Library Toolbars, Gizmos & Gadgets – WilsWorld
Google Gadgets
Focus on existing users
Gadgets can live in a variety of places: blogs, iGoogle, websites, Gmail, Google Desktop
iGoogle allows external development, unlike some of the other platforms
Google is familiar to staff and users
Can share single gadgets or entire tabs! It would be interesting for systems to look at recommended tools sent out in a tab. Emergent tech agenda item!
RSS feeds from library blogs/website
Google Custom Search
Web forms
Library news
Classes & Events
Interactive components can be more difficult and time consuming
Yahoo Pipes lets you append a proxy string to feeds – custom feeds for authentication
Note: People don’t use dropdown menus. Yup.
View the source code to find things to repurpose.
Gadget format is not so different from html. Makes it a lot more friendly than I expected.
Stick with Legacy API for your gadgets.
Libraries with Themes: Carmichael Library & Richland Community Library
Useful Things: Gadget Editor, Gadget Manager, Gadget Errors Checker, Gadget Resizing Function
Toolbars & Ubiquitous Computing
Conduit.com – build custom toolbars
Can get stats
Can create as many toolbars as you like
Easy to make
Clean and well-structured
Lightweight and ambient – no branding just content
Good for computer labs – can’t be modified
Built-in feed reader – really basic
Can send out messages – probably not very useful
Disadvantages
Must be installed and updated
May be too subtle and not be used
Fitting your website onto a toolbar can be a useful exercise.
Created toolbar to fit with how things are taught on campus
Shift to modules
Cloud computing
Mobile devices
Embeddable code snippets
Internet access at all times
Stuff matters more than pathway to get there.
Control is out of our hands – being at more places is important
Boy, I am not agreeing with this take on the future of our websites. I think that a great interface, wealth of options for patrons, constantly updated has a big role in libraries. Our stats show this. Not sure what our patrons would make of us moving to toolbars and widgets and away from the website.
I think we can mock it as branding and marketing ourselves, but that is a vital part of what public libraries do. We have to create content, offer options, and be visible in our communities. And that can certainly include gadgets and toolbars, but they can’t replace the website for us.
But my brain is thinking, so I’m glad to have listened. What am I being defensive about and what other options are out there that I may be discounting?
