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Request a library book...via Amazon

Jon Udell: LibraryLookup (Build your own bookmarklet)

I still can’t get over how cool this is. Jon Udell’s little wizard lets you generate a bookmarklet for requesting a library book—based on the Amazon page you’re currently viewing. It’s clearly a flawless lifehack.

You just need to know your library’s URL and which system your own city uses (which Jon makes simple by providing preview links to see which style your system seems to follow). San Francisco folks, use “http://sflib1.sfpl.org/” and leave the default system of “Innovative” selected.

I’ve combed through my Amazon wishlist over the past month and have been able to find almost 20 books I was going to buy—all of which have since been shuttled from SF’s many branch libraries to the cozy little outpost just beyond my front yard.

Top 10 hack, Jon. Many thanks.


TOPICS: Life Hacks, Tips

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furlinedteacup's picture

How awesome! This beats the...

How awesome! This beats the toggling between 2 browser windows I’ve been doing to acomplish the same goal.

Josie's picture

Could this be used in...

Could this be used in the UK?

Matt Vance's picture

I created my own customized...

I created my own customized bookmarklet that opens two windows (or tabs), one for my local library and one with a price search using AddAll (AddAll & APL Bookmarklet). It’s probably not useful to anyone but me, but it could easily be customized to search other libraries.

Also on the subjects of libraries, I recommend reading a PC Magazine article titled Your Library Online, about online library resources. I regularly use the library databases to read magazine articles online, especially when there is one article that interests me in a magazine that I wouldn’t otherwise buy.

Also, consider donating some of the money you save to help your local library, many of which are struggling lately.

Charles's picture

This is great. The...

This is great. The cusomized bookmarklet generator worked perfectly for the King County Library System (WA) and it works with the Powells.com wish list, too. Thanks for pointing this one out, and I second Matt’s request that we kick back some of our savings to the libraries. Every penny helps these days.

Ian Olsen-Clark's picture

I created a customized version...

I created a customized version of Jon’s bookmarklet to support the Chicago Public Library. Chicago uses the slightly esoteric CARLweb system. You can find my CARLweb specific version here bookmarklet here. If your library uses the CARLweb system it should be possible to adapt my code. Drop me an email if you need any guidance.

Nick Gaydos's picture

This is great! I was...

This is great! I was able to get it working for the Rochester Hills Public Library.

Thanks for bringing this piece of knowledge back into view!

A little tweaking goes a long way.

Brendon J. Wilson's picture

For those of you in...

For those of you in Mountain View, use the Base URL “http://library.ci.mtnview.ca.us” and set the Vendor to “Innovative”. Presto! Shortcut magic!

Onorio Catenacci's picture

Hi Nick, Funny, I got the...

Hi Nick,

Funny, I got the RHPL working too independently of your work :-)

A friend got an even more interesting link to work. He got the InMich Library Search working. InMich is a consortium of libraries. I think RHPL is in the consortium.

The link is this:

InMichLibrary Search

By the way, Merlin, thanks for pointing out an excellent hack.

Daryl Spitzer's picture

I found Santa Cruz Public...

I found Santa Cruz Public Libraries in the DRA list already.

But does anyone know how to modify the JavaScript to open a tab in Firefox instead of a new window? (I tried playing around with the Tabbrowser Preferences extension with no luck.)

Abb's picture

I love this bookmarklet! It's...

I love this bookmarklet! It’s so cool. And I loved Matt Vance’s suggestion above. I’ve been doing this by hand to save money (and space) for years. Now it’s so much easier… and fun, too! :P

James McNally's picture

Awesome! I submitted this idea...

Awesome! I submitted this idea to LazyWeb over a year ago. Glad to see someone has been working on it!

Ben Brophy's picture

Thanks. Here's the bookmarklet for...

Thanks. Here’s the bookmarklet for MIT Libraries if any one’s interested.

michael's picture

This is a nice little...

This is a nice little hack, and is very necessary. As a matter of fact, I’ve heard rumblings that OCLC (the library catalog people) is working with Amazon to make something like this an official feature. Go to Amazon, find a book in your library. Not at your library? Buy it at Amazon.

the biscuit man's picture

Is there any way, for...

Is there any way, for the bookmarklet, to extract the title from Amazon. Allowing searches at libraries that do not offer ISBN searching?

Merlin Mann's picture

Not that I know of,...

Not that I know of, biscuit man. Unfortunately, my linking skillz greatly outpace my javascript skillz. :)

Neil Harrington's picture

For the life of me...

For the life of me I can’t get it to work, I am using ie 6.0 (because of work) and Windows 2000.

Am I missing something here?

Glorp's picture

What an adorable little hack. It...

What an adorable little hack. It works just fine with the Philly Public Libtrary system. Thanks so much.

katy's picture

It worked like a dream...

It worked like a dream on both my uni and local libraries when i tested it on the page but it looks like Safari no likee :(

dang it!

Kate's picture

This is awesome! Works...

This is awesome! Works for the Toronto Public Library — they use iPac. Thanks for the pointer!!

Dan Koifman's picture

Has anyone set it up...

Has anyone set it up with the New York Public Library? I can’t seem to get it working.

About Merlin Mann

Merlin Mann's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

 
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