I’ve been using Facebook for the past two months or so. I like it. Several libraries have developed applications that work within Facebook. I installed the ones that show up in the Facebook application directory. Here’s a brief overview of their features.

Notre Dame Library Search

Inserts a single search box on the profile page for finding books and articles. As you can see from the screenshot, the search only works for valid Notre Dame users. There are links to the library’s home page and its Ask A Librarian service above the search box as well. The application page (when selected from your Application links on the left) provides the same interface.

Hennepin County Library Catalog Search

Inserts a single search box on the profile page for searching their catalog. A drop down box allows you to select Title, Author, Subject, or Keyword. The application page looks the same. Unique: A link below the search box lets you add this application to your profile by clicking on it.

UM Library Search (University of Michigan)

Inserts a single search box on the profile page that lets you do a keyword search in the library catalog. Logo on the left links to the library’s home page. The application page provides the same interface.

UIUC Library Search (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Inserts a single search box on the profile page that does a search for both books and articles. Also provides a link to the Ask A Librarian service above the search box. The application page looks the same.

Update: Code for the UIUC Library Search: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/dh-ward/www/facebook_search_widget.zip

Ryerson U Library

The Ryerson University Library application is very different from the others. The screenshot above shows what it looks like on your profile page. It inserts a single search box on your profile that searches the library catalog. A drop down box allows you to select Keywords, Title, Author, Subject, Journal Title, Course, or Prof/TA. The “click here for more content” link beneath the search box provides links to Ryerson Library App main page (see below), the Catalogue search page (part of the app), the News page (part of the app), and the library’s website.

The Ryerson Library app provides a significant amount of information on the main application page. I’ve included a screenshot of it above. There is a catalog search box, an article search box, links to the five most recent news items, as well as links to many library services and guides. The “News” tab (at the top) provides links to the top 15 news items, the “Search Catalogue” tab provides another location to search the catalog (I don’t see anything different about this search than the one on the main app page), and the “View New Titles” tab provides links to view new audiovisual items, new books, and new e-books (which then all display within Facebook).

Overall, the Ryerson U Library application provides a significant library presence in Facebook. None of the applications address the social nature of Facebook and any potential that may have. Although, the Hennepin application does take advantage of the viral nature of Facebook by including a quick link to add the application to your profile.