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Home , Browser toolbar, OpenSearch, Search box, Theme (computing)

Library for Use and Development

Mitchell Brown

Libraries have long offered search Yet, innovative use of browser 100 college and public libraries (www. options for users, most based on an toolbars could change this landscape. conduit.com/). online catalog or hierarchical static Internet users are becoming frustrated webpages. As internet browser by pop-up windows and search How to write your own development evolved from options that target unknown sources. (1992) to (1994) to the present Now technology offers the option to The open source community (IE), , customize search services and link users has supported development of the and a variety of other interfaces, new directly to library resources such a Firefox browser to make coding options for enhancing search have federated searching and online "Ask A extensions and plug-ins easy to emerged. Technological advances in the Librarian" chat. Commercial services develop. and add innovative browser interoperability of web servers, online have introduced toolbars that emphasize features. The Firefox development databases, and desktop publishing now their services directly to the online users, community has created hundreds of offer the opportunity for users to such as Google, Yahoo, and . freely available add-ons to Firefox and configure personalized web interfaces These toolbars do not require the user to plug-in developers freely share ideas that can target specific online resources open new browser windows and can and build on each others work (http:// for search and retrieval. Now library target search requests to a specific addons.mozilla.org). users can search library catalogs, full-text resource instead of a broad global Development for 's Internet articles, news sources, video updates, get search. Since navigation is controlled so Explorer (MSIE) is not as open as the stock updates, and contact a librarian the user does not need to type the Firefox community but software and directly - all from a browser toolbar specific web location, the toolbar search instructions for developers are available without opening a separate browser is a powerful way to connect users for them to write extensions for the windows. These services add power and directly into library applications. OCLC MSIE browser (http://msdn.microsoft. convenience to the user's searches. WorldCat Local (www.worldcat.org/ com/Ii brary /default.asp?url""/W orkshop/ Remote access to library services have toolbars/default.jsp) has a tool bar that browser/extemal/overview/ie7 _opensearch_ been available for many years, first with can be configured to recognize the ext.asp). Library developers can easily direct dial modem banks, followed by nearest local library holding for books or create search extensions or toolbar authenticated virtual private network other library material based on user buttons for IE. However, with the (VPN) connections, and now the promise preferences. introduction of the latest Microsoft of OpenID with authentication through Vista some toolbars Shibolleth. But the commercial world has Early library toolbar adopters and extensions written for Windows XP moved faster than libraries to develop or earlier operating systems may not Google, Yahoo, Y ouTube, MySpace, and Stanford University's Jackson Library function correctly. Also, customization Facebook, where their interfaces allow has been using the Fastjack toolbar features within Vista now allow for users greater interaction with content and (www.gsb.stanford.edu/jacksonlibrary/ features using the Open Search protocol amongst users than traditional library toolbar/index.) since October 2004 that may make specialized toolbars less . Library web pages increasingly and Houston area Harris County Public in demand. are not the first place people search for Library (HCPL), TX has offered IE and Firefox has offered customized information even though libraries spend Firefox library toolbars to patrons since search since 2006 and in the same year significant amounts on databases, journal 2005 (www.hcpl.net/ebranch/toolbar). Google released an updated search subscriptions, and media collections that Several companies offer software to toolbar with feature similar to Firefox. are unique in the world. In his blog create customized IE toolbars. Both IE released fall 2006, also included entries OCLC vice president and chief Stanford's Jackson Library and HCPL built-in search customization. Each of strategist Lorean Dempsey has described used Toolbar Studio/IE Toolbar the three search toolbar options allows the library world ability to attract builder software from Softomate users to create keyword searches to any online searches as "a weak gravitational (www.softomate.com/). Conduit offers web page. The URL for sending the pull" compared with popular web "free" web-accessible tools for creating search is saved in the browser cache and services (http://orweblog.oclc.org/ community toolbars for IE and an or title for that custom search is archives/000615.htrnl). customization services, working with created. In Firefox the icon appears in

