The Nantucket Atheneum is piloting a program that will hopefully make it more convenient to find books at the library when you are shopping online. Library Extension is a browser add-on for Chrome that will alert library patrons if a book is available at the Atheneum while they search for titles on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major bookseller sites.

Borrowing books is a cost-effective way to read and Library Extension will make it easier to compare the Atheneum’s collections with your shopping cart. Not ready to commit to buying that new novel or cookbook? Library Extension will let you know if you can borrow a copy instead. This is also a great option if a bookseller is out of stock and you want to get a jump start on your next book club pick.

How does it work?

Any time you search for a book title on a major bookseller website, like Amazon, Library Extension will pop up and alert you if the book is available at the Atheneum. From there, you can place a request with your library card to order the book.

How do I install Library Extension?

1. To begin, you must have Chrome installed as your internet browser
2. Next, visit libraryextension.com to download Library Extension
3. Once the download is complete, a small book icon should appear in the upper-right corner of the page
4. Click on the book icon and choose “Massachusetts” and “Nantucket Atheneum” from the appropriate pull-down menus
5. Once the program is installed, nothing more is required

The next time you visit a major bookseller website and search for a title, Library Extension will activate and let you know if the Atheneum owns the book. Library extension will remain inactive when you are browsing non-book websites and you have the option to pause searching or delete the program at any time.

Please note that Library Extension is only formatted for Chrome but a version for Firefox is in the works. This program can only search for books at the Nantucket Atheneum. Materials from our larger consortium of CLAMS libraries will not appear.