Category Archives: Uncategorized

We're Hiring!

The Open Library team is seeking an experienced Python developer to join our small, experienced team. Born in 2007, Open Library is a large, wiki-editable library catalog and all our data and software is open. We want to enhance the way data moves in and out of Open Library by building features that make it simple for people to contribute records to the library as well as extracting them. We want to connect our records to as many online resources as possible, to be the locus for information about books online.

You will be responsible for core application development (running a system called Infogami) as well as development of new website features. You will review and enhance the Open Library’s current API offering, as well as looking out on to the broader web to find and develop useful API integrations back into Open Library. Learn more at the Open Library system at http://www.openlibrary.org/developers.

Must haves:

  • Software engineering experience, 3-5 years
  • Mad Python skillz
  • Applied use of PostgreSQL, Ubuntu/Linux, JavaScript/AJAX
  • Demonstrable working code online
  • Experience with triplestore database architecture; RDF/XML formats
  • Experience with open-source development projects and practice
  • Ability to work under your own supervision towards a shared outcome
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Desirable:

  • Wikipedia hacks
  • Experience using GitHub or similar
  • Demonstrable, creative API integration projects, preferably with mashes from more than one system
  • A presence in the Python community
  • An interest in excellent user interface design
  • Experience working with SOLR/Lucene
  • Experience with data processing (we have millions of records)!
  • Experience working in teams dispersed around the world
  • Interest in data visualisation
  • Located in, or prepared to relocate to San Francisco

We’re working towards big goals at Open Library. The online presence of books is a very interesting space at the moment, ripe for an innovative outlook and wide integration with all sorts of other systems. If you enjoy breaking new ground, iterative development and huge datasets, please let us know!

How To Apply
Please send your resume and cover letter to jennifer@archive.org with the subject line “Open Library Engineer”. We thank all applicants for their interest, but advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

About the Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library committed to preserving the world’s digital cultural artifacts. Used by over 6 million people, this resource is becoming part of how the Internet works. Our job is to put the best humanity has to offer within reach of students, educators and the general public. Find out more about our organization and web archive at www.archive.org.

The Internet Archive is an equal opportunity employer.

Announcing the Open Library redesign

Announcing the Open Library redesign!
Screenshot on Flickr – CC Attribution

Hooray! And yay! We’re very excited to announce the “soft launch” of our brand new Open Library site! This is version 1 of a reconstructed Open Library, and we’re going to keep it “soft” at a special URL until we’re sure it’s stable enough to make the final transition to openlibrary.org. We’re hoping that will happen soon.

As we mentioned in two previous blog posts [1][2], the main features of the new design are:

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Comparing two classification systems

Carina Nebula Details: The Caterpillar
From the Goddard Space Flight Center , CC Attribution 2.0 Generic

As you may have seen in our recent Sneak Peek post, we’ve been working on new ways to allow you to browse subject headings in Open Library. Edward’s just built a new subject search index too, so you’ll be able to do a keyword search for any/all subject headings that mention that word.

Testing things and looking around, I wondered about comparison between two different systems of classification: Library of Congress Subject Headings (or Authorities) and Flickr tags.

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Internet Archive Salon in San Francisco

When: Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Where: Gray Area Foundation for the Arts @ 55 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (Map)

The Internet Archive is holding a salon to discuss the resources available at the Internet Archive, how artists and creative people can access and contribute to the Archive, or to our Open Library and BookServer projects. The salon will be hosted by Gray Area Foundation For The Arts (GAFFTA), here in San Francisco.

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