Three Library Homegrown Open Source Tools
 
- Voyager Canned Search Generator
- Quick-Cat
- Excel VBA Macro
 
Background  
 
In the article "Developing Utility Tools to Enhance Voyager Access, Search and Workflow Automation", Daniel Xiao and John Paul Fullerton, Library Hi Tech, 2008, Vol 26, No 1, pp 95-109, we described three library tools developed at Texas A&M University Libraries. To encourage innovative ideas for creating better and free library solutions, we have now made the software source code available to the public. The three tools mentioned in the article are:
 
  • Voyager Canned Search Generator
    It provides librarians or other content creators with an automatic way to generate persistent links to Voyager catalog searches. This tool can be found at http://libraryasp.tamu.edu/cannedsearch/cannedsearch.asp. It has been made available on the Internet since 2002.  The public could use it without downloading the source code.
     
  • Quick-Cat
    This is an OPAC shortcut search tool. It was created in 2005. It allows users to highlight bibliographic data including authors, titles, ISBN or ISSN numbers on any website and immediately search their own library catalog with just a click. One could also use the concept to create quick access to other applications or online resources from their desktop. Quick-Cat is currently available only at the TAMU Libraries. To create your own Quick-Cat, see the source code link in the download section.
     
  • Excel VBA Macro
    Designed to assist in the EBSCONET serials renewal, this tool provides an easy gateway from the serials list to the Voyager Acquisitions and Cataloging clients, the EBSCONET website and the library’s SFX system. The Excel VBA Macro is currently only available at the TAMU Libraries. To create your own Excel VBA Macro, see the source code link in the download section.

    Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Elain Luza, Library Associate II, Head of Serials Records, Texas A&M University Libraries, for her valuable input on the development of the Excel VBA Macro and her willingness to record the first demo video of the Macro.
Videos and Source Code
 
Use the following links to download the source code or watch the demo videos. The source code is in zip files. Basic instructions are included in the zip files.
 
Keep Us Updated
 
If you have downloaded the source code, expanded its functionality or added new features, we would like to hear about it. We will appreciate it if you could send us a note. Thanks.
Contact the Authors
 
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email them to: librarytools@library.tamu.edu  Thanks.