LibX – a Firefox extension for enhanced library access
| Date | 01 April 2006 |
| Pages | 290-304 |
| Published date | 01 April 2006 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830610669646 |
| Author | Annette Bailey,Godmar Back |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
OTHER ARTICLE
LibX – a Firefox extension for
enhanced library access
Annette Bailey
University Libraries, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, and
Godmar Back
Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Abstract
Purpose – This paper presents LibX, a software module that enhances library access for users by
integrating access to the online public access catalog (OPAC) and to the OpenURL linking server into
the Firefox browser.
Design/methodology/approach – We developed LibX as a Firefox extension. It is implemented
using XML user-interface language (XUL) and JavaScript. LibX offers library access through a toolbar
user interface, through context menus, and via cues embedded into web pages. LibX can be branded
for use in different libraries.
Findings – LibX demonstrates the power of client-side technology in providing users with direct
access to library resources while doing research on the web.
Practical implications – LibX makes access to library resources immediate and effortless.
Therefore, it has the potential to bring those users back to the library who in recent years have turned
to internet search engines instead.
Originality/value – LibX is available for adoption by librarians who wish to provide their user
community with enhanced library access.
Keywords Online catalogues,Libraries
Paper type Technical paper
Introduction
Students and other academic library users are increasingly forgoing the use of library
catalogs in favor ofweb search engines when doing research(Campbell and Fast, 2004).
This sidestepping of library resources has several unfortunate consequences: first and
foremost it encourages an increasing reliance on resources that are not vetted, non-peer
reviewed and often of questionable quality. Second, users frequently succumb to the
mistaken belief that a search engine’s ranking algorithm provides them with the most
relevant resources on a topic. Finally, because search engines index only the publicly
accessible web, users will be unable to find certain resources, such as proprietary
databases thatrequire a subscription. Evenif search engines index a resource,users may
be presentedwith results that are inaccessible tothem because the search engine does not
providethe uniform resourcelocator (URL) that pointsto the appropriate copyfor the user.
We care about this displacement of library resources because we want ou r user
community to be able to find and use carefully selected resources that are authoritative,
complete, and accessible to them.
Users who prefer search engines to library catalogs report that they do so because of
their purported ease-of-use, speed, and availability (Fast, 2004). Moreover, most search
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
24,2
290
Received September 2005
Accepted January 2006
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 24 No. 2, 2006
pp. 290-304
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830610669646
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