UNH Library Toolbar Update

About ten days ago, we introduced you to the UNH Library Toolbar. We’ve had a lot of interest in this plug-in, as well as number of questions about installation, so I’ve updated the original posting (December 5, 2007) with additional information.

Moreover, on Wednesday, December 19th, at noon, Rob Wolff and I will be hosting a brown-bag lunch here in the Library to formally present and lead a discussion on the toolbar and its many applications. The brown-bag is sponsored by the Staff Development Council and will take place in the Faculty Lounge (Dimond 502). We know it is a busy time of year, but bring your lunch, gather some useful information, and eat a cookie — on us!

France in America/France en Amérique

France in America/France en Amérique is a bilingual, multi-format digital library site which explores the history of the French presence in North America from the early the 16th century to the end of the 19th century. It is the result of a cooperative effort between the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Library of Congress.

The primary objective of France in America is to make significant primary source materials from the participating institutions available online. The collections contain historic maps, manuscripts, rare books, prints, photographs, and other materials. The site is browsable by theme, collection, format, and keyword.

France in America is part of LC’s Global Gateway initiative to build a number of exciting Collaborative Digital Libraries, primarily focused on the Atlantic World, but expanding to include other regions, as well.

The UNH Library Toolbar

OK, consider this an early holiday present. Rob Wolff, from our Systems Department, has been working to adapt the LibX plug-in from Virginia Tech to UNH. We were planning on rolling it out at the beginning of next semester, but hey, this is the season for giving.

The UNH Library Toolbar is a plug-in for your browser which allows you to search our library catalog and databases. It has been configured to allow users to search the Library Catalog, Full Text Journals via Serial Solutions, Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, Worldcat.org, and PsycINFO. I have used the proxy server from home and it works just fine.

In addition, the toolbar automatically places embedded links in popular sites like Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble or in results from search engines like Google and Yahoo; this permits you to instantly and easily search for a given title in our online catalog. Just click-on the blue Thompson Hall icon next to the title and it will do the work for you. Keep in mind that Amazon often defaults to the paperback edition, so you should search under the hardback edition, as well, to determine whether UNH has purchased a title or not. There are other features you can explore on you own and we’ll be advising you about more specifics in the not-so-distant future.

There are two versions: Internet Explorer and Firefox.

The Firefox version is available here:
http://libx.org/editions/76/BC/76BCDC06/libx-76BCDC06.xpi

The Internet Explorer version is available here:
http://libx.org/editions/76/BC/76BCDC06/libx-76BCDC06.exe

The Firefox version is easier to install, supports embedded cues in more sites, and updates automatically when a new version is released, so we’re encouraging folks to use the Firefox version.

When installing the Firefox version, you may see a message indicating Firefox prevented the site from asking you to install software on your computer. If this happens, click the “Edit Options…” button. In the window which appears, click the “Allow” button, and then “Close.” Then click the link for the Firefox version again. You will see a window called Software Installation. After it counts down, click the “Install Now” button. Then restart Firefox and you’ll be off and running.

The Internet Explorer version requires Microsoft .NET 2.0, which must be installed first and is available here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5

The Internet Explorer version is available here:
http://libx.org/editions/76/BC/76BCDC06/libx-76BCDC06.exe

To install the Internet Explorer version, just download .NET 2.0 and double-click to install. Then do the same with the toolbar installation file. When using the Internet Explorer version, you may receive a message indicating it blocked a pop-up window. If this happens, click the Information Bar when it notifies you that a pop-up window has been blocked. Then click “Show Blocked Pop-up.”

If you need any help with installation or use, just send Rob Wolff an email at Rob.Wolff@unh.edu, and he’ll give you a hand. Let us know if it proves useful for you!

Online Resource of the Week: The History of Christmas

The History of Christmas

OK, so this isn’t a scholarly resource, but in between finishing projects and grading papers it might provide some entertainment. This site is from the History Channel, so you’ll have to put up with some annoying ads, but it provides a multimedia history of the celebration of Christmas, from the tradition of Christmas trees to the importation of Santa Claus to the United States. You can watch a film short of an obviously ailing Babe Ruth playing Santa Claus or a piece on the impromptu Christmas cease fire during the First World War. So grab a cookie and some eggnog and enjoy. [Image: Thomas Nast, "Merry Old Santa Claus," from Harper's Weekly, January 1, 1881.]