Libraries Australia Joins Facebook
The Libraries Australia search application as it appears
in Facebook
National Library staff have been seeking to expand the ways in which users can access the search service of Libraries Australia, a vast catalogue containing more than 43 million books, journals, newspapers, pictures, maps, and much more, located in over 800 Australian libraries.
Libraries Australia was recently added as an open search target to A9.com (for further information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSearch) and is able to be added as a search engine to your web browser. For details on how to do this visit:
- Firefox: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Search+bar
- Internet Explorer: www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/en-en/default.mspx.
Adding a Libraries Australia application to social networking site Facebook has been yet another way of providing access to the Libraries Australia search service. Facebook users can now access the application to conduct a simple search for library items and can also add the application to their profile.
Facebook is designed for people to connect and interact with others. Users can create a personal profile with information and photos about themselves, add friends and send them messages, join a group or social cause and add applications to their profile. (For more information about social networking websites, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking.)
Facebook’s statistics are impressive. According to the website (www.facebook.com), they are the sixth most trafficked website in the world with 80 million active users. Over 24 000 applications have been built on the Facebook platform with 140 new applications added per day. More than 95 per cent of Facebook members have used at least one application built on the Facebook platform. Interestingly, the fastest growing Facebook demographic is those aged 25 years and older.
Facebook applications are web pages on external servers. All the processing of any given application is done by whoever wrote the application; Facebook merely interacts with the external server and makes it look like part of the Facebook website. It sends variables about the user to and from the external server, and imports the resulting page, applying the correct style sheets and layout. Within the Facebook application environment, various forms of metadata are stored about the application, including descriptions, where it can be installed on someone’s Facebook profile, a message board and contact information. There is also a method of notifying users of updates to the application and keeping track of statistics.
Adding the Libraries Australia application to Facebook was an uncomplicated process. After installing the developers application, access is provided to the various tools needed as well as links to the developers wiki and sample files (http://developers.facebook.com).
You can find out more about the Libraries Australia search application on the ‘about’ page (www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=10593113183&ref=s). Currently it has the search box, information about the service and links to relevant information.
If you’re a Facebook user, why not check out the Libraries Australia application (http://apps.facebook.com/librariesaustralia)? Become a fan. Install it on your profile. Share it with your friends.
Natasha Simons
Systems Development Officer, Libraries Australia
Peter Cobcroft
Helpdesk Officer, Libraries Australia