One of the obvious improvements to v0.1 of my OU Library Toolbar is to tweak the My Library Record bookmark so that instead of opening the 'login' page, it logs you in automatically.
As I don't have time just at the moment to hack around with the toolbar, I thought I'd prototype this functionality with a Firefox bookmarklet. There are a couple of issues though.
Firstly, the bookmarklet needs to reveal my surname and library card number. I'm not sure how 'secret' this info is, but assuming I'm not supposed to reveal it (a password widget is used to enter it, after all) means that I can't publish a full working demo of the bookmarklet here...unless the library has a dummy user account I can borrow...;-)
Secondly, the form used to gain access to My Library Record uses an HTTP POST, rather than a GET. GET would be easy - POST is trickier... However, I tracked down a workaround for this before, so reusing that approach gives us:
- a MyLibraryRecord bookmarklet.
This bookmarklet is probably too long for IE, but it works okay in Firefox. To use it:
1) drag it onto your Firefox bookmarks toolbar;
2) right click on it and go into Properties;
3) In the Location field, look along the javascript code and insert your Surname and OU Library Card number in the appropriate places (e.g. libID='0310073861';surname='Other');
4) Click on Okay.
When you click on this bookmarklet, you should be taken straight to your Library Record page.
Posted by ajh59 at June 3, 2005 06:24 PM