Google Scholar is of course the talk of the academic town these days. And Firefox is just about the coolest thing ever. So it was only a matter of time before someone created a Firefox extension to harness Google Scholar. Ladies and gentlemen, let me present the Google Scholar OpenURLs extension, created by Peter Binkley of the University of Alberta Libraries.
This exceptionally cool extension drops an OpenURL link on the page of returned Google hits. Literature databases have had the ability to include “find this article in your library” links in search results for a while now, but this is the first I’ve seen where this functionality is implemented in search engine searching.
It seems to me that Firefox has the potential to revolutionize research and reference work, by making quality information sources available conveniently and via a common interface – that is, the web browser. Specifically, take a look at the Mycroft extension. I mean, look, what’s the #1 reason people don’t use the library? It’s inconvenient! You have to get off your butt and walk across campus! Users want electronic access. Librarians say that online sources are unreliable. Fine; let’s give users electronic access to reliable sources! A call to arms for MLS students everywhere: for the love of Pete, start implementing these things in your libraries!