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June 25, 2005
LibraryLookup Rocks
This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. A guy named Jon Udell has written a bookmarklet generator called LibraryLookup. For those unfamiliar, a bookmarklet is a browser bookmark that contains a bit of javascript so it can perform some function. I use them for other things too, such as posting to my del.icio.us account.
Udell's bookmarklet allows you to easily lookup books you see at Amazon (and other online booksellers) at your local library with one click. It takes a small bit of work on your part to figure out what software system your local library uses--but once you have, his bookmarklet generator is easy to use.
For those in the CU area, I've already generated bookmarklets for the Urbana Free Library (actually, it works for all of Lincoln Trails), and the UIUC Library. Just bookmark these to set them up in your browser:
Once you have these saved (I put them on my bookmark toolbar so they're always visible), browse to a book on Amazon you're interested in and then just click the bookmark. This will popup a new window at the library that lists the entry for that ISBN#. Brilliant.
Enjoy!
Posted on 09:05 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack