bridging the gap from wikipedia to scholarly sources: a simple discovery solution
DESCRIPTION
This presentation discusses the creation of a javascript bookmarklet that executes a search of library resources from any web page. Many user searches begin with searches on the internet, often in Google and Wikipedia. For users to search the library resources, they first need to locate the library website, find the appropriate search tool and then execute their search. To make it easier for students to search the library resources, we created a Javascript bookmarket that eliminates the step of having to go to the library website first before searching. The bookmarket provides an important bridge between common search behaviors (especially among undergraduates), and the "deep web" content located in library-funded, proprietary databases, thus easing their transition into scholarly research. The bookmarklet can be dragged-and-dropped into any browser, after which a search can then be initiated from any webpage the user visits. When the bookmarklet is clicked, the search terms default to the title of the page, and a prompt is displayed that allows the user to change the terms.TRANSCRIPT
BARBARA ARNETTWEB SERVICES LIBRARIAN
VALERIE FORRESTALCOMMUNICATIONS & NEW MEDIA STRATEGIES
LIBRARIAN
STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Bridging the gap from Wikipedia to scholarly sources:
a simple discovery solution
Discovery tool project:
Key questions: How do you prompt students to use scholarly sources for
research? What if they could search the library’s subscription databases
without having to go through the library website? How do you create a bridge between common student research
sources, such as Wikipedia, and the library’s collections?Bookmarklet = Bookmark + Applet (i.e. a small program run from your browser’s favorites menu)
Easy to install (drag-and-drop)OS/browser independentOnly runs when clicked, so it doesn’t slow down your
computer like some browser add-ons
Project history:
Elsevier 2010 API app challenge (for creative use of the ScienceDirect open content API)
Firefox add-on so researchers can search ScienceDirect from anywhere on the web, without going through the library’s website/ScienceDirect interface
Added functionality: auto-populate search box to encourage Wikipedia/Google users to expand their research to library resources
Issues: compatibility with other browsers search limited to ScienceDirect content aversion to add-ons due to Firefox memory-hogging managing code updates
Solution: Cross-browser compatible JS bookmarklet (inspired by bit.ly, etc) + Ebsco Discovery Service
Inspiration: Bit.ly bookmarklet
Install page
Bookmarklet in browser
Search prompt
Search results
JavaScript code in bookmarklet:
javascript:(function(){document.body.appendChild(document.createElement('script')).src='http://www.stevens.edu/library/js/search.js';})();
this executes JavaScript in a file that resides on our web server
Parts of the Bookmarklet:
1 – HTML to display bookmarlet on your webpage Contains the JavaScript that sits in the bookmarklet (in user’s
browser)
2 – JavaScript to sit on your server sits in search.js, referenced in bookmarklet HTML Google Analytics tracking + Prompt box for user to edit search
terms (uses the Page Title for initial search terms) Executes search and returns results in federated search or
catalog
3 – CSS for the button to drag & drop into browser Optional (places button image under link) Can be inline or separate stylesheet
javascript that is executed in http://www.stevens.edu/library/js/search.js--
{// ***************** Google analytics code BEGIN *******************// var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-18930XXX-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async =
true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') +
'.google- analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();// ***************** Google analytics code END *******************//
var Ti=document.title.replace('- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia','');
void(Ti=prompt('Edit search terms:',Ti));if(Ti){var searchString='http://ezproxy.stevens.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&scope=site&type=0&cli0=FT1&clv0=Y&bquery='+(Ti);
window.location.href=searchString;}
}
Hasn’t this been done before?
Catalog search bookmarklet (Indiana State University) Added functionality – code on our server, no version
updates for the user to install Uses federated search to retrieve all types of information
Libx toolbar “Libx has taken over my browser!!” no need to turn on,
turn off the feature Add-ons / extensions can slow down browser,
bookmarklet only executes / uses resources when clicked Can be used in all browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, IE)
Next steps:
Have students install bookmarklet in all info lit classes (laptops are required.)
Place oneSearch button in library website footer, so it’s easy to find and accessible from any page on our site.
Add button to mobile site (possibly create separate GA code & run search through Summon’s mobile interface.)
Campus-wide announcement (email) in September 2011.After roll-out and promotion, compare Fall 2011 usage
stats for key databases vs. Fall 2009/2010.Edit Google Analytics code to track search terms
(anonymously.)
More info:
Contact:Barbara Arnett: [email protected] Forrestal: [email protected]
Details:Instructions/slides available at: http://bit.ly/LibTech11Server-side code available at:
http://www.stevens.edu/library/js/search.js