The Web Laboratory showcases projects and proposed additions to The University of Alabama Libraries web environment. It provides a venue for the testing and refining of services prior to their official release to The University of Alabama community. Please have a look around and try out the items featured. Then, use the "add comment" link to tell us what you think.

Featured Content

Search and Discovery Interfaces
RefWorks
LibX Toolbar
Firefox Search Plugin
Web Site Redesign
Zotero and EndNote Web


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University Libraries Links

University Libraries Homepage
Libraries' Catalog
Extreme Search
eLearning
The University of Alabama


Links to Similar Sites

University of Alberta's
Library Web Lab


University of Minnesota's
Digital Library Development Lab


Vanderbilt University's
Test Pilot


University of Virginia's
Library Lab


Library Search

New Library Search Page

Released for testing: 08.04.2008
Last updated: 08.04.2008

A new streamlined page for searching library resources is now available. The Library Search is designed as a compliment to our current and future web site by providing users with a clean interface for easy access to our resources.




University Libraries Web Site

University Libraries Web Site Redesign

Initial post: 05.15.2008
Last updated: 07.22.2008

The latest prototypes for the University Libraries' new web site are available. The prototypes include a new del.icio.us widget, so you have your personal bookmarks at your fingertips. Branch page designs are also available for Hoole and Rodgers libraries. We hope that you will take a look at the two updated prototypes and send us your comments!






search and discovery interfaces

New Search and Discovery Interfaces

Initial post: 02.27.2008
Last updated: 02.27.2008

The University Libraries are looking at several search and discovery applications to improve the usability of the Libraries' Catalog and other library resources. We invite our users to take a look at some of the new interface possiblities. Try out the University of Washington's WorldCat Local, Vanderbilt University's DiscoverLibrary, and the open source vufind. We are also looking at Innovative Interfaces's Encore. Let us know what you think!





RefWorks

RefWorks     On Campus Only

Initial post: 02.08.2008
Last updated: 02.08.2008

The University of Alabama recently licensed RefWorks for campus usage. RefWorks is a tool designed to help researchers manage and share information, and generate citations and bibliographies. To try it out, go to the RefWorks site and click on the "Login" tab, then "Sign up for an Individual Account". You must be on campus to do this at this time.






LibX Toolbar

LibX Toolbar   for   Firefox  or  Internet Explorer

Released for testing: 11.01.2007
Last updated: 01.04.2008

The LibX toolbar gives you direct access to searching the Libraries' Catalog from Firefox or Internet Explorer. Also, you'll have the option to connect directly to Google Scholar. Simply type in the information you're looking for in the text box, and results will display in your selected window or tab. You can highlight text on any website, right-click and search your selected text in the Libraries' Catalog.




Firefox Plugin

Firefox Search Plugin     Install Now

Released for testing: 11.01.2007
Last updated: 11.01.2007

This tool enables you to conduct a keyword search of The University of Alabama Libraries' Catalog from anywhere on the web. To add the plugin to your Firefox web browser, click the "Install Now" button. Once installed, select "UA Libraries' Catalog" from the listed search engines in the top right of your Firefox browser.




EndNote vs. Zotero

Zotero and EndNote Web
web research and citation tools

Last updated: 11.01.2007

Let Zotero help you with your research! Zotero is a free research tool for Firefox that helps you collect and organize web-based resources (full-text articles and bibliographic information), and then share your results.

If you are an Internet Explorer user, try EndNote Web for managing citations. This new online tool provides storage for references and the ability to easily format bibliographies in any of a wide range of styles. The 'Cite While You Write' plug-in lets you instantly format citations in Microsoft Word. Users of the stand-alone Endnote software will want to access through the Web of Knowledge. Personal registration is required.