2,500 in cash
• Visit with OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc., in Dublin, Ohio
• Potentially have your code incorporated in OCLC services for libraries

The challenge

OCLC is providing a set of bibliographic records extracted from WorldCat plus a set of services:

• ResearchWorks
• Terminology Services

You may also use Open WorldCat, either by simply incorporating links to publicly accessible records or by enrolling in Open WorldCat's Partner Access program. Contact us if you wish to discuss enrolling in this program for the purposes of this contest.

Your mission is to write a program that does something interesting and innovative with the WorldCat data using at least one of the OCLC-provided services. You must submit a working prototype.

Part of your job is to convince us of why your program is interesting and why it will help libraries and/or library users; other than that, you're free to implement whatever strikes your fancy.”

And they were smart enough to ask Jon Udell to be a judge – good call! I hope we see some really cool stuff come out of this, in more than just a proof-of-concept way. Makes me wish I could actually program. Entries are due by midnight on May 15. If you’re entering, good luck!