So I have been spending a good deal of time lately diving further into the world of library technology.  Everyday I feel like I am picking-up some new concept or utility.   Today, I want to share a free browser plugin called LibX, that allows you to create and share a browser interface to explore your catalog.

The plugin claims compatibility with both IE and Firefox (I can verify that it works with Firefox 3.6, but does not work with Firefox 4.0.7 beta) and can be linked to and installed like any other browser plugin.  When you visit LibX’s edition builder, you are able to search for various editions of the plugin that have been created by different libraries.  If you don’t find a plugin for the library that you seek, you can create an account and then go through a pretty basic plugin creation process.  In most cases, you will just need to paste in the URL of the OPAC that you would like to search.  You can also customize the plugin further by uploading your library’s logo.  Once you are ready to share your plugin, you can publish it and then share the link with your patrons via your website, Facebook page, etc.

As you can see in the screen-shot above, Libx provides a search box right below your address bar that allows you search by a variety of different fields (or you can just search by keyword).  The plugin also allows you to highlight any text, right click and then search for that text in your catalog.  Another cool feature is that when you find a book on popular book-selling sites like Amazon.com or Barnse & Noble, your library logo will appear next to the book title and if you click on it, it will search your library catalog for the book.

If you live in the Traverse City Area or just want to get a taste of what this plugin can do, feel free to download the Travese Area District Library plugin for Firefox or Internet Explorer.

These plugins are still in Beta and we are in the process of extending their functionality by adding the capability to authenticate and search our online databases, as well as adding links to account information, upcoming events, etc.  Let me know what you think!