[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Librarybookshelves08.jpg” caption=”You can go shopping at Amazon.ca or Amazon.com and help add new books to the McMaster University Library’s collection. Photo courtesy of the McMaster University Library. “]It may sound odd, but it's true. You can go shopping at Amazon.ca or Amazon.com and help add new books to the McMaster University Library's collection.

The magic begins with special hyperlinks, like those below, containing the Library's unique identification code. Clicking on one of these links leads to the Amazon site of your choice. You can search, browse, compare, and select among various products just as always.

Nothing will look different, but in the background Amazon remembers the special code that identifies the Library. When a purchase is made the Library receives a credit for the referral according to a pre-determined fee schedule. These referral payments are used exclusively to purchase new items for the Library's collection.

It's all made possible through Amazon Associates. The Library joined the program, described as “the leading selling program on the Internet, with hundreds of thousands of members,” in August 2007. At that time, links from items in the Library's online catalogue to the same item on Amazon were created. Users of the catalogue can now easily browse book reviews and other content before deciding whether to use the Library's copy, buy a copy for themselves, or search for other books that better meet their needs.

The program was also added to the Library's list of gift opportunities. With the direct benefit that Associates membership has for the Library's collections, it fits nicely into other activities in this area.

More information about the Amazon program, including the hyperlinks, and all of the Library's donation and fundraising programs is on the Supporting Your Library website.

So, be sure to bookmark these links and they'll be handy every time you visit Amazon. Who knew you could get your favourite books, movies, and music and contribute to McMaster's libraries at the same time.