Amanda Etches-Johnson
Mills Reference
Thursday, May 13, 2004
contact: ext. 26006 or etchesa AT mcmaster DOT ca
presentation URL: http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/talk/clutter2004/
handout URL:
http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/talk/clutter2004/handout.html
TOOLBARS:
- Search toolbars can be installed in your browser for quick access to your favourite search engine.
- Search toolbars: Google, Yahoo Companion, Teoma, Alta Vista, PubMed.
- Google's toolbar is the most popular & recent developments include:
- pop-up blocker (blocks annoying pop-up windows)
- auto-fill (store information for quick population of online forms)
- highlight button (highlights search terms on the page)
- Next generation of toolbars: Deskbars.
- Google & HotBot have them.
- Allows you to search the Internet without opening your browser.
- Check out Google's Search Features for quick search tips for use with Google toolbar/deskbar/search engine.
BOOKMARKLETS
- Bookmarklets are short bits of Javascript code embedded in a bookmark or favourite.
- Clicking on the bookmark[let] executes the Javascript program.
- Add bookmarklets to your favourites/links bar by dragging and dropping the link.
- Warning: "You are adding a link that may not be safe. Do you want to continue?" Click "Yes". Warning comes up because when you add a bookmarklet, you are adding a program.
- Bookmarklets provide quick access to many things:
- information about the site you are on (e.g.: when it was last updated, what email addresses are listed on the site).
- search tools (e.g.: highlight a word & click on your dictionary bookmarklet for a definition; highlight a word/phrase and click on your Google bookmarklet to look it up on Google).
- help with html & validation (e.g. quick html coding for tables, quick access to hex colour codes).
- For more Bookmarklets, check Bookmarklets.com and Jesse's Bookmarklets Site.
- John Udell's Library Lookup is a genius bookmarklet for library users!
- Used in conjunction with sites like amazon.com or isbn.nu, Library Lookup searches your library's catalogue for the item on your page.
- The item's ISBN # has to be in the URL of the page you are on for Library Lookup to work.
- Library Lookup for MORRIS (drag link to your links bar).
- Try this example: Free Culture by Lawrence Lessig at amazon.com. Once the amazon page has loaded, click on the MORRIS lookup to check whether we have this book.
- More info: tips on how to use Library Lookup and a good article: Better Living through Bookmarklets.
FAVOURITES
- If you like using your links bar, consider using folders (in IE: Favourites -> Organize Favourites... -> Create Folder in "Links").
- There are a multitude of external options that store your favourites on the Web so that you can access them from any computer: