Search Plugins and Scripts for the Firefox Browser

The Firefox search bar is a built in search within the Firefox browser. The default setting includes Google, Yahoo!, eBay, Amazon.com, and Dictionary.com. Click on the icon (the Google G is the default) to choose another search. Then enter your search words and hit Enter. To do another search with the same words in a different search engine, just select the new search from the list and hit enter, again.

There are lots of search plugins available. Try the main list at Mozilla's search plugin page or do a Web search for "firefox search plugin" and the name of the page or service you are interested in. For instance, here's a Google search for Pubmed plugins: firefox search plugin Pubmed.

SCSU specific search plugins:

Search CONSULS: Install the CONSULS search plugin
(Click on this link while using the Firefox browser. Click OK when prompted.) Designed by Rebecca Hedreen, using the UTMOST (University of Toledo) script.

New! Search the Journal Locator: Install the Journal Locator search plugin
(Click on this link while using the Firefox browser. Click OK when prompted.)

The following plugins use the proxy address for off campus searching:

Search EBSCO's Academic Search Premier: Install the ASP search plugin (Click on this link while using the Firefox browser. Click OK when prompted.)

Search EBSCO's Academic Search Premier FULL TEXT ONLY: Install the ASP Full Text search plugin (Click on this link while using the Firefox browser. Click OK when prompted.)

Search several EBSCO Full text databases for FULL TEXT ONLY: Install the EBSCO Full Text search plugin (Click on this link while using the Firefox browser. Click OK when prompted.)

Search JSTOR: Install the JSTOR search plugin (Click on this link while using the Firefox browser. Click OK when prompted.)

Other useful library search plugins:

RedLightGreen (multiple library catalogs) search plugin

WorldCat (multiple library catalogs with "find in a local library" feature) search plugin (scroll down below toolbars.)

BioMed Central Google Scholar search plugin (scroll down below the BioMed Central plugin.)

WorldCat and CONSULS Amazon "Linky" GreaseMonkey scripts

Note: I now have trial scripts updated for Firefox 1.5 and GreaseMonkey 0.6.4. Be sure to check which version of Firefox and GreaseMonkey you have before installing.

These scripts create icons next to the titles of books on Amazon.com linking to the CONSULS catalog or the OCLC WorldCat "Find in your Library" database. GreaseMonkey is a Firefox Extension that runs scripts to cause changes in the appearance and/or actions of a web page. Not all web pages will run these scripts.
*Be careful what scripts you install, as it would be possible for a script to do malicious and harmful things on your compter, such as install software or copy passwords. Only install scripts (and extensions) from trusted sources.*

You must be using the Firefox browser and the GreaseMonkey Extension. These scripts were adapted by Rebecca Hedreen from Amazon Linky and the OCLC xISBN project.

Install the GreaseMonkey Extension, if you haven't done so already. Click on one of the following links. For Firefox 1.5+, you should get a prompt at the top of the browser window with an Install button. Or, in the Tools menu, choose "Install User Script". Click OK when prompted. (You may also be able to right click on the link and choose "Install User Script".)

CONSULS (pre-Firefox 1.5)
CONSULS (Firefox 1.5+)
WorldCat (pre-Firefox 1.5)
WorldCat (Firefox 1.5+)

Look up a book on Amazon.com. Click on the icons (Find in a Library-powered by WorldCat and CSU) under the title to look the book up in CONSULS or the WorldCat database. You will also see a list of related ISBN's in the left frame. Click on one of these to search other editions of the same book (i.e. paperback edition, revisions, etc.) This works best for books with a few editions/revisions. Examples: Gender Archaeology by Marie Louise Stig Sorensen (a scholarly work)
A Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil (There are many, many editions; click through the CONSULS ISBN list--can you find all 3 CSU copies?)
You can turn these scripts off or uninstall them by going to the Tools menu and selecting Manage User Scripts. You can uninstall the Greasemonkey extension by going to the Tools menu and selecting Extensions.

Rebecca Hedreen
Distance Education Librarian
2006

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