March 25, 2015

Interesting Idea! Anti-URL Shortener Promotes Books Through Web Links

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Here’s something new, interesting, and different. Some might even consider it fun.

From PFSK:

Respublica [a bookstore in Russia] wanted to show that books and the longform format still have value, so they came up with the web page ‘URLiterature‘. This enables people to paste any URL, choose the book they want to promote, and share it with their friends.

[Clip]

The opposite of a URL shortener service, it lengthens them before they are shared by embedding pages from Respublica’s books in the link, giving others a sneak peek at a range of stories.

You can learn more and use the service at: URLliteratu.re/

Example

Here’s a URL that I created with URLliteratu.re/ that will take the user to the Library of Congress home page. The service works with any browser accessible url.

The book I chose to promote in the text of the url is The Complete Sherlock Holmes.

www.urliteratu.re/4-full-length-novels-and-56-short-stories-about-the-colourful-adventures-of-Sherlock-Holmes-This-book-features-distinctive-gilt-edging-and-attractive-silk-ribbon-bookmark-Decorative-durable-and-collectable-this-volume-will-make-an-indispensable-cornerstone-for-any-home-library-It-contains-every-word-Sir-Arthur-Conan-Doyle-ever-wrote-about-Baker-Street-s-most-famous-resident-Also-included-is-an-introduction-by-lifetime-Sherlockians-Christopher-and-Barbara-Roden-The-Complete-Sherlock-Holmes-is-an-exquisitely-designed-book-with-bonded-leather-bindings-distinctive-gilt-edging-and-an-attractive-silk-ribbon-bookmark-Decorative-durable-and-collectable-it-will-offer-hours-of-pleasure-to-readers-young-and-old-and-is-an-indispensable-cornerstone-for-any-home-library-/2153

The PFSK post includes a brief video (in English) demonstrating the URLliteratu.re

It’s easy to imagine how this type of service could be used to help a library and other organizations to promote various services, specific books, events. etc. when they share links with users and/or allowing users (students, friends of the library, and others) to use a service like URLliteratu.re to help promote the library.

It might not be something to use all day, everyday, but from time to time it might help grab people’s attention.

The banner that provides more info about the book that’s visible at the top of the returned page can be easily turned off. Perhaps it’s even possible for it to disappear after x amount of time.

The long url DOES get your attention!

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Gary Price About Gary Price

Gary Price (gprice@mediasourceinc.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. Before launching INFOdocket, Price and Shirl Kennedy were the founders and senior editors at ResourceShelf and DocuTicker for 10 years. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com, and is currently a contributing editor at Search Engine Land.
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