ALA to Play a Role in the New Markle
Foundation Project for Cyberdemocracy The American Library Association
(ALA) has announced the launch of a project to promote democracy in cyberspace
with support from the Markle Foundation. This is part of a $1 million initiative
to educate and involve the general public in Internet governance issues.
The first phase of the project will be in connection with the upcoming
elections for at-large board members of the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN). The election will be the first global public
vote that directly affects the emerging government of cyberspace. As part
of the outreach project, Internet users will be encouraged to go to libraries
to learn about ICANN, register as members, and vote in the board elections
at the library. ALA says it will create a Web site and work to involve
public libraries in educating the public about democracy and governance
in cyberspace. The ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP),
based at the association’s Washington, DC, office, will administer the
project.
Source: American Library
Association, Chicago, 312/280-5044; Fax: 312/944-8520; http://www.ala.org.
Swets and CatchWord to Provide Electronic
Publishing Services to Scholarly Publishers CatchWord and Swets Subscription
Service have announced an agreement to jointly provide electronic publishing
services to research and scholarly publishers. CatchWord will supply Swets
with the electronic publishing infrastructure and platform that will allow
the company to provide a complete end-to-end electronic publishing service
for its customers. The Swets electronic publishing service will incorporate
production, hosting, distribution, and other value-added services such
as reference linking to abstracting-and-indexing services, and will fully
utilize the CatchWord global server network. The agreement enables Swets
to offer a fully branded electronic publishing service along with its existing
portfolio of services to publishers worldwide and provides CatchWord with
extended reach to publishers.
Ameritech Library Services to Be Acquired
by 21st Century Group, Green Leaf Ridge Ameritech Library Services
(ALS), 21st Century Group, LLC, and Green Leaf Ridge, LLC have announced
an agreement under which Ameritech, a company of SBC Communications, Inc.,
will sell ALS to a private investment group led by 21st Century Group and
Green Leaf Ridge Company. The transaction is subject to approval by the
SBC Communications board of directors.
Ameritech Library Services
supports more than 7,600 customer libraries worldwide with a broad spectrum
of software and hardware solutions that are service oriented and Internet-enabled.
The company will be renamed and will adopt a new logo in the near future.
The acquisition, which was expected to be completed by the end of December
1999, includes all ALS global offices and its more than 520 employees.
The company headquarters will remain in Provo, Utah.
EBSCO Publishing Releases Its School
ResourceNet, Adds New Images and Maps EBSCO Publishing has announced
the release of a complete Web-based learning environment, EBSCO School
ResourceNet (ESRN). ESRN combines quality curriculum assessment and reference
resources with management and communication tools. ESRN is designed to
enhance the education process by offering standards-based learning applications
that improve students’ comprehension in various subject areas. Through
this program, schools can access EBSCO’s vast collection of popular reference
databases as well as its learning applications. Educators, parents, and
students can gain access to a variety of resources by visiting EBSCO’s
new free Web site (http://www.ebscosrn.com).
In a separate announcement,
EBSCO announced that it has licensed materials that will improve the visual
content of its Web-based reference databases. Over 10,000 photographs,
licensed from Archive Photo, will be added to EBSCO’s collection of images.
In addition to these photos, EBSCO will add a library of over 1,000 U.S.
and world maps supplied by MapQuest.
The Computer Language Company
has announced that it is now shipping version 12.4 of its Computer Desktop
Encyclopedia CD-ROM, which contains more than 14,000 definitions, illustrations,
photographs, and diagrams and 900 additions/revisions from the previous
quarter. The encyclopedia, also known as TechEncyclopedia, is available
on the Web at http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia
and http://www.globetechnology.com.
All definitions and most of the images are available online.
According to the announcement,
the encyclopedia is the premier reference for the computer industry for
novices and experts alike. It covers PCs, Macs, UNIX, networking, client/server,
graphics, multimedia, Internet, Web, standards, major products and vendors,
and more.
OSI, EBSCO Create Information Consortium According to an announcement
from EBSCO Publishing, in an initiative called Electronic Information for
Libraries Direct (EIFL Direct), libraries in 39 countries will have access
to a wealth of electronic full-text journals. The company claims that EIFL
Direct is the largest information consortium in the word. This initiative
is a result of a joint project between the Open Society Institute (OSI),
a part of the Soros foundations network, and EBSCO Publishing.