LIBRARY Hr TECH NEWS Number 8 2007, pp. 33-35, ([) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/07419050710836027 33 the toolbar next to the search box. also be constructed to use federated personal computers libraries must make Although each search option works search software like MuseGlobal provisions to update toolbar functions as different, all provide an easy search that (www.museglobal.com/) from the the changes take place. This service saves the resulting URL in browser browser toolbars. expectation should not prevent libraries history. The potential for this search option is from exploring the benefits of toolbar Most browser customization is appealing but most libraries have applications but these services will written to take advantage of unsecured various search URLs for different require regular updating and attention to publicly available search sources such databases and customizing toolbars for user service expectations. as PubMed, Amazon, Google, library each database is not a practical solution. catalogs, and Library of Congress. But The lack of a single Content interaction these same features are not robust URL may be a growing problem as enough to navigate secured e-journal libraries strive to create a unified search In a July 2007 article, Peter Webster database, commercial databases, and option for users. ("The Library in Your Toolbar", subscription-based online resources. Library Journal (15 July 2007), URL: Without a secure federated search How secure are toolbars? www.libraryjoumal.com/article/ schema browser customizations in CA6457218.html) writes about content Firefox, IE, Opera, , and others Security concerns remain about integration between browsers and will not be able to properly authenticate privacy associated with toolbars, databases. Many browser software the variety of online resources managed especially with third-party developers extensions go beyond this search help by library organizations. adding toolbars to web browsers. Since and can interact with the content of the Access restrictions to licensed the toolbar is attempting to make a web pages you are looking at and react content in commercial databases are search of databases the host library accordingly. Firefox offers the usually authenticated by limited access system in the back room of libraries, capability to program the activities of through Internet Protocol (IP), where their service providers, and commercial the browser and react to the HTML that the computer IP addressing specific to vendors need to establish controls on is being displayed. Greasemonkey, a an organization can be limited to exchange of personal information from popular Firefox scripting add-on, can geographical locations, such as library the user and also limit history of user make changes to HTML received from buildings or university campuses. When interoperability with the database. particular web sites, adding or removing an authorized user attempts to connect Online users have had concerns with content or interfacing with that content to an online resource the user's commercial web sites, such as Google, in some way. Webster describes an computer will prompt the service tracking user activity for marketing example where Greasemonk.ey scripts provider's computers to authenticate the information without informing users. have been used to do lookups to library connecting IP number. Once Some resource developers, such as link resolvers from citations on web authenticated, a session ID is assigned Conduit, add advertising content to pages (see "COinS for the Link Trail", to remember the session "state". This search services to fund the otherwise Library Journal, Summer 2006, session URL state is only valid for the "free" service, and many third-party pp. 8~10 (www.libraryjournal.com/ current search session so the software browser extensions include article/CA6344742.html)). customization feature of the browser advertising . Installing plug-ins to Book Burro was one of the cannot use subsequent sessions as an online browsers can make them first library-related browser plug-in authentication scheme. Therefore, in the vulnerable to Internet viruses and applications to mesh with Amazon and sense that each session is individually outside attack from spyware programs other online bookstore web sites. When authenticated, the toolbar is unable to or malicious code. In response to these a book is displayed on Amazon, a recognize and grand access· without concerns Google and Conduit have Book Burro displays price using some other security option, such contacted customers about what comparison information retrieved from as secure proxy or VPN. infonnation is added to and collected other popular online bookstores. Book Online e-journal database vendors from toolbar searchers. Another Burro can also be customized to search have been exploring the potential of software developer, Toolbar Studio your local library catalog or WorldCat OpenID that may allow passing content (www.conduit.com/), has taken a local and show if the book is available. directly to users in a single URL different route and now offers software The LibX browser toolbar (www. Commercial journal vendors ProQuest code that allows users to verify that no libx.org/), developed by Virginia Tech, and EBSCO have been experimenting personal information is collected about incorporates interactive features with with this authentication schema to be the online use activities or attracting toolbar search to create a search that can accessible through , advertising content. offer multiple search field options Firefox, and IE 7 browsers, although To maintain user security, the status (author, title, keyword, ISBN). It offers each offer methods to modify the search of toolbars and plug-ins need to be catalog and library database searching URL as needed so that many e-content monitored in the same way as browser but also automates the checking databases can be searched from the updates and software patches. As URLs of references found on any toolbar. The OpenID protocol change and websites evolve toolbars page against the library catalog. It (http://openid.net/) allows for different need to be reworked and enhanced to automatically checks ISSNs and ISBNs search queries, such as by author, title, track changes on the target . found in web page references against the or keyword, to be created. URLs can As users download toolbars to their catalog and connects journal references

