Greasemonkey script for Torontonian Goodread users

This target market is pretty specific, I know, but I wrote a script to make searching for books at available at my local library more easy while browsing Goodreads. I’m starting to use Goodreads to track what I’m reading and also find suggestions from friends.

Connie Crosby linked via Twitter to a blog post on how to automatically search your local libraries while browsing Amazon. I don’t browse Amazon that often but it did get me thinking.

When I want to read a book I generally first check out the TPL’s downloadable section. It’s a little sparse for anything other than computer books. (Yes, I do read things other than computer books.) Anyhow, I’ve already gotten some use out of my script when only dead tree editions were available, and I imagine others will find the script handy too.

What it does is it searches the Toronto Public Library’s catalog for the 13 digit ISBN of any book that you visit on Goodreads. If it’s in the catalog, you can click a link that’ll pop up a list showing what branches it’s available at, and place a hold if you want.

This was made possible by the new beta website which is still a work in progress. Still, very cool features have been rolled out.

Known issue with the script: I couldn’t get the “place hold” button to select the right branch, no matter which “place hold” link you click it will ask you to select your branch.

Watch the 1.5 minute video below if you want a preview of what the script does.

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