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Technical stuff > Web browser extensions that help readers

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message 1: by Jan Mc (last edited Mar 02, 2021 10:44AM) (new)

Jan Mc (mcfitzsatx) | 275 comments I'm here to recommend a browser extension/add-on that I absolutely LOVE. It's called Library Extension and is developed by Quotidian. Their web page: https://www.libraryextension.com/ It works on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers and is free.

What it does: On every book page of many sites [Goodreads, LibThing, Amazon, Chirp, Audible, B&N, ABE Books, Google Books, Fanstastic Fiction, Kobo, Smashwords, Bookbub (and many more)], it tells you whether the book is available from any or all of the libraries you've chosen.

I have four libraries from which to choose, and this extension has saved me money, time, and effort over and over. Why purchase if you can borrow?

Here is an example of what appears on a book page in my Goodreads: https://weneedmoreshelves.com/library...

I highly recommend this extension for those of us who "shop around" for books.


message 2: by Mike (new)

Mike | 3 comments Thanks. That should be helpful.


message 3: by binter (new)

binter | 218 comments Wow, that's great, thanks Jan. I can't tell you how much time I spend checking if a book is available at my local library.


message 4: by Contrarius (new)

Contrarius | 373 comments I'll add a ditto to Jan's rec. Jan's the one who got me to try it in the first place. It's a great little add-on!


Paris        (kerbytejas) (kerbytejas) | 146 comments I've use it for about 2 years now and its great - just sad it doesn't work on android, cause sometimes thats where I get suggestions and I have to wait till i get to a windows pc


message 6: by Contrarius (new)

Contrarius | 373 comments Oh, also -- even though it's called "Library" Extension, it can also tell you if the book is available from places like Scribd. I use that all the time!


message 7: by L J (new)

L J | 315 comments Paris (kerbytejas) wrote: "I've use it for about 2 years now and its great - just sad it doesn't work on android, cause sometimes thats where I get suggestions and I have to wait till i get to a windows pc"

From Library Extension website
"The Library Extension is not supported on Android. Mozilla Firefox is current working on adding more Add Ons to their Android version of Firefox and we are hopeful that we will be able to provide an offering in the future.

As a historical note, the Library Extension was available on Firefox for Android prior to September 2020. Mozilla updated their support for Add Ons at that time and limited the list of Add Ons to a smaller list of supported and approved Add Ons."


Paris        (kerbytejas) (kerbytejas) | 146 comments L J wrote: "Paris (kerbytejas) wrote: "I've use it for about 2 years now and its great - just sad it doesn't work on android, cause sometimes thats where I get suggestions and I have to wait till i get to a wi..."

Thank you for the info


message 9: by Julesy (new)

Julesy | 96 comments I have been using this Library Extension for a long while. At least 2 years? I belong to 6 library systems, so you can imagine what a pain it was to go every single library to see whether the book is available. This was a lifesaver for me!! Wow, the greatest thing since sliced bread. Not only that, one of my libraries was not included - it was either Cloud or hoopla. I told the support person and he fixed it within MINUTES. You cannot get that kind of support anywhere!

If you have more than one library system from which you borrow, I highly, highly recommend this tool. I just love it to pieces!


message 10: by Kathleen (new)

Kathleen | 354 comments While Library Extension is a good tool, it is very inaccurate.

It is more useful to tell you that your library has it, than to tell you that it doesn't. It just fooled me again today.


message 11: by Julesy (new)

Julesy | 96 comments Kathleen wrote: "While Library Extension is a good tool, it is very inaccurate.

It is more useful to tell you that your library has it, than to tell you that it doesn't. It just fooled me again today."


Not sure what you mean. If it is available at your library, there is a green check mark with the number of copies available, i.e., "1 of 3 copies available". If it is not available, there is a red X and will indicate "0 of 3 copies available".


message 12: by Contrarius (last edited Mar 14, 2021 11:15AM) (new)

Contrarius | 373 comments Julesy wrote: "Not sure what you mean. If it is available at your library, there is a green check mark with the number of copies available, i.e., "1 of 3 copies available". If it is not available, there is a red X and will indicate "0 of 3 copies available". "

I think she means that you can't always trust the extension when it tells you that the library doesn't have a given book. I've noticed this myself occasionally.

The reason seems to be that different sites occasionally use slightly different titles for books, and that sometimes screws up the extension's search engine. For instance (I'm just making up this example), if one site listed The Hobbit, but the library listed The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, then the extension might see these as different books and therefore might tell you that the library didn't have a copy of The Hobbit when it actually did.

IOW -- if the extension tells you that the library DOES have a given book, you can trust that it does; but if it tells you that the library does NOT have a given book, it may actually have that book anyway.


message 13: by Kathleen (new)

Kathleen | 354 comments Contrarius: I like your explanation.


message 14: by Jan Mc (new)

Jan Mc (mcfitzsatx) | 275 comments In regards to the inaccuracy and title duplication, we even see that here on Goodreads, don't we? Ahhhh, first-world problems. :-)

I always thought it would be great to use the ISBN to identify books, but that doesn't really work anymore, either, since there are several formats it could be, and each new format that gets published needs a new ASIN or ISBN.

In any case, I love the extension and use it constantly. It's saved me a lot of time and effort, and indeed, money.


message 15: by Contrarius (last edited Mar 15, 2021 08:20AM) (new)

Contrarius | 373 comments Jan wrote: "In regards to the inaccuracy and title duplication, we even see that here on Goodreads, don't we? Ahhhh, first-world problems. :-)."

When I look up a book I very often look it up on both GR and Amazon, or GR and Audible. When I do, I just check Library Extension and make sure it's telling me the same thing on both pages. I think that's caught all the issues I've had with title discrepancies. Easy peasy.


message 16: by Nancy (new)

Nancy Koepp | 3 comments LOL - agree


message 17: by Leona (new)

Leona (mnleona) | 13 comments Nice to know. Thanks.

In Minnesota we have MNLINK and I can request a book from any library in Minnesota including the University of Minnesota.


message 18: by Julesy (new)

Julesy | 96 comments @Contrarius - thanks for explanation. I get it now! Yes, that can be frustrating. I think I discovered that with one particular title.


message 19: by Jan Mc (new)

Jan Mc (mcfitzsatx) | 275 comments Last year, I paid for the entire 24 credits at Audible. But thanks in part to this extension, I just switched to the 12 credit plan when my membership renews next month. I borrowed many more audiobooks from the library this year!


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