Search UIUC Library in Facebook, originally uploaded by The Shifted Librarian.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Libraries has created a Facebook app that any user can add to their profile. Wow! I've been hoping for just such a model!

Note how the app appears in my left-hand nav bar so I'm always just one click away from searching the catalog!

And I love that I found out about this in Facebook itself when Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe shared it there. Lisa, any plans to add patron data to this app (or create a separate one)? David, how did you do this? Is there a write-up somewhere? My kingdom for more details!

Addendum: I meant to note that I am happy to see the UIUC folks remembered to include a link to their live "ask a librarian," service, something I've seen others forget. It's important to get your services out in the wild where your users are, but it's equally important to remember to link back to your site and especially the "live" services you provide.