[Web4lib] Conduit Library Toolbar

Tue Apr 21 02:41:11 EDT 2009

 Hi Cecily,
Our experience with Conduit toolbars is only positive.
We have been abled to integrate every possible licenced search database to offer our users direct search to where they want to go.
The all web-based admin tool offers integration of every possible web-content inside to Toolbar, including xml/html gadgets/widgets, video, podcast, rss etc
it offers 100& design and adjustability to embed your own layout to completely loose the conduit look and marketing stuff.

The one thing you can not get rid off is the google powered search option. There are two reasons this is not really bad. 
1. after choosing one of the other search resource, THAT stays on top, and users will never bump into google-powered search ever again.
2. we as librarians might not like the google search, but users are very much used to it ;-)

See the results on Libraries that HAVE a Conduit toolbar:
http://search.platformaonline.com/Search.aspx?q=library&ctid=CT813924&Name=Conduit

Try the Conduit Search widget I made to search for libraries that ARE using it and be surprised about the amounts:
http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/conduittooolbars

We are using them since 2005,and are still very content with developments at Conduit that keep up with web trends at great speed.

Functionality has been improved with the option to "group" toolbars to make it possible to toggle between toolbars, offer multilanguage versions, subject specific bars, and still the user just has to install one.
Here are some of my toolbars:
http://www.rug.nl/bibliotheek/locaties/bibcmb/informatie/toolbar/index
http://nlm.ourtoolbar.com/

Also we were abled to easily make tailor-made searchboxes for departments to be published on Intranet pages derived from/based on the Toolbar, as well as a range of search widgets published on our Netvibes Library Toolbox:
http://www.netvibes.com/cmb
In short, it promoted library services and resources, made them visible and accessible from various places other than the library website or campus. It makes search & news flexible and offer users to choose in how to arrange their own preferred tools.
Have a look at this overview for other examples of library toolbars: http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Web_Browser_Extensions#Toolbars_and_Sidebars

With best regards,

Guus van den Brekel (digicmb)
Medical Information Specialist & Coördinator Electronic Services
Central Medical Library, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
http://digicmb.blogspot.com
http://www.slideshare.net/digicmb/

On Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:20:31 -0700
Cecily Walker wrote:
> 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
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> 

Guus van den Brekel
Coördinator Elektronische Dienstverlening
Centrale Medische Bibliotheek, UMCG
+31 (0)50-3632632 / +31 (0)610900687 mobile work
www.rug.nl/umcg/bibliotheek
BLOG: digicmb.blogspot.com
Want to have your library always "close to you"?
USe the QuickSearch CMB Toolbar!
http://quicksearchcmbtoolbar.ourtoolbar.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Cecily Walker
Sent: vrijdag 17 april 2009 19:21
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

_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/