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 LibTools

LibTools - IU Kokomo's version of the LibX Firefox and Internet Explorer Extension

Click here to install Indiana University Kokomo Library LibTools for Firefox (Recommended for Vista)

Click here to install Indiana University Kokomo Library LibTools for Internet Explorer (Currently not recommended for Vista - may cause some interference with Javascript heavy web pages)

What is LibTools?

  1. Toolbar: LibTools is a web browser toolbar that allows you to quickly search the IUCAT catalog, Multi-Database QuickSearch, Journal Finder, Google Scholar, Google Books, Look for it, Citation Linker, and other search tools.
  2. Right-click menu: when you have installed LibTools you can highlight text on a web page or PDF and right-click for a menu of search options.
  3. Embedded links: LibTools will also embed links on search results in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Scholar, NYT Book Reviews, CiteULike and more that will lead you to IU Kokomo-only resources.

1. Toolbar: Enter search words in the box in the LibTools toolbar; the IUCAT catalog is the default, but you can switch to Multi-Database QuickSearch, Journal Finder, Google Scholar, Google Books, WorldCat, or Credo Reference. You can search by multiple terms in different fields (author, title, ISBN/ISSN, etc.) and by clicking on the down arrow down arrow you can add additional search boxes. Which fields can be searched changes based on which database is being searched.

LibTools toolbar

toolbar 


2. Right-click menu: Highlight text on a web page or PDF document and right-click to get the following menu:

Right-click context menu

right-click context menu 

  From this menu you can:

  • Directly search IUCAT, QuickSearch, Google Scholar and more (try this with a citation you need!) You can add more options to the right-click menu in Preferences (see below).
  • Get off-campus access to IU Kokomo-only resources by reloading the page via our proxy server (requires IU Kokomo Network ID).

Alternatively, instead of right-clicking, you can drag and drop the selected text into the search box on the toolbar, or directly onto the Google Scholar button scholar (which will immediately run a Scholar search).

Also, the context menu will change, depending on what text is highlighted. For instance, if an ISBN is selected, you will be offered appropriate ISBN searches. Currently recognized are CrossRef DOIs, ISBNs, ISSNs, and PubMed IDs.


3. Embedded links: within Amazon, Google Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Scholar, NYT Book Reviews, etc.

Embedded link on Amazon book page

amazon 

LibTools places the cue IU in web pages such as:

  • Amazon
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Google
  • Google Books
  • Google Scholar (you must select IU Kokomo as your library in your Google Scholar Preferences)
  • New York Times Book Reviews
  • Yahoo! Search, and more...

Click on the cue to get online access to the article or to see if IU Kokomo owns the book.

Tips for using LibTools:

Add more functions to the right-click menu:

Use the Libx Preferences menu to turn on the ability to search additional resources.  On the General tab, you can set LibTools to search keywords in the text of web pages through Multi-Database QuickSearch. QuickSearch lets you search 100 library databases and web resources from one search box.

You can also enable LibTools to search Call Numbers, Authors, and more.		 preferences menu

Autolinking feature:

autolink option      LibTools links any numbers perceived as ISSNs or ISBNs, but sometimes, it will add links to other numbers on a web page. To turn off this "autolink pages" feature, open the "LibTools IU Kokomo" menu in the Firefox toolbar, uncheck "autolink pages," and reload the page. The autolinking will stay off and no longer link any numbers, but you'll still be able to use the rest of the features of LibTools.

Installation:

Click here to install Indiana University Kokomo Library LibTools for Firefox

Works with Firefox version 1.5.0.x or higher and XP or Vista.  If Firefox displays a message "To protect your computer, Firefox prevented this site... from installing software on your computer.", press the button labeled "Edit Options..." and click "Allow" add www.iuk.edu and libx.org to the list of websites from which extensions may be installed. Then click "Ok" and visit the "Install" link again.

Click here to install Indiana University Kokomo Library LibTools for Internet Explorer

Save the file. Close all Internet Explorer windows and run the file. A wizard will walk you through the installation process. Check the box to re-start Internet Explorer before you click "finish". LibX IE requires that .Net 2.0 or later is installed and works with Internet Explorer 6 or higher.  Not recommended for Vista.

If you are having trouble installing or using LibTools, contact Kirsten Leonard at kaleonar@iuk.edu.


Copyright:

LibTools is a version of the LibX toolbar which is distributed under the Mozilla Public License. The copyright is held jointly by Annette Bailey and Virginia Tech.