Countries in the consortium
include 27 from Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union,
10 from Southern Africa, plus Guatemala and Haiti. All academic, research
(noncorporate), medical, national, and public libraries in these countries
are welcome to join the consortium. EBSCO will supply five databases to
members of EIFL Direct: Academic Search Elite, Business Source Premier,
MasterFILE Premier, Newspaper Source, and Comprehensive MEDLINE with FullTEXT.
CybraryN Software Has Been Upgraded Computers By Design, Inc.,
a developer of public access control and reporting software, has announced
the new release of CybraryN, a complete public access control solution
for Windows PCs. According to the company, CybraryN provides systems administrators
with state-of-the-art tools to drastically reduce maintenance of public
access computers while preventing inexperienced or malicious users from
installing software, accessing restricted files, or changing system settings.
In response to increasing
deployment of public access computers, additional administrative functions
have been included in the new release, such as new third-party authentication
support; Smart Save Technology, which prevents patrons from writing to
the hard drive; and improved reporting and monitoring capabilities.
Northern Light Debuts New Ranking
Technology for Relevant Search Results Northern Light Technology,
Inc. has announced a new generation of relevancy ranking technology that
provides users with the most relevant results from their Web searches.
Northern Light’s second generation of relevancy ranking algorithms adds
the use of various hypertext link information or link popularity to the
other factors the engine already considers, including statistical measures
such as query term frequency, word context information, document title,
document classification, and natural-language analysis. Link popularity
adds to these factors a measure of site quality based on the number of
links to the site. In this way, the editorial information provided by the
page’s author is automatically factored into the relevancy of the document.
Aries Systems’ Enhanced Knowledge
Finder Search Engine Offers Interactive Features Aries Systems Corp. has
announced the enhancement of its Web search engine, Knowledge Finder, with
new features that encourage interaction between medical professionals
and librarians on the Internet. The new version allows users to mark bibliographic
records and e-mail document requests to librarians. One of the supported
e-mail formats is QuickDOC, a software package that is used by more than
30 percent of medical librarians to manage interlibrary loans. Knowledge
Finder allows the display of library journal holdings and supports export
of marked records to personal bibliographic software such as EndNote.
Source: Aries Systems Corp.,
North Andover, MA, 978/975-7570; Fax: 978/975-3811; http://www.kfinder.com.
ISI ResearchSoft Ships ProCite Version
5
Click
to Enlarge
ISI ResearchSoft has announced
that it has released a new upgrade to its ProCite software, which transforms
the bibliographic program into an online research tool allowing users to
search remote bibliographic databases on the Internet. According to the
announcement, ProCite 5 adds an important new feature to the information
toolbox—the ability to access reference data on the Internet and easily
incorporate it into personal databases and documents.
ISI ResearchSoft reports
that with ProCite 5, building a database is quite easy. The new program
ships with more than 200 Internet Host files, which instantly link the
user to Internet databases such as university card catalogs, the Library
of Congress, and more specialized databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and
ERIC from popular providers such as Ovid Technologies, SilverPlatter, and
OCLC. This new feature enables ProCite users to standardize on one interface
to search for bibliographic data in a broad selection of databases worldwide.
ProCite 5 also offers improvements
to its Cite While You Write technology, which allows users to view complete
references and to click-sort on the column headings for easy access to
their references.
Source: ISI ResearchSoft,
Berkeley, CA, 800/554-3049, 510/559-8592; http://www.procite.com.
SPARC Endorses Two New Science E-Journals The Scholarly Publishing
& Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) has announced the endorsement
of the New Journal of Physics and the Internet Journal of Chemistry. The
two journals are now part of SPARC’s Leading Edge program, which supports
community-based electronic ventures in science publishing. Leading Edge
projects use technology and innovative business models to provide scientists
with better ways to disseminate their research.
The New Journal of Physics
(http://www.njp.org) is a peer-reviewed,
all-electronic journal available at no charge to readers via the Internet.
The Internet Journal of Chemistry (http://www.ijc.com), created by an independent
group of chemists in the U.S., the U.K., and Germany, uses the Internet
to offer information in greater depth than paper journals and in ways that
can be better understood by chemists.
