[Web4lib] Conduit Library Toolbar

[Pennington, Buddy D.]

We originally created Conduit toolbars for our library but quickly
replaced them with LibX toolbars (www.libx.org). While this doesn't
alleviate all of Thomas' concerns, at least LibX is built by librarians
for libraries and isn't built as a marketing tool. 

Our toolbar page is available at: http://library.umkc.edu/toolbar


Buddy Pennington
Serial Acquisitions Librarian
University of Missouri - Kansas City
800 East 51st Street
Kansas City, MO  64110
Phone: 816-235-1548
Fax: 816-333-5584
Email: penningtonb at umkc.edu

UMKC University Libraries: Discovery. Knowledge. Empowerment.

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Edelblute
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 12:57 PM
To: 'Cecily Walker'; web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Conduit Library Toolbar

I hate toolbars regardless of where they come from.  At best they slow
down the computer performance.  At worst, they impede the browser
functionality, redirect patron searches where they don't want to go, and
some are loaded with spyware.  My policy is no toolbars in this library.

Thomas Edelblute
Public Access Systems Coordinator
Anaheim Public Library

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Cecily Walker
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 10:21 AM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Conduit Library Toolbar

Hi everyone,

Our library was recently approached by someone from Conduit, a company
that specializes in on-demand content syndication. One of their
products is a Conduit Toolbar, which is very similar to a Google
toolbar, except that it allows organizations to push selected content
to any patron who installs the toolbar on their system. The
information page is here: http://www.conduit.com/Toolbar/Benefits.aspx

Have any of you made the decision to use this product in your
libraries? What about those of you who have heard about the product,
but decided against it?

I'm interested in hearing from anyone with any experience with this
product. How has this product enhanced your library services? What is
the benefit for library customers? What were the pros/cons of using
this platform to serve information to library customers?

Thanks in advance, and happy Friday,
Cecily Walker
Web Services Librarian
Vancouver Public Library


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