University of Wisconsin Madison
Curran Riley
criley@library.wisc.edu
1711/criley
Currently using Handles for:
• 1711.web
– For licensed electronic resources
– Including EZproxy string in Handles for remote
access by valid UW-Madison patrons
• 1711.dl
– For digitization projects
– Use for URLs as well as links to project
contents (images, etc.)
Development efforts:
• Web administration servlet
• “Handling” application
• Oracle Handle database
Web Administration Servlet
• Allows creation and modification of Handles
through a web browser
• Uses J2EE Servlet
• Goal is to allow regular librarians to create and
modify Handles for library resources by
themselves
• Still in testing, but we would share the source code
when it’s finished if others are interested
Web Administration Servlet
• Requires the addition of a HS_SECKEY to the librarian’s
personal Handle (which functions as the web password).
Web Administration Servlet
• Users can create a Handle with Name, URL and
contact email address
Web Administration Servlet
• Users can also modify existing Handles
Web Administration Servlet
• Modifying the NAME value of a Handle
Web Administration Servlet
• Users can list all Handles for a particular
subnaming authority
“Handling” application
• Allows passing of a parameter to the server
along with a Handle.
• Interprets what to do with parameter
• Results in a URL being returned, much like
current Handle resolver
“Handling” application
• Example: Documents in EBSCO can have links
back to holdings in our library catalog, using the
ISBN or ISSN number. Requires setting up a
“canned search” URL in EBSCO so the ISBN or
ISSN can be appended to the URL:
– http://madcat.library.wisc.edu/cgibin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&CNT=100+records+per
+page&BOOL1=as+a+phrase&FLD1=ISBN+%28ISB
N%29&SA1=(ISBNNUMBERHERE)
• Better to use a Handle, in case of changes to our
catalog require a change to our “canned search”
url.
“Handling” application
• Application restructures the URL from:
– http://j2ee-dev.library.wisc.edu/1712/madcatissn?ISBN=0056783745
to
– http://j2eedev.library.wisc.edu/abc.do?handle=1712/madcatissn&num=00567
-83745
• J2EE servlet (abc.do) will resolve the handle to the
“canned search” URL and then append the number in the
ISBN parameter. It will then redirect to the newly
generated URL.
Future Projects
• Store Handles in an Oracle database
– We have been working with CNRI to implement
– Licensed for Oracle, good Oracle expertise on campus
(myself excluded)
• Add multiple resolution and authentication piece
– Handles would include URLs to freely available
(thumbnails) and restricted (full size) images with a tie
to a UW-Madison authentication server
• Add metadata???
– We are very interested in how much others are putting
in Handle records
University of Wisconsin Madison
Curran Riley
criley@library.wisc.edu
1711/criley