Chancery Supplies Webivore MARC Records Chancery Software, Ltd.
has announced that, due to a new alliance with Webivore Knowledge Systems,
it is now offering Library Pro 2 customers three special curriculum-based
sets of URLs in MARC record format that will help students in elementary,
middle, and high schools access useful Web sites for research projects.
According to the announcement, the Chancery Webivore MARC Records are high-quality
Web sites that have been preselected and categorized in terms of subject
matter, accuracy, and credibility.
Webivore Knowledge Systems
(WKS) of Boston sells K-12 media center subscriptions to a Web-based service
that accesses thousands of MARC records for high-quality Web sites. Chancery’s
agreement with WKS gives exclusive rights that allow Chancery’s Library
Pro 2 customers to download the Chancery Webivore MARC Records directly
from Chancery’s Web site and import them into their Library Pro 2 databases.
LC Launches Its New Web-Braille Service The Library of Congress
(LC) has announced that Braille readers can now read books on the Internet,
thanks to its technological breakthrough called Web-Braille. Web-Braille
offers access to more than 2,700 electronic Braille books on the Internet
for the use of eligible Braille readers by the LC’s National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Each year, hundreds of new titles
will be added.
As a result of new computer
technology, Braille readers may now access Web-Braille digital Braille
book files with a computer and a refreshable Braille display or a Braille
embosser. These 2,700 book titles are available on the Internet for download
or online use by eligible individuals, libraries, and schools with a computer
and a Braille-output device. LC also produces Braille versions of many
national magazines and is now exploring the feasibility of adding these
to Web-Braille.
Source: Library of Congress,
Washington, DC, 202/707-2905; http://www.loc.gov.
LinuxFool.com Launched as Portal for
Users
Click
to Enlarge
Davidzon Network Technologies
has announced the launch of LinuxFool.com (http://www.linuxfool.com), which
offers users an unbiased forum for discussions and information sharing,
since more and more users are discovering the Linux operating system as
a viable alternative to high-priced operating systems.
According to the announcement,
LinuxFool.com’s Webmaster hopes that this site will attract Linux enthusiasts,
regardless of proficiency level, experience, or expertise. As this goal
is accomplished, registered and new users will come to rely on each other
as experts, seeking technical support and assistance in an unmoderated
setting. The site is structured around users’ suggestions, comments, and
ideas.
GSM Launches Medical Curriculum Web
Site Gold Standard Multimedia,
Inc. (GSM), a publisher of medical and reference software, has announced
that it has launched Integrated Medical Curriculum, a product that links
together the studies of anatomy, physiology, histology, immunology, medical
ethics, and pharmacology all on a single Internet site. Located at http://www.imc.gsm.com,
users can dissect cadavers online, examine cellular biology through a digital
microscope, animate complicated physiologic processes, look at radiographs
without a lightbox, explore challenging and controversial medical ethical
issues, obtain up-to-date clinical drug information, test their medical
knowledge with online quizzing, earn continuing education credits, and
more. The Integrated Medical Curriculum site provides health-care students
and professionals, as well as consumers, with access to a unique core collection
of medical education materials, absolutely free.
Source: Gold Standard Multimedia,
Inc., Tampa, FL, 813/258-4747; http://www.gsm.com.
Journals@Ovid Links to BIOSIS Previews Ovid Technologies, Inc.
has announced the implementation of extensive hyperlinking between BIOSIS
Previews and Journals@Ovid, Ovid’s aggregated database of hundreds of scientific,
technical, and medical journals. Links from the following U.S. National
Library of Medicine databases—Aidsline, CancerLit, HealthStar, and BioethicsLine—have
also been added. As well as being able to start searches in BIOSIS Previews
and go directly to the full text, Ovid’s links allow users to go from one
full-text article to another via the references in that article. The references
in the full-text articles also link back to bibliographic citations.
Source: Ovid Technologies,
Inc., New York, 212/563-3006; Fax: 212/563-3784; http://www.ovid.com.
