Library Look-up is a nifty way to see if your local library has a book that you have found on the Amazon or Barnes and Noble or some other book vendor web sites. This guide will let you add a button on your web browser to do this search with a single click. But here are a couple of VERY important points:
First Very Important Point: You must be on the specific web page at Amazon or Barnes and Noble, that deals with the book that you're interested in. If you aren't, the button won't do a thing.
Second Very Important Point: If you're not sure what a web browser is, this tool probably isn't for you. This isn't meant to discourage you. If you like to learn by jumping into the deep end, then by all means, count to three and leap. It isn't that hard in the end. But if technical things tend to frustrate you – as they often do me – then consider yourself forewarned.
Lastly, you can play a key role in keeping this page up to date. When you find an omission, and they will pop up, add a comment to this page. We're counting on you!
Step One:
See if a library convenient to you is on this list:
Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Conway, Derry, Dover, Exeter, Gilford,Goffstown, Hollis, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Howe,Kelley, Hudson, Keene, Kimball (Atkinson), Laconia, Lane (Hampton), Lee, Manchester, Merrimack, Nashua, Portsmouth, Richards (Newport), Rochester, Rye, Smyth (Candia), Tracy (New London), Wadleigh,Wiggin (Stratham), Wilton
This list was created by Jon Udell. If your library isn't on it, then you might want to forget about this entire exercise. I might. But if you want to continue on, do so and look at Step Four. It points to a page that Jon created to help you do some stuff on your own.
Step Two:
You found your library on the list, so go to this page by Jon Udell: LibraryLookup
Step Three:
Now it's time to create the bookmarklet – a customized link in toolbar section of your browser that will automatically look up the book you see on the Barnes and Noble web page (for example) in your local library.
Jon Udell put together a mini-movie tutorial on this. It's very good but requires a broadband connection. Bookmarklet Tutorial
Here's a modified text version of Jon's tutorial. (Remember, you're on the page by Jon Udell with the list of libraries.)
If you use the Firefox browser, all you need to do is click and drag the link for your library up into the bookmarks toolbar section of your browser. (If you can't see your bookmarks section, go to View, choose Toolbars, and choose Bookmarks Toolbar. The space for bookmarks will appear.)
If you use Internet Explorer, making the link appear will take a few more steps.
Typically, the Links button on the toolbar is way on the right hand side where you probably never noticed it. Click and drag the left edge to expand it out; or drag it up so it has a full row of its own. Next, on Jon's page of library bookmarklets, Right-click your library link and choose Add to Favorites. You'll be warned that this link might not be safe – do you want to continue. Click Yes. You will then get a window asking Create in? Click "Create in" and choose the Links folder in the directory tree that will appear.
Congratulations! In theory, you now have a link in the toolbar section of your browser specific to your library.
Step Four:
(For those whose library doesn't appear on the list of libraries)
Find out, probably through a telephone call or by using your town web site, if your library has an online card catalog. If it does, jot down the name of the vendor of the software they use. Also note the URL for the online catalog.
Then go to this page - LibraryLookup Generator - and enter three bits of information: the URL for the online catalog, the name of the library, and the name of the software vendor. Then click the button at the bottom "Build your own LibraryLookup bookmarklet".
The page you see next has the link you need to put into your Links toolbar. Go through the process in Step 3.
If you have a problem, please post a comment and we'll see if we can find an answer. Registration – to allow you to post a comment – is free. If you like this service or have a suggestion, then you should also feel free to post a comment.
I tried to add a bookmarklet for the Mary E. Bartlett Library in Brentwood, but Drupal decided the input was suspicious and kicked me out. Can't blame it, really.
Anyway, the Brentwood Library's catalog is Winnebago and the URL starts with http://24.128.11.184 if you want to add it to the list.
-- Roger
1. You have to be at the actual catalog-->it's long :)
http://24.128.11.184/winnebago/search/search.asp?resetSearch=1&lib=???&n...
2. When you get the Brentwood catalog, you need to change "Keywords" to ISBN
It worked for me!
Any support for Macs?
This looks like a great little tool... Will it work on a Mac? Is it platform/browser specific, or is this a Java application that can work on any machine?
Hillsboro isn't on the list either, so I haven't gone as far as a download. But I'm curious just the same.
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Roger in Hillsboro
This is browser specific. Try Firefox!
I just looked up Hillsboro and they don't have an online catalog, so for your library, this won't work.
Ask you library for the catalog. They do have page asking for a $1000 donation to get a catalog, but if enough patrons ask for an online catalog, they might work for implementing it.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been doing this manually for years!
1. I used to work in a library and I used Amazon when helping a patron looking for a book when they only new a few scraps about the book. Also, Amazon is so much more thorough in discussing books and recommending books and it is so much more colorful than library record. Then, of course, I had to go to the library catalog on my own.
2. I have now put this little gem on my laptop & desktop.
3. I am going to email my library friends and let them know.
4. The only technicallity is this looks for an isbn, so a different edition might not be found.
5. HEY! Firefox community---why not make an extension for this? It would go to the top of the rating chart! (I know, make it myself, but I am not that into computers)
AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!