Robbins Library Notes

Good morning, all! I have news of versions of research tools that may interest you.

LibX for Internet Explorer

One of my earliest posts on this blog was about LibX, a plug-in for the Firefox browser. I’m now able to let you know that there is now a version of LibX written for Internet Explorer. However, I received this warning:

What should I know about LibX for IE?
LibX for Internet Explorer is a “Beta” version. LibX was designed for Firefox and continues to work best in Firefox. Some LibX functions (embedded cues and autolinking) do not work well in the IE version, and downloading LibX for IE may cause problems with your browser. Please read the LibX IE installation help (http://pavlova.hul.harvard.edu:85/tools/libx_more.html) for more information before you choose to install this version.

Thus, you might be better off downloading the Firefox browser and installing LibX for Firefox, rather than trying to use this version for Explorer.

There is still no version of LibX for Safari, so Mac users will have to install Firefox if they want to use the LibX tool.

Google Book Search for Harvard Users

Also just launched: a customized version of Google Book Search tailored for Harvard researchers. Here is the information from the press release:

This customized version of GBS allows users to search the full text of all books available in Google Book Search (whether contributed by Harvard, another library, or the publisher), with a Find at Harvard University link displayed on every item in a search result set. Clicking the link brings the user to the catalog record if an exact match is found in HOLLIS. If an electronic version of the book has been licensed by Harvard, the user will be taken directly to the full text of the e-book. If an exact match in HOLLIS is not found, a pre-populated HOLLIS search screen will open making it easy for patrons to launch a HOLLIS search session.

As of yesterday, 4 February 2008, Google Book Search for Harvard Users is now part of the E-Research @ Harvard Libraries suite, as a new entry on the “Quick Jump” menu. Here is a screen shot of where to go and how to locate this menu. Or, you can go to http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:googlebk, and enter in your search terms.

This tool offers great features, with links to HOLLIS records, reviews, e-texts, and the like.

Please let me know if you have any questions, or if you’d like some training.