Hoover’s, Inc. Teams with Vault.com,
Gomez Advisors for Company Information Hoover’s, Inc., publisher
of Hoover’s Online, has announced two new partnership agreements. Under
the terms of its agreement with Vault.com (http://www.vault.com),
Hoover’s Online visitors can access Vault.com’s Employer Reports, which
offer an insider view of a company for the benefit of job seekers and researchers
needing insight into a company’s corporate culture. Hoover’s and Vault.com
maintain an e-commerce relationship, and Vault.com offers its visitors
the opportunity to search Hoover’s Online for Hoover’s Company Capsules.
As part of the agreement with Gomez Advisors (http://www.gomez.com), Hoover’s
Online provides the most recent Gomez Advisors Internet Broker Scorecard
and a link to Gomez.com in the Stocks section of the Hoover’s Online Money
channel.
OneSource Implements Its New CRM Initiative OneSource Information Services,
Inc. has announced a new initiative to deliver company information in Business
Browser through leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications.
Onyx Software Corp. and Pivotal Corp. are the inaugural partners. As traditional
CRM applications move to the Web, successful sales forces need to integrate
more external information such as company profiles, news, financial data,
industry information, executive biographies, and analyst reports. With
the OneSource program, sales professionals using CRM tools from leading
providers such as Onyx and Pivotal will be able to access Business Browser
from within the CRM application, giving them the comprehensive business
information they need to complement the internal data.
EBSCO Subscription Services and SilverPlatter
Provide Linking Capabilities EBSCO Subscription Services
and SilverPlatter Information, Inc. have announced that they now have seamless
linking capabilities from citation records in SilverPlatter bibliographic
databases (via SilverLinker technology) to full-text electronic journals
accessible through EBSCO Online.
EBSCO customers have access
to more than 3,600 electronic journals through EBSCO Online, and content
is available from a number of publishers, including more than 350,000 articles
from more than 30,000 individual issues. SilverLinker is SilverPlatter’s
solution for the integration of bibliographic references and the corresponding
full-text articles, wherever they exist. SilverLinker enables direct access
from SilverPlatter’s bibliographic citation databases to thousands of Internet-available
electronic journals and the full text of hundreds of thousands of articles.
Philips Ships Single-Chip DVD-ROM
Drive Philips Semiconductors
has announced the world’s first single-chip solution for 12-speed DVD-ROM
drives. In addition to high-speed DVD performance, the highly integrated
SAA7811 supports 56x CD-ROM access. Packaged in a single 208-lead quad
flat pack, the SAA7811 combines a channel decoder, block decoder, servo
control, and microcontroller functions. Even in lower-speed drives, this
level of functionality previously required the use of several integrated
circuits, Philips says. Built-in multimedia functions include playback
of audio CDs at speeds greater than 1x using a DRAM buffer, IEC 60958 digital
audio interfacing, and audio playback via an on-chip DAC with a 4x over-sampling
filter and digitally controlled volume/muting.
Kenwood Technologies has
announced the Kenwood 72X TrueX CD-ROM drive, its third high-performance
drive based on Zen Research’s TrueX technology. The Kenwood 72X TrueX CD-ROM
drive delivers a sustained transfer rate ranging from 6.75 MB/sec. to 10.8
MB/sec. across the entire disc. Like all TrueX CD-ROM drives, the 72X TrueX
reads seven tracks of data in parallel. It employs Partial Constant Angular
Velocity (PCAV) for optimum performance. Unlike a 56x “max” drive that
rotates at over 11,000 rpm with excessive noise and vibration, the 72X
TrueX drive’s design virtually eliminates vibration and noise while rotating
at only 5,100 to 2,700 rpm. The drives are available at a suggested retail
price of $129.95.
TAC Launches Fast CD/DVD-ROM Networking TAC Systems has announced
its LANRedi Turbo, which it claims is the industry’s fastest CD/DVD-ROM
mirrored network attached storage (NAS) appliance. LANRedi Turbo employs
the latest in “slimserver” mirroring technology which boosts network throughput
rates up to 7 MB/sec. and provides much faster access to mirrored CD/DVD-ROM
images using hard disk drives instead of CD/DVD-ROM drives. This newest
addition to the LANRedi family broadens the range of traditional CD-ROM
tower applications to include true multimedia—audio, video, images, and
data. List pricing for LANRedi Turbo ranges from $3,595 to $8,495.
