I tried add a list_mode in magento but all that this was able to accomplish (for me, on v1.9.1.0) was appending the list in Configuration > System > Catalog > Front End > List Mode. I saved the new setting but when echoing "$this->getMode()" nothing is returned unless I select one of the grid or list options.
\app\code\local\Mage\Adminhtml\Model\System\Config\Source\Catalog\ListMode.php
class Mage_Adminhtml_Model_System_Config_Source_Catalog_ListMode
{
public function toOptionArray()
{
return array(
//array('value'=>'', 'label'=>''),
array('value'=>'grid', 'label'=>Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Grid Only')),
array('value'=>'list', 'label'=>Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('List Only')),
array('value'=>'slider', 'label'=>Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Slider Only')),
array('value'=>'grid-list', 'label'=>Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Grid (default) / List')),
array('value'=>'list-grid', 'label'=>Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('List (default) / Grid')),
array('value'=>'slider-grid-list', 'label'=>Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Slider (default) / Grid / List')),
);
}
}