Facecatalogue

The University of Alberta Libraries have created a Facebook application that lets Facebook users look at the library catalogue, use RefWorks and perform other library functions without leaving the snug confines of Facebook.

Are we heading back to the future, where Facebook is the new AOL or Compuserve and the world is seen from within its borders? Clearly there is a general struggle in virtual land to create the space within which it all happens — whether it’s iGoogle or Netvibes or some other proto-webOS — as if the actual “world” of the internet is simply too big and people need big brother or sister to pare it down for them. Equally clearly I don’t get it.

[via Lorcan Dempsey’s weblog]