12:35 PM EST on Thursday, March 10, 2005

BY SHEILA LENNON
projo.com Staff

I'm always seeing books online I want to read, but when I'm actually at the library, I can't remember any of the titles. Since I modified a little "bookmarklet" created by Jon Udell of InfoWorld tech magazine so it works for Rhode Island libraries, the books I see online are waiting for me when I go to my choice of any of the 69 libraries that belong to Rhode Island's statewide CLAN (Cooperating Libraries Automated Network) system.

I can also request any book online, and get a phone call from a computer when it arrives at the library I specify. This can work for you, too.

How it works: At online bookstores Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Consuming Powell's and Booksense -- and probably more -- each book has its own page on which you'll find a unique 10-digit idenitfying number called an ISBN number. You must be on the page devoted to a book (not on an index of titles) for this to work.

What the bookmarklet tool does is read the ISBN number, open the online Rhode Island library catalog and search for the book using the number. If it's found, you'll see info about the book, as well as which libraries own it and whether it's checked out, checked in, lost or in transit.

There are buttons there labeled "Add to my list" and "Request item." If you click either, a window will open that asks for your library card number. (Your browser can fill this in automatically after the first time.)

You'll be able to add the book to your reading list, "hold" the book, or select the library you want it delivered to. You may have to wait for the book to arrive at your library if other patrons are ahead of you, but you'll be notified when your name comes up.

How to get the tool: I write a blog for projo.com, The Journal's Web site, at http://www.projo.com/blogs/shenews/ A few lines below my photo on the Web page, you'll see a link labeled PPL.

Drag this link up to your browser's link toolbar. (In Internet Explorer, this is labeled "Links"; if you use Netscape or Mozilla, this is the toolbar with Home and Bookmarks on it.)

Go to your favorite online bookstore to the page of a book you want, and click your PPL bookmarklet. A window titled Horizon Information Portal will open with information about your chosen book. It may be a bit slow, but it will work.

Tips

If you can't get the Links toolbar to accept the bookmarklet in Explorer, pull down the View menu, go to toolbars, and make sure "Lock the toolbars" is unchecked. Then drag the word "links" to the left to make room for the new link.

If it still doesn't place a PPL link on the toolbar, right-click and save the link to Favorites; then you should be able to drag it to the toolbar.

If you're on the page of a paperback at the online bookstore, click to go to the hardcover edition. Libraries buy hardcovers, and the ISBN numbers are different for paperbacks.

When you get the call from the library, try to pick the book up right away. I've sometimes forgotten to pick up the book before it's shipped back where it came from. I always kick myself when I do that.

Sheila Lennon is features and interactive producer for projo.com. E-mail her at lennon [at] projo.com