1. Using the Aleph REST API to
support item requests from a
separate discovery system
(Aquabrowser)
by Corinna Baksik
Development work by:
Michael Vandermillen

2. Why? #1: Seamless user experience
http://hollis.harvard.edu/?itemid=|library/m/aleph|012353769
http://cheetham.hul.harvard.edu:8992/F/?func=item-hold-
request&doc_library=HVD50&adm_doc_number=012353769&item_sequence=0000
10

3. Why? #2: Better stats

4. Why? #3: Better mobile experience

5. Setting up JBOSS server
1. Start / stop server via util/w
(Server does not appear in util/w/1 (Monitor
servers)
2. Type jlog at prompt to see log
3. Update global.properties file with ports /
server names
4. $alephe_root/dlf_eng/dlf-global.tng
(we use to delete private data we don’t need)
5. open port 189#

6. Design
Aquabrowser
Link to local app (with ADM + Item Seq. #)
PIN System
Authentication
Local app
Retrieve Patron ID via call to X-server
REST Check Check for Show Request Send
Borrower Patron Options and Request
API Expiration Blocks Instructions
Date

7. Aquabrowser interface
http://hollisservices.lib.harvard.edu/itemrequest?bibid=HVD01012809860
&itemid=HVD50012353769000010

8. Authentication
• Harvard PIN Server
• Harvard ID  Aleph Patron ID
http://cheetham.hul.harvard.edu:8992/
X?op=bor-by-key
&bor_id={HUID}&verification={HUID}&library=hvd50
&user_name={clientID}&user_password={clientPW}

9. REST call for patron info
http://cheetham.hul.harvard.edu:1892/rest-dlf/patron/
{patronID}/patronInformation/address

10. Expired ID: Aleph OPAC

11. Expired ID: Aquabrowser

12. REST call:
http://cheetham.hul.harvard.edu:1892/rest-dlf/patron/
{patronID}/patronStatus/registration

13. Patron Blocks: Aleph OPAC

14. Patron Blocks: Aleph OPAC
• Patron is
presented with a
confirmation
screen.
• When they go to
library to get
book they’ll be
told they can’t
check it out due
to blocks.

15. Patron Blocks: Aleph OPAC
The only
place they
would see a
block is in
their My
Account
page

16. Patron Block: Aquabrowser

17. Use REST to check for block
http://cheetham.hul.harvard.edu:1892/rest-dlf/patron/
{patronID}/patronStatus/blocks

18. Hold Request: Aleph OPAC

19. Hold Request: Aquabrowser

20. Hold Request
http://cheetham.hul.harvard.edu:1892/rest-dlf/patron/
{patronID}/record/HVD01{bib}/items/HVD50{ADM}{SEQ}/hold

21. Use XSL to modify what Aleph returns
Example: Item on loan with a waitlist

22. Apply XSLT to XML from Aleph API
Notes
returned
by Aleph
API
XSLT
applied
to Notes

23. On Loan until 12/31/99

24. Send Request
http://cheetham.hul.harvard.edu:1892/restdlf/patron/
{patronID}/record/HVD01{bib}/items/HVD50{ADM}{SEQ}/hold
post_xml=
<hold-request-parameters>
<pickup-location>
{pickup-location@code}
</pickup-location>
<note-1><note-1>
<note-2></note-2>
</hold-request-parameters>

25. Success

26. Mobile stylesheet
http://hollisservices.lib.harvard.edu/hollisservices/itemrequest?bibid=HVD01012809860&
itemid=HVD50007605221000010

27. About the local app
(Developer: Michael Vandermillen, Harvard Library)
• Resides on separate server
• Tomcat application, running behind Apache
• Groovy and Grails web app framework (Java
platform)

28. Future Plans ?
• Create new interface for all My Account info?
• Create an interface that also includes other
patron requests, so users can see all library
activity in one place
(ILL, Borrow Direct, EDD, Aeon)

29. Questions?
See also:
• Ex Libris Commons
• “Aleph Restful APIs “ Powerpoint on Doc Center
Corinna Baksik
Systems Librarian, Office for Information Systems
Harvard Library
Email: corinna_baksik@harvard.edu
Skype: corinna_baksik