Search widgets & gadgets for libraries

Jason A. Clark, Digital Initiatives Librarian, Montana State University Libraries
Tim Donahue, Instruction and Outreach Librarian, Montana State University, prior to that Flash instructor and Adobe Macromedia teacher

This session is about: “push” technologies, flash-animated tools, plus some code at the end.

Jason’s students: they use the web 2.0 technologies. Question: how to place library resources so that students will find them? One way: Construct small widgets to embed in library 2.0 pages.

How to play [connect]:
- “broadcast our signals” build small applications that can work in these distributed environments
- opensearch browser plugins – widgets
- google gadgets
- link these back to library resources

demos from Jason’s site:
Micro Library Apps – OpenSearch Widgets and Google Gadgets for Libraries
http://www.lib.montana.edu/%7Ejason/files/tools/

The samples below are live on the MSU Libraries web site at http://www.lib.montana.edu/tools/.

OpenSearch Widgets:

MSU Libraries Catalog: Install | View Source

Journalist (Journals from MSU Libraries): Install | View Source

Videos from MSU Libraries: Install | View Source

MSU ETDs: Install | View Source

Collection 10 – Schultz Photographs (MSU Libraries): Install | View Source

Google Gadgets:

MSU Libraries Search Gadget: Install on your Google Homepage | Install this gadget on Blackboard or any other Web page | View Source

TERRA – The Nature of Our World RSS and Search Gadget: Install on your Google Homepage | Install this gadget on Blackboard or any other Web page | View Source

Use Google Gadget editor to create code to add to your site:
http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/docs/gs.html

What’s next:
explore additional opportunities to sprinkle library content into our users’ workflow.

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Tim Donahue

Topic: an application of new technology applied to the old technology of print. Tim is a flash designer and used his flash background to make new library guides. An example: he created new library maps with flash to include the subcategories of the LC classification of the maps, with mouseovers that show the categories for the stacks for Skidmore College Library website. The most practical use is that a library user can see what sections of the stacks have what they need, since it is all mapped out.
Link to the Skidmore College map: http://hudson2.skidmore.edu/library/subjectmap2/

Quote: clutter in a map or website has the effect of stalling people – a benefit of mouseovers that help keep top level content visually simple.

Methodology: rendered map in flash. Flash allows you to create content without knowing code. The web address never changes for the map; the map is hundreds of layers of flash animations all within the same url. He got a very positive response from students to this map to help them use the library. The map helps make the library structure transparent. Useful also for reference and instruction, used by library circulation staff to help train library workers. Advantage of flash: scalable for pdas etc. and can be used for google gadgets.

new projects:
-integrate map with the catalog for call number ranges.
-integration of library resources with igoogle.
-Montana State University is encouraging students to use igoogle for college projects. Tim/Jason are creating library widgets for students to use that link to library info they use.

flash browsing applications: they are working on creating new ones

what they don’t have: links from the online catalog back to the flash map sections

More: view library instructional videos that they created for the library web site http://www.lib.montana.edu/