diff --git a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.js b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.js
index 783287f67d..c8ba510831 100644
--- a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.js
+++ b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.js
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ var ScholarPane = new function()
 		var itemsTree = document.getElementById('items-tree');
 		itemsTree.controllers.appendController(new Scholar.ItemTreeCommandController(itemsTree));
 		
-		// Create the add menu with each item type
+		// Create the New Item (+) menu with each item type
 		var addMenu = document.getElementById('tb-add').firstChild;
 		var separator = document.getElementById('tb-add').firstChild.firstChild;
 		var moreMenu = document.getElementById('tb-add-more');
@@ -643,13 +643,25 @@ var ScholarPane = new function()
 		}
 	}
 	
-	function newNote()
+	function newNote(popup)
 	{
-		var c = getSelectedCollection();
-		if(c)
-			openNoteWindow(null, c.getID());
+		if (!popup)
+		{
+			var item = this.newItem(Scholar.ItemTypes.getID('note'));
+			document.getElementById('scholar-note-editor').focus();
+		}
 		else
-			openNoteWindow();
+		{
+			var c = getSelectedCollection();
+			if (c)
+			{
+				openNoteWindow(null, c.getID());
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				openNoteWindow();
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	
 	function openNoteWindow(id, parent)
diff --git a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.xul b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.xul
index 73c4f8a3c4..3284cc93ad 100644
--- a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.xul
+++ b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/overlay.xul
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
 			<vbox id="items-pane" persist="width" flex="1">
 				<toolbar align="center">
 					<toolbarbutton id="tb-add" tooltiptext="&toolbar.newItem.label;" type="menu">
-						<!-- Built in overlay.js::onLoad() -->
+						<!-- New Item drop-down built in overlay.js::onLoad() -->
 						<menupopup>
 							<menuseparator/>
 							<menuitem label="&toolbar.attachment.linked;" oncommand="ScholarPane.addAttachmentFromDialog(true);"/>
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 					<toolbarseparator/>
 					<toolbarbutton id="tb-link-page" tooltiptext="&toolbar.attachment.weblink;" oncommand="ScholarPane.addAttachmentFromPage(true)"/>
 					<toolbarbutton id="tb-snapshot-page" tooltiptext="&toolbar.attachment.snapshot;" oncommand="ScholarPane.addAttachmentFromPage()"/>
-					<toolbarbutton id="tb-note-add" tooltiptext="&toolbar.note.standalone;" oncommand="ScholarPane.newNote();"/>
+					<toolbarbutton id="tb-note-add" tooltiptext="&toolbar.note.standalone;" oncommand="ScholarPane.newNote(event.shiftKey);"/>
 					<spacer flex="1"/>
 					<label value="&toolbar.search.label;" control="tb-search"/>
 					<textbox id="tb-search" type="timed" timeout="250" command="cmd_scholar_search" dir="reverse" onkeypress="if(event.keyCode == event.DOM_VK_ESCAPE) { this.value = ''; this.doCommand('cmd_scholar_search'); return false; }">
diff --git a/chrome/chromeFiles/locale/en-US/scholar/scholar.dtd b/chrome/chromeFiles/locale/en-US/scholar/scholar.dtd
index 4ab06eb475..a0b711b948 100644
--- a/chrome/chromeFiles/locale/en-US/scholar/scholar.dtd
+++ b/chrome/chromeFiles/locale/en-US/scholar/scholar.dtd
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 <!ENTITY items.creator_column 			"Creator">
 <!ENTITY items.source_column 			"Source">
 <!ENTITY items.rights_column 			"Rights">
-<!ENTITY items.numChildren_column 		"#">
+<!ENTITY items.numChildren_column 		"+">
 <!ENTITY items.dateAdded_column 		"Date Added">
 <!ENTITY items.dateModified_column	 	"Date Modified">
 
diff --git a/system.sql b/system.sql
index 6af427b994..684ec2394d 100644
--- a/system.sql
+++ b/system.sql
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
--- 4
+-- 5
 
 -- This file creates system tables that can be safely wiped and reinitialized
 -- at any time, as long as existing ids are preserved.
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
     INSERT INTO "fieldFormats" VALUES(2, '[0-9]*', 1);
     INSERT INTO "fieldFormats" VALUES(3, '[0-9]{4}', 1);
     
-    INSERT INTO itemTypes VALUES (1,'note',NULL,2);
+    INSERT INTO itemTypes VALUES (1,'note',NULL,0);
     INSERT INTO itemTypes VALUES (2,'book',NULL,2);
     INSERT INTO itemTypes VALUES (3,'bookSection',2,2);
     INSERT INTO itemTypes VALUES (4,'journalArticle',NULL,2);