Library bookmarklets
What is a Bookmarklet?
A "Bookmarklet" is a script or short program that that can be installed on your web browser's Bookmarks Toolbar or in your bookmarks/favorites list. If you can't see this toolbar go to your browser's menus and make sure to View->Toolbars->Bookmarks Toolbar is selected if you are using Netscape, Firefox, Safari, or Opera. If you are using Internet Explorer make sure View->Toolbars->Links is selected.
Installation instructions
The easiest way to install a bookmarklet is to drag its link to your browser's links toolbar. You can also add it to your Bookmarks/Favorites by right clicking (control-click on a Mac) and choosing Add to Favorites/Bookmarks. A window may question the safety of this procedure. Just say that you want to continue. To use the bookmarket, select text (if necessary, see below) and either click on the bookmarklet in your toolbar or choose it from the menu. Note that you can rename these bookmarklets to something shorter to gain room on your toolbar.
Most of these bookmarklets open a new window with the search results. You may need to modify your pop up preferences for this to work. Also, some browsers put the pop up window behind your current window, so you may need to move things around to see your results (or check your Windows menu). There's an example below each bookmarklet you can try to be sure it works in your browser.
E-Journal Lookup (IE E-Journal Lookup: Internet Explorer version)
To use this bookmarklet: Just highlight a journal title found on any web page and click on the bookmarklet link. The E-Journals Database will be searched for that title. Now you can quickly check to see if the library has full-text electronic access to any journal title, no matter what web page you happen to be on. This will work best with full titles, not abbreviations. Also, make sure not to highlight any initial A, AN, or THE in the title.
Try this e-journal title: Codebreakers Journal.
Addison Title Lookup (IE Addison Lookup: Internet Explorer version)
To use this bookmarklet: Just highlight a book title found on any web page and click on the bookmarklet link. Addison, the library's online catalog, will be searched for that title. Note: Again, make sure not to highlight any initial A, AN, or THE in the title.
Try it with this title: Da Vinci Code.
VT Proxy
Have you ever gone to a restricted access page only to realize you needed to use the Off-campus Sign-in button first? Instead of going to the library's homepage and logging in, then retracing your steps to return to the page in question, try this bookmarklet and save all of these steps. By clicking on this bookmarklet, you will be redirected through the proxy server for the page you are currently viewing. In some cases you may need to use the browser's "Back" button to return to the resource URL, not the vendor's login/error page.
DOI Lookup ( IE DOI Lookup: Internet Explorer version)
Digital Object Identifiers are unique IDs for online articles, conference papers, e-books and other online information. To use this bookmarklet, highlight a DOI on a web page, then click the DOI Lookup bookmarket to locate the "digital object" online.
Try it with this DOI: 10.1016/S0388-0001(01)00045-6
ISBN Lookup
To use this bookmarklet: When viewing a book on a site like Amazon or Barnes & Noble, just click this bookmarklet to see if the University Libraries own the book. Note: The ISBN must match exactly. If the library owns the hardcover and the bookmarklet is searching for the paperback ISBN, your search will not bring up that title. This bookmarklet was created by Jon Udell.
Try it on this Amazon page.
Multiple ISBN Lookup
Here's a variation on the bookmarklet above. It searches OpenWorldCat for the ISBN and related ISBNs (for thing like paperback and audio book versions). If you enter your Zip Code, OpenWorldCat will show you which nearby libraries own the item.
