I have heard the term "widget" used so many times in the past year and every time I have asked myself, "What the heck is a widget?". So, I recently took it upon myself to learn about widgets and wanted to share it on this blog.
What are widgets?
There are different types of widgets, but for the purpose of this lesson we are referring to web widgets. So, what is a widget? According to Webopedia, in terms of Web 2.0, a widget is a small application that opens up a door to a larger application. It is a piece of self-contained code that links you to the application. Sometimes a widget is simply an icon for the application it represents (see below). These icons are also referred to as "graphical widgets".
Widgets have many applications. A widget acts as a shortcut. So when you see a Facebook widget on a web site, clicking on it links you directly to Facebook. This saves you the steps of having to open up a separate window and typing in the web address for Facebook.
The small icons in the picture below show you examples of some web widgets you may see on various web sites.
Widgets can be on the Web, but can also be on your computer's desktop. Desktop widgets are downloadable programs that you install on your computer in order to receive automatic updates of content. Check out the Yahoo! Widgets directory of desktop widgets that can be used for computers that run on Windows or Mac.
Widgets can also be reffered to as: Portlet, gadget, badge, module, webjit, capsule, snippet, mini, and flake. Widgets can be created in DHTML (Dynamic HTML), JavaScript, or Adobe Flash. [Click on the DHTML, JavaScript, and Adobe Flash links to find out more about each of these. Remember, you don't need to read the entire contents of the web page, just read enough to where you can get a basic understanding of what they are used for.]
Widgets in Libraries
According to an article in School Library Journal, libraries have caught on to widgets in a big way. Birmingham Public Library has a catalog search widget on their MySpace page. I also took a look at Atlantic Public Library's LibraryThing widget. It differs from other widgets. This widget is not just a link to the application. Instead, it recommends books to library users. The section on the right site of the screen, "New Books at the Atlantic Library", is the LibraryThing widget. LibraryThing also offers search widgets (similar to Birmingham Public Library's catalog widget) and graphical widgets (the icons discussed above).
Widgets can also be used to organize information. For example, the CiteMe Facebook App is a widget that formats citations in APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, or Turbian style for books and other items found in WorldCat (source).
Delicious also has web browser add-ons that make it easier to bookmark and organize web sites using delicious.(See the example of the delicious widget below.
Information Literacy: When engaged in information literacy instruction, emphasizing digital literacy and giving students tips on how to navigate through information in the online environment is always helpful. Widgets might be used by many students or some may have not even heard of them. Letting students know what they are, how to use them, and some examples will help students in the future when sifting through web sites and information. Widgets definitely have an application in and outside of libraries.
I'm glad that I finally learned about widgets! :)
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