Vol. 20, No. 9 • October 2000	Newsline

During its first month of “live” testing, the member institutions exchanged more than 300 questions. Using new technologies, the service will enable member institutions to provide the best answers in the best context, by taking advantage of not only the millions of Internet resources, but also of the many more millions of resources that are not online and that are held by libraries.

The CDRS is currently testing the second of three pilots. Public beta testing was scheduled to begin October 1. For more details, see http://www.loc.gov/rr/digiref.

Source: Library of Congress, Washington, DC, 202/707-2905; http://www.loc.gov.
 

OCLC Releases Dublin Core Qualifiers
OCLC and the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) have announced the formal recommendation of the Dublin Core (DC) Qualifiers. The addition of the DC Qualifiers enhances the semantic precision of the existing DC Metadata Element Set. For the past year, working groups of the Dublin Core developed these newly agreed upon refinements to give better access to information. More information about the new recommendation can be found at http://purl.org/dc/documents/dcmes-qualifiers.

Source: OCLC, Dublin, OH, 800/848-5878, 614/764-6000; http://www.oclc.org.
 

ingenta Introduces New Web Site Features
ingenta has announced the redesign of its Web site, which now offers more free, personalized, online research tools to end-users, librarians, and publishers. The Web site’s new features, including My Ingenta, Research Alerts, direct access to search features, streamlined personal registration, and Patents database, will enable ingenta’s customers to take advantage of over a million full-text research articles currently available on the site. The Web site also offers users the opportunity to take part in online discussions about a variety of specific research topics; there’s also an UnCover discussion group.

Source: ingenta, Inc., Cambridge, MA, 888/263-5720, 617/395-4000; http://www.ingenta.com.
 

Primary Research Group Issues Report
Primary Research Group has announced its new report, Corporate Library Benchmarks (ISBN: 1-57440-048-7, $120). The report contains more than 250 tables of data that explore library use of search engines, the Web, cataloging systems, online services, CD-ROM, document delivery services, electronic and print journals, books, and other information vehicles. It also looks at the impact of intranets on library management, outsourcing of cataloging functions, and other issues of interest to corporate librarians.

Source: Primary Research Group, Inc., New York, 888/455-8380, 212/245-2327; http://www.primaryresearch.com.
 

CatchWord Launches a New Library Branding Feature and Adds 63 Journals
CatchWord has announced new options for library branding on its Web site, allowing librarians to make it more obvious to their users that resources accessible through the library have been paid for. Library branding allows librarians to add the institution’s logo and a link to the library Web pages, a feature that informs users that their institution has set up and paid for a subscription.

In other news, CatchWord and the Taylor & Frances Group have announced that the online editions of 63 former Scandinavian University Press titles, now published by Taylor and Francis AS, are to be made exclusively available through CatchWord and its network of distribution partners. CatchWord will also submit article data to CrossRef in order for these titles to be accessible from the 1.3 million article records in 2,700 journals in CrossRef’s Metadata Database.

Source: CatchWord, Ltd., Abingdon, U.K., 011-44-1235-555-877; Fax: 011-44-1235-536-500; http://www.catchword.com.
 

booksinprint.com Unveils Its New ‘Hooks to Holdings’ Feature for Libraries
Bowker’s booksinprint.com is introducing a new tool—Bowker’s Hooks to Holdings feature—that will allow a search of a library’s catalog directly from booksinprint.com.

By selecting Search My Library’s Catalog, users will have the capability to find out which titles their library already owns and the titles’ availability. This feature will assist patrons in searching and finding the titles they are interested in and will assist librarians in determining which titles they need to order. A search can also be conducted of the holdings of multiple libraries tied to one account, for example a consortium or a group of libraries that may have access via an ILL system.

There is also a function that will allow libraries to download MARC records that are adapted to their own library automation vendors’ formats. Moreover, librarians can now access inventory stock levels from 19 wholesalers and distributors, including Baker & Taylor and Ingram Book Company.

Source: Bowker, New Providence, NJ, 888/BOWKER2; http://www.bowker.com.
 

New ERIC Slide Show Training Resource
The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), supported by the U.S. Department of Education, has announced that librarians and educators now have a fast, easy, and free way to update themselves on and teach others about the publications, products, and services of the ERIC program. The ERIC Slide Show (http://www.accesseric.org/resources/eric_slides.html) can be downloaded on the ERIC systemwide Web site in both PowerPoint and HTML formats.

According to the announcement, it provides users with a concise yet comprehensive introduction that includes this information: how to search the ERIC database using basic and more advanced search strategies; how to obtain ERIC Documents, Digests, journal articles, and other ERIC publications; and how to access the AskERIC Q&A service, ERIC listservs, and ERIC Clearinghouse Web sites.

Librarians may order free, helpful handouts to enhance their presentations and workshops by calling the main ERIC number or by sending an e-mail request to accesseric@accesseric.org.

Source: Educational Resources Information Center, Rockville, MD, 800/LET-ERIC; http://www.accesseric.org.
 

IEEE Offers a Special Deal for Schools
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has announced a special offer for academic institutions, as part of its plan to expand the reach of its online publications to academic libraries worldwide. The company is offering free online access from September to December 2000 to its 2000 All Society Periodicals Package (ASPP) or Proceedings Order Plans (POP) with a 2001 commitment to subscribe. Also, in 2001, IEEE print subscribers can add online access to their print subscriptions for one flat fee ($6,000 for ASPP or POP Online, $10,000 to add POP ALL Online to POP+). Additionally IEEE/IEE Electronic Library (IEL) subscribers can add ASPP or POP in print to their IEL subscriptions for the same add-on prices.

According to the announcement, IEEE’s ASPP and POP Online packages both feature an intuitive new interface called IEEE Xplore, weekly updates, searchable citation records, full-text Adobe PDF files, and a backfile starting from 1998.

Source: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Piscataway, NJ, 732/562-3991; http://www.ieee.org.
 

SPARC and IEEE Produce a New Journal
The Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) has announced its partnership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to produce the IEEE Sensors Journal, a low-cost, high-quality alternative to Sensors and Actuators, A and B. The IEEE Sensors Journal, a print and electronic journal to be published bimonthly beginning in June 2001, will be a fully refereed publication with online peer review and an electronic paper-submission system. The IEEE Sensors Journal will cost $395 per year for nonmember institutions and $19 per year for individual IEEE members. (The competing journal costs approximately $4,600.) For further information, see http://www.ieee.org/sensors.

Source: Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition, Washington, DC, 202/296-2296; http://www.arl.org/sparc.
 

NEW ONLINE DATABASES

Facts On File Interactive Releases Comparative Religions On File On-line
Facts On File has announced Comparative Religions On File On-line (ISBN: 0-8160-4414-7, $99), a resource designed for the study of faiths at all levels and for students of all ages.

This new database will help users explore and understand religions from a historical and cultural perspective. It includes source information and a thorough index, searchable by initial cap or keyword. Organized by keyword, Comparative Religions On File On-line covers religion today, creation myths, places of worship, rituals, symbols and objects, holy books and key ideas, ancient and traditional religions, development and groups, festivals, sacred places, and religious leaders. The database is also available on CