NTU Library’s Bookmarklet Tools

 

Introduction

Development & Implementation

Proxy Bookmarklet

ISBN Bookmarklet

Other Information

 

1. Introduction

NTU Library has explored the development of bookmarklet tools to aid access to library resources in an effective and efficient manner. Generally defined in most research articles, a bookmarklet is a JavaScript code that can be stored as a URL within a bookmark in most popular web browsers or within hyperlinks on a web page. It may  also be known as favelets or favourites on other web browsers, such as Internet Explorer.

 

The design of bookmarklets can be saved and used like a normal page bookmark. Hence, it is a simple “one click” process and can be added as a substantial functionality to the current browser. Bookmarklets are safer than any other traditional software for a couple of reasons, such as simplicity and no installation requirements.

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2. Development & Implementation for NTU Library

Currently, NTU Library has developed two types of bookmarklet tool. They are:

  1. Proxy Bookmarklet

  2. ISBN Bookmarklet

The development and implementation of these bookmarklets are initiated and implemented by NTU’s Digital Resources Division.

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3. Proxy Bookmarklet

Purpose: The function of the Proxy Bookmarklet is for all NTU staff and students to gain authenticated access to the Library subscribed e-resources if they did not access via ezproxy from the Library homepage. Examples of how this is used is described in 3.2.

3.1 Installation of the Proxy BookMarklet

There are two instructions for two types of browsers. Users can follow the instructions below.

  1. For Internet Explorer: Right click on this link "NTU Libraries Proxy Bookmarklet" and select "Add to Favorites". Users may be prompted with a security alert that the "favorite may not be safe".  It is fine to click "yes" to continue.


Figure 1 : Add to Favourites in Internet Explorer

  1. For Mozilla/Firefox: Right click on this link "NTU Libraries Proxy Bookmarklet" and select "Bookmark This Link

 

3.2   How the Proxy Bookmarklet is used?

3.2.1 For Users Who Have Bookmarked Links Before

Previously some users may have bookmarked the direct links to their favourite databases or created HTML pages to link to the e-resources directly. This worked on campus previously because NTU’s database vendors were asked to recognize all IP addresses on campus. With the implementation of Ezproxy, the vendors now recognize only the Library’s proxy IP address. Therefore, if the users have created link pages and favourites to databases and e-journal titles in their browser, they will need to re-bookmark their links as follows:

Go to :

1.      http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Library/Collections/Databases/ (for databases)

2.      http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Library/Collections/E-Journals/ (for e-journals),

         Users can search the database or e-journal title they want and bookmark the URL to their favourites on the browser.

3.2.2 Email Alert Services

There are some database vendors who provide email alert services. This service automatically sends an email to a user’s email account with the URL links to articles that have just been added to the database. This is a convenient way to keep track of new entries in the database. Before a user clicks on the URL to launch the e-resource, they need to invoke the Proxy Bookmarklet so that Ezproxy can recognize that they are a valid user of the tool.

3.2.3 Accessing Direct Database Links or Email Alerts from Providers/Vendors

The user may have found a database link from a search engine such as from the database provider or received an email from their favourite database provider in their mailbox. Notice the difference in URL. For this case, the users are actually accessing either out of the NTU network or not through the NTU Ezproxy Server.


Figure 2: Notice the URL Address.

For example:

1.      Not through NTU, the URL will be:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/

 

2.      Through NTU’s Ezproxy / NTU’s network, the URL will be:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com.ezlibproxy1.ntu.edu.sg/

For example No 1, please click the proxy bookmarklet on the browser favourites or Links toolbar after user has found their article.  They will be prompted to login and access the database and the articles as per normal.

 

If users have any queries on the above, please do not hesitate to contact us at drd@ntu.edu.sg or 6790 4627. DRD will be most happy to assist the users to maximize the use of the e-resources.

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4. ISBN Bookmarklet

Purpose: The ISBN Bookmarlet is for library staff and users to countercheck if the material of interest from websites such as Amazon.com can be found in the NTU OPAC. For examples, users can use any online book providers, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Blackwell Collection Manager to find books of interest and check against our NTU Library OPAC for the availability without the need to open up another window. This bookmarklet provides the simplicity and efficiency in retrieving the requested information from the OPAC tool with a single click.

 

4.1 Installation of the ISBN Bookmarklet

For all browsers:

Right click on this link "NTU Libraries ISBN Bookmarklet " and select "Add to Favorites". Users may be prompted with a security alert that the "favorite may not be safe".  It is fine to click "yes" to continue. 

Bookmarklet:

NTU Libraries ISBN Bookmarklet

Then, find a book on Amazoon, Barnes & Noble, etc. (e.g. Libraries in the Ancient World) and click on the bookmarklet in the Links bar to see if NTU OPAC holds it.


Figure 3 : Add to Favourites in Internet Explorer

4.2  How does the ISBN Bookmarklet work?

When a user has a book information page from an online bookseller displayed in their browser, they simply click on the ISBN bookmarklet (installed in their favorites) to it will automatically check with NTU OPAC for book availability with the same ISBN. This bookmarklet only works with ISBN information only. 

4.3       Websites that work with the ISBN Bookmarklet

  1. Amazon

  2. Barnes & Nobles

  3. Blackwell Collection Manager

  4. ISBN.nu

*Please note if you have tried this ISBN Bookmarklet with other online book provider, please share it with us at DRD

4.4       Others Notes

4.4.1  Dawson Books
User are advised to open a new window after clicking to view more information on the desire book. Following that, please click the ISBN Bookmarklet to check the availability of the book in NTU’s OPAC tool. The illustration is explained below.


Figure 4: Click to open a new window for Dawson Books.


4.4.2  YBP GOBI

Please note that if the online book provider displays their information in a frame format layout, this ISBN bookmarklet will not work due the complicated structure in the frame structure. For example, YBP Gobi.

 

A way to bypass this is for users to cut and copy the ISBN number and paste at the end of URL, as illustrated below.

 


Figure 5: Notice the ISBN Number location and paste at the end of URL

 

If users have any queries on the above, please do not hesitate to contact us at drd@ntu.edu.sg or 6790 4627. DRD will be most happy to assist users to maximize the use of the e-resources.

 

4.3       Websites that work with the ISBN Bookmarklet

With the help collaboration of the researchers from OCLC, this ISBN Bookmarklet enhanced this concept by embedding, behind the scenes and making it invisible to the user, the OCLC Research's xISBN lookup service. After retrieving the ISBN of the desired book from the Amazon.com page, the bookmarklet searches an OCLC Research database of related ISBNs, and then returns the ISBNs of other books in WorldCat related to the sought-after book. (The ISBNs together approximately make up a "FRBR work".) The bookmarklet then checks NTU library's catalog for those ISBNs

 

When users are searching for a book in a library, they probably do not care which specific edition they get. OCLC uses the power of WorldCat, and OCLC Research's FRBR algorithm, to locate other possible ISBNs for the book the user is looking for. In short, users are also able to locate books from other libraries in the region (such as Singapore) as well as other parts of the worlds.

 

4.4 Further Information

This extra information is very important to users who would like to utilise ISBN Bookmarklet efficiently in their work or interest. The details are as per below and from time to time; this extra information will be updated.

  1. For information on NTU Bookmarklet with OCLC, the link is as follows and users can also install the Bookmarklet from this link.

 

·         http://errol.oclc.org/oai:bookmarks.oclc.org:opac1.ntu.edu.sg.ezlibproxy1.ntu.edu.sg

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5.Others Information

5.1 Usage Notes

  1. This instruction is compatible with most internet browsers as long as the bookmarks or favourites allow JavaScript. If the links toolbar is not visible, users can enable it, in the View -> Toolbars menu of the web browser. Users can also place it under the favourite bookmarks, instead of the link toolbar.
     

  2. Once the bookmarklet is in the browser's toolbar, you should be able to gain access to library subscribed e-resources at the click of the bookmarklet button.
     

  3. If users are on a page that requires authentication, click on the bookmarklet in the browser's toolbar, and the user will be redirected through the proxy server for the page you are currently at. In some cases the users may need to use the browser's "Back" button to return to the resource URL before activating the bookmarklet.

5.2 Disclaimer

This instruction has been tested and is working well on browsers such as Internet Explorer 6 and 7, Mozilla Firefox that runs on a Microsoft Window Platform.

 

This instruction has been tested and is working well on browsers such as Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox and Safari that runs on a Mac OS X Platform.

 

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Last Modified on December 07, 2006  

For more information, please contact DRD