Chances are, if you work with me, you have heard me reference this slide from a presentation by Shane Nackerud and Chad Fennell of the University of Minnesota Libraries. It has gotten to the point where I'm even starting to bore myself when I bring it up.
The idea contained on this slide is amazing----it was the first time that I ever considered the possibility of widgetizing the library web site, or parceling out integral library search tools so that they can be taken away and used elsewhere (like the University portal, iGoogle, Facebook, etc...)
After seeing this idea from UMN, I contacted Shane to find out where their widgetized interface existed. Shane told me that it was a mockup, but that they would be working on it over the summer. And this week, I noticed that it is starting to happen. Wow! They've placed a widget on their home page (see the little plus sign in the corner of the opac / articles search tool box?) that works with their portal and iGoogle. They've also created a pretty neat widgets and tools page.
This general idea inspired our fully widgetized undergraduate interface, which will be a continual work in progress (and is coming together nicely!)
All amazing stuff. And all great food for thought as we move forward with our initiatives here.
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