Most of our powerful research tools now exist on the Web, but libraries shouldn't overlook the ability to add research features to the browser software itself. The extensible nature of the Firefox browser in particular makes it easy to install add-ons that help researchers at every stage of the research cycle, from search and discovery to writing and citation.

Two open source extensions to the Firefox browser, LibX and Zotero, can improve the research process for library staff and users. Once configured and installed, LibX provides Firefox users with an additional browser toolbar and right-click functionality that can search a library's catalog, OpenURL resolver or federated search engine, as well as other Web sites. LibX also includes an autolinking feature, which embeds searchable links within other Web sites such as Google, Amazon, or Yahoo. Zotero merges the best features of other citation management programs with those of popular Web 2.0 services. Zotero users can store full citation information and sort, tag, annotate, and search these citations from within the Firefox browser. Zotero can also “scrape” citations from certain Web sites, allowing users to selectively save citations into their research collection. Zotero can generate complete bibliographies in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. The abilities to remotely store, synchronize, and share Zotero collections are under development with a planned release date in fall 2007.

This project examined the potential that emerging ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) hold for improving student experience in learning about public policy in developing country contexts. The principal investigator was supported by Dr. Irina Elgort (University Teaching Development Centre) and Prof. Pak Yoong (Information Management). The Project was prompted by several observations concerning available technologies, student needs, and public policy in developing countries at the current time. The first of these observations is that the range of ICT tools is expanding rapidly and this in turn is changing knowledge practices that build on novel capabilities and opportunities - as will be described below. Secondly, there is considerable variance in the abilities of students in policy studies – at both graduate and undergraduate levels - in the use of emerging ICTs, and this issue must be addressed if graduates of public policy and of public management are to make full use of the information tools becoming available to them. Whereas some may have an expert level of knowledge through training in information sciences, a far greater number have not had such exposure. Finally, there is a “digital divide” in the levels of access and opportunity that researchers and policy makers have, which needs to be addressed if more equitable use of ICTs is to take place. Although the appropriate use of ICTs can have beneficial impact on the field of policy studies wherever it is applied, such activity in the context of small island developing countries such as those found in the Pacific Islands, which do not have large libraries or systematic retention of public records, can be all the greater.

The University of Zurich has been trying to build an editor for eLML for a long time (nearly since the beginning of the eLML project). After two unsuccessful approaches a third approach based on the Mozilla Firefox Plugin technology led to success. In summer 2008 the first beta version of the Firedocs eLML Editor20 was released.

Today’s bibliographic managers provide cloud storage so that papers can be attached to citations and syncing services, in order for papers and citations to be available in multiple mediums. Mendeley and Zotero are two services that offer online storage of papers and citations, desktop applications, and tablet integration. Mendeley has an iPad application and an open API so that developers can create apps for Android tablets. Zotero is an open-source project that encourages developers to create both iPad and Android apps. Both suites can be integrated with word processing software for accurate in-text and bibliographic entries, provide full-text indexing of PDF documents, and can attach notes to citations. Choosing between them depends upon what features a mobile researcher would need and use.

2015, with E. Bertacchini and C. Liuzza. International Journal of Cultural Policy. This article analyzes whether emerging nations are extending their influence across the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and, if so, how this affects decision-making processes concerning the inscription of sites on the World Heritage List. We use both quantitative and qualitative approaches to identify patterns in decision-making processes regarding inscriptions at the World Heritage Committee sessions. Our results suggest that in the last decade, a group of emerging powers including China, South Africa, Russia, and India has dominated the UNESCO World Heritage decision-making process. At the same time, our results suggest an increasing ‘politicization’ of decisions emerging from the polarization of positions concerning the role and legitimacy of Advisory Bodies’ technical recommendations. Our finding contributes to discussions of the role and contribution of the BRICS countries in challenging the existing structures of multilateral governance by presenting the example of World Heritage, UNESCO’s self-proclaimed flagship program