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Web site: http://libx.org/

Date of first review/ name of reviewer: 06/16/2008 [Eric Frierson]

Additional reviewer(s):

Produced by:  Virginia Tech University Libraries & Virginia Tech Computer Science Department

Cost: Free

Description: LibX is an extension for both Firefox and Internet Explorer the allows people to quickly and easily access library resources while working anywhere on the Internet.

Platform: Browser-based (Firefox and Internet Explorer for all operating systems)

License: Mozilla Public License

Maturity: LibX was created in 2005; each library with a LibX extension maintains its own version of LibX, so version and maturity may vary from library to library

 

Features:

• When looking at a book in Amazon, Google Book Search, WorldCat, or other online bookstores, LibX will insert links to your library's catalog record for that book, allowing easy access to the call number and availability of it
• References to journal articles on webpages will also be accompanied by links to your library's databases, providing quick access to full-text of journal articles you read about anywhere on the Internet
• LibX installs a toolbar in your browser that allows you to search through your library's catalog, databases, and other resources regardless of what web page you are on
• If you see a topic or article you are interest in on any web page, select it and drag it to the LibX toolbar for immediate access to full-text (when available)

 

Advantages:

• Eliminates the need to interupt web searching to go to the library's web site
• Allows quick access to articles and books without having to use library search tools
• For librarians, creating a LibX extension is easy!  If your library doesn't have one, request one!

 

Disadvantages:

• Though many libraries have a LibX toolbar, some do not.

• Internet Explorer version of LibX is not as developed as the Firefox version, and may have spottier performance

 

Tips:

• Check the LibX Public Editions list to see if your library has a LibX extension
• Use LibX in conjunction with Zotero or CiteULike to create bibliographies with links to full-text provid

 

Tutorials:

• Screenshots of LibX
• LibX and Zotero: Firefox Extensions for Librarians and Library Patrons by Jacob Glenn

 

More information:

• Every Library Needs a LibX Firefox Extension  

 

Developer Resources:

• LibX repository on mozdev.org: source code, installation documentation, mailing lists