Yamaha Re-Engineers Its CRW8424 Drive The new CRW8424 CD-RW drive
from Yamaha Systems Technology has been completely redesigned to correct
some problems with the original version of the unit. The new drive will
write at 8x, rewrite at 4x, and read at 24x normal speed. The SCSI version
is available now; the ATAPI version will follow soon.
The new optical head of
the Yamaha CRW8424 is designed by Yamaha to assure optimum recording quality,
and reflects the company’s 10 years of experience in the CD recorder industry.
According to the announcement, the CRW8424 boasts true, sustained 8x recording.
Also new is a 4-MB buffer to assure reliable, high-speed data transfer.
Source: Yamaha Corporation
of America, Buena, CA, 714/522-9000; http://www.yamaha.com.
PrimeArray Releases New CD/DVD Servers PrimeArray Systems, Inc.
has announced that it has released its new Netserve family of CD and DVD-ROM
network attached servers. According to the company, the new Netserve models
combine the convenience and flexibility of multiple direct-access CD or
DVD drives with the performance and cost-effectiveness of hard-drive storage
for disc images.
Features include CD image
cache capacity equivalent to 27 to 140 CDs (DVDs can also be cached); eight
to 24 CD or DVD read mechanisms; dramatically increased access speeds compared
to traditional CD-ROM servers; access to both PC and Mac format CDs; hot
swappable drives; and backplane-based architecture. In addition, the system
caches and shares automatically; installs in minutes; displays networked
CDs as subdirectories under one volume; and supports Windows 95/98/NT,
Novell NDS, Macintosh, UNIX, ftp, and Web clients. All CD and DVD content
is accessible via Web browser.
Winnebago Develops Spectrum Union
Catalog Winnebago Software Company
has announced the release of Spectrum Union Catalog, a client/server program
providing access to the complete holdings of a district or library consortium/alliance
through a unified database. This new product allows access to a wider selection
of materials through interlibrary loan.
With Spectrum Union Catalog,
patrons can search the material records of one library or many libraries
simultaneously, regardless of the automation system each library uses.
Spectrum Union Catalog also allows districts or consortia the option of
performing central or site-based data management.
Spectrum Union Catalog requires
a Windows NT Web server with IIS (Internet Information Server). In addition,
a district or consortium may choose to use Novell 4.x, Novell 5.x,
Windows 95/98, or Windows NT for a database server.
SydneyPLUS Introduces New Global
Editor, New Web OPAC Module Portal Capabilities SydneyPLUS International
has announced that it is introducing a new Global Editor feature in its
Cataloging module. According to the announcement, librarians will soon
be able to search for text in any field in the library catalog and replace
it with new text (with the exception of the authority and thesaurus fields).
An option that enables librarians to confirm each text replacement can
be toggled on or off, giving them full control of where text is replaced.
In a separate announcement,
SydneyPLUS announced that it has expanded the role of its Web OPAC
module to that of an information portal to an organization’s other information
resources. SydneyPLUS says the Web OPAC module is a logical portal
to relevant links, functions, and external resources within the organization.
Users can now add links to other sites on their intranets or the Internet,
or integrate hotlinks for commonly performed searches.
O’Reilly & Associates Releases
New Resources O’Reilly & Associates
has announced the publication of several resources of interest to librarians.
XML Pocket Reference by Robert Eckstein (ISBN: 1-56592-709-5, $8.95)
is both a concise introduction to XML terminology and syntax, and a quick
reference to XML instructions, attributes, entities, and data types. The
JavaScript Application Cookbook by Jerry Bradenbaugh (ISBN: 1-56592-577-7,
$34.95) provides users with ready-to-use applications that address common
Web site needs, including a client-side search engine, online test administration,
and cookie-based user profiles. The Whole Internet: The Next Generation
by Kiersten Conner-Sax and Ed Krol (ISBN: 1-56592-428-2, $24.95) offers
practical Internet advice for a broad range of users and features an Internet
resource catalog, which spotlights the best sites on topics from children
to sports to personal finance.
ITI Publishes New Title on Virtual
Libraries Information Today, Inc.
