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).