34 LIBRAKY HI TECH NEWS Number 8 2007 to the library's link resolver. LibX has ( www .slideshare.net/digicmb/the­ Conduit been customized for use by 61 academic library-t oolbar-in-detail) http://conduit.com and public libraries, with an additional Creating OpenSearch Plug-ins for 86 libraries testing the toolbars. Recommended links for toolbar Firefox Currently, it is only available for the resources http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/ Firefox web browser, but a version for Creating_OpenSearch_plugins_for_ IE is being developed with a recent LibX Firefox? Institute of Museum and Library www .libx.org/ Services grant. Google toolbarfor Firefox Customizing the Browser Too/bar www .google.com/tools/firefox/toolbar/ http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/ Development resources Ff3/intVen/index.html library/aa753592.aspx Library too/bars blog WorldCat search too/bars and plug-ins Enter the Library Toolbar Index to current developments in Books, videos, downloadable audio www .libraryjoumal.corn/article/ tool bar coding. books ... if it is in a library near you, CA512183.html (http://librarytoolbar.blogspot.com/) these toolbars let you find it in World Cat Fastlack A developing community for sharing no matter where you are on the Web. www .gsb.stanford.edu/library/toolbar computer code for browser toolbar www.worldcat.org/toolbars/default.jsp extensions. Greasemonkey Vivisimo Too/bar http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org Download for the toolbar that features a Browser extensions: best practices Wiki metasearch and clustering function. Harris County Public Library www .vivisimo.com/toolbar/toolbar­ www .hcpl.net/ebranch/toolbar download.html ( www .libsuccess.org/index. php?title= Library search plug-ins from the Web_Browser_Extensions) Index Browser Utilities > Search Mycroft Project A community user wiki for Too/bars http://mycroft.mozdev.org bookmarklets, user scripts, Firefox and http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_ Open ID IE extensions and plug-ins, code Internet/Software/lnternet/World_ http://openid.net/ generators, programming resources, and Wide_Web/Browsers/Utilities/Search_ toolbar applications. The site includes Tool bars/ Open Search programming resources, links to journal Firefox Add-ons http://opensearch.org articles and conference proceeding Add--0ns are small pieces of software Search Provider Extensibility in Internet papers, and demonstrations of coding that can add new features or tiny tweaks examples. Exp/orer7 to your Firefox. They can add new http://msdn.microsoft.com/libraryI search engines or dictionaries in other default.asp ?url=/Workshop/browser/ The library toolbar in detail languages, change the look of Firefox externaVoverview/ie7 _opensearch_ (www .conduit.com!) with a new theme, or much more. ext.asp ://addons.mozilia.org/?application= A presentation at the Norwegian fire fox Too/bar Studio/El Too/bar Builder knowledge Centre for the Health www .besttoolbars.net Services (Oslo, Norway, 15 January Adding Search Providers to Internet Explorer 2007) and NTNU Library (UBiT) Mitchell Brown ([email protected]) is www.rnicrosoft.com/windows/ie/ (Trondheim, 17 and 18 January 2007) a co-editor of LHTN and the Chemistry searchguide/en-en/defaultmspx by Guus van der Brekel, Coordinator of and Earth Systems Science Librarian at Electronic Services, University Medical Book Burro the University of California, Irvine Center, Groningen, Germany). http://Bookburro.org Libraries, California, USA.

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