(ITI) has announced the publication of The
Evolving Virtual Library II: Practical and Philosophical Perspectives
(ISBN: 1-57387-070-6, $39.50), edited by Laverna M. Saunders. Building
and expanding on Saunders’ 1996 effort, this latest book uses case studies
to show how academic, K-12, public, corporate, and special libraries are
being transformed to meet the demand for online information access. With
chapters by Saunders and nine other experts, The Evolving Virtual Library
II explores key trends and issues in the digitization (and “Internet-ization”)
of libraries. The book describes developments in computer networking, showcases
solutions for remote users, illuminates promising online applications in
all types of libraries, and offers a meaningful vision of the future.
Saunders is the dean of
library, instructional, and learning support at Salem State College in
Salem, Massachusetts, and a contributing editor of CIL. She has
edited two previous books on the virtual library.
SIRS Adds National Archives Documents SIRS Mandarin, Inc. has
announced that National Archives Documents, a collection of visual resources
highlighting major themes and events in U.S. history, have been added to
the SIRS Government Reporter CD-ROM and Web databases. Taken from the holdings
of the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA), National Archives
Documents include reproductions of primary sources such as charts, photographs,
letters, drawings, and posters illustrating key issues and prevailing public
attitudes of a particular period.
National Archives Documents
are grouped into historical units and often include glossaries, brief biographies,
and timelines to put the documents in chronological perspective. Each unit
also contains an annotated bibliography.
Academic Press Launches New IDEAL Academic Press has announced
that IDEAL, its online scientific journal library, has been completely
redesigned and updated with a new electronic content delivery system. Available
to all licensees, this system is the primary IDEAL platform at http://www.idealibrary.com.
The new IDEAL content delivery
system is Y2K-compliant and features a redesigned home page with customized
access options, along with faster and simplified navigation. Added features
include selected journals in full-text HTML and more links in and out of
IDEAL from third-party providers. Users can link internally to other articles
on IDEAL and link out from IDEAL to article references. IDEAL@Search, a
robust and fast searching tool with an easy-to-use interface, is fully
integrated into the system. IDEAL features, such as IDEAL@Alert, continue
to be available.
Inmagic Announces DB/TextWorks for
Libraries Inmagic, Inc. has announced
the release of DB/Text for Libraries, a library-specific version of its
new DB/TextWorks version 4.0, designed for information management on desktops
and networks (Windows 95/NT). DB/Text for Libraries is specifically designed
for the management of catalogs, serials, loans, and orders in corporate
libraries. Its features include the use of scripts, translating into fewer
keystrokes for serials check-in and circulation; forms and screens for
use with Inmagic’s DB/Text WebPublisher, including a ready-designed OPAC
layout for easy mounting of the catalog on the Web or intranet; shorter
screens and less scrolling; improved “look and feel” of many operations;
extra on-screen assistance, reducing user dependency on online help; and
more statistical reports.
Free trial versions of Inmagic
products and a listing of local resellers are available from the company’s
Web site.
EOS International Announces Version
2.0 of Its Q Series Library Information System Electronic Online Systems
(EOS) International has announced the release of version 2.0 of its Q Series
library information management and access system. Q Series version 2.0
activates the full functionality of authority control in the Cataloging
module. This new release also provides libraries with the option of implementing
the Q Series with Microsoft’s SQL Server relational database management
system (RDBMS).
The Q Series authority control
enhancements allow a library to easily import USMARC authority control
records and set up all USMARC authority cross-reference types. Q Series
authority controls enable the library to compare imported headings and
cross-references to those found in their existing bibliographic records.
A global search-and-replace is performed automatically among the records
after a change is made to an authority control record. If desired, the
Q Series setup controls allow staff to overlay and automatically update
existing authority control records with more current ones.
Source: Electronic Online
Systems International, Carlsbad, CA, 800/876-5484, 760/431-8400; http://www.eosintl.com.
SIRSI Announces System for Small Libraries SIRSI Corp. has announced
the launch of a new integrated library system packaged specifically for
small libraries. The turnkey system, called Unicorn QuikStart, includes
a free Windows NT central server and special hotline, and provides the
same full-function software that SIRSI installs at larger libraries.
QuikStart includes complete
Unicorn Library Management System functions for bibliographic and inventory
control, authority control, WebCat (Web-based Online Public Access Catalog)
with ReferenceLIBRARIAN, circulation control, and SmartPORT (Z39.50 capture
cataloging).
For a free, no-obligation
price quote, visit SIRSI’s Web site.
