Learn how to liven up your web sites and blogs with portable chunks of code called widgets. There are loads of sizes and types, and they are incredibly easy to use. Just copy and paste! Joy Schwarz and Beth Carpenter will show you how to find them and why you should consider using them.

1. Joy Schwarz, Winnefox Library System
Beth Carpenter, Outagamie Waupaca Library System
Project Play Date: November 21, 2008

2. What's a widget?
Definition:
• mini-web application
• portable snippet of code to copy & paste
• quick & easy to embed
• ready-to use format
• customizable
Different kinds:
• widgets you use in your browser
• widgets you can use in your blog or web site
(we'll talk about both kinds today)

3. Benefits of gettin' widgety
• add anywhere you can paste code
o blogs
o web pages
o wikis
o social sites
• code written for you
o no need to know scripting languages or HTML
• dynamic info without having to update
• merge content from multiple sources
• reflect local data (customizable)
• adds a bit of fun and interest
• easy peasy!

4. Widgets: what happens in the background
image source: Widgets for 2.0

5. Widgets to use in your browser
• iGoogle
• netvibes

6. iGoogle :: www.google.com/ig
• a single personalized page; brings together what you want
• add the RSS feeds and widgets you want
• create a Google (or Gmail) account to set it up
• for details, see projectplay.owlsweb.info/?p=74

7. iGoogle
Your first iGoogle page:
• drag & drop widgets to rearrange
• click "Add stuff" to, well, add stuff!

8. iGoogle
Use the Search box to
find library widgets:
You can also
• browse categories
• add feeds

9. iGoogle
Use Bloglines or Google Reader? Try iGoogle instead!
Here's one way:

10. iGoogle
Another way to add RSS feeds:

11. iGoogle

12. Netvibes :: www.netvibes.com

13. Netvibes
• Search for widgets by keyword
• Browse categories
• Add feeds
• Pull your personal info into 1 location

14. Widgets to use in your blog or web site
• meeboMe
• Flickr
• LibraryThing
• Delicious
• Google calendar
• Widgetbox
• RSS feed rolls
• Blogger widgets

15. meeboMe :: www.meebo.com
Instant
messaging
(IM) that
doesn't
require
people to
have
registered for
an IM service
in order to
contact you.

16. meeboMe

17. meeboMe

18. meeboMe
Shows in
dead end
searches in
library
catalog.

19. Flickr :: www.db798.com/pictobrowser

20. Flickr :: flickrSLiDR.com

21. Flickr :: www.flickr.com/fun/zeitgeist/

22. LibraryThing :: www.librarything.com/tools
Put a LibraryThing widget on your blog to show what you're
reading now, random books from your collection, your tag
cloud, and more.
• standard blog widget shows books, authors or tags
• search widget lets people search your library

23. LibraryThing standard blog widget

24. LibraryThing search widget

25. LibraryThing

26. Delicious
Delicious:
a social bookmarking service that allows you to tag, save,
manage and share web pages all in one place
Types of widgets:
• network badges
• link rolls
• tag rolls
• blog posting

27. Delicious: network badge
• shows you're a member of Delicious
• gives an easy way to add you to their Delicious network

28. Delicious linkroll
displays your recent Delicious bookmarks:

29. Delicious
displays
a cloud
or list of
your
Delicious
tags

30. Google calendar ::
www.google.com/calendar
In calendar settings, you'll see embed options:
Use the Customize link to change the style, size, and what
navigational options you want to have available for your
embedded calendar.

31. Google calendar

32. Google calendar in iGoogle

33. Widgetbox :: www.widgetbox.com

34. Widgetbox
1. 2.

35. RSS feed rolls :: feed2js.org

36. RSS feed rolls :: feed2js.orgolls

37. RSS feed rolls :: feed2js.orgolls

38. RSS feed rolls :: feed2js.orgolls

39. RSS feed rolls :: feed.informer.com

40. RSS feed rolls ::feed.informer.comrolls

41. RSS feed rolls ::feed.informer.comrolls
Options for display:
Pictures Flash HTML

42. New Blogger widgets: dashboard
Layout versus Template mode:

43. New blogger widgets rolls

44. Questions? rolls
Project Play: projectplay.owlsweb.info
Beth Carpenter
Outagamie Waupaca Library System
bcarpent@mail.owls.lib.wi.us
http://librarian.justbeth.info
Joy Schwarz
Winnefox Library System
schwarz@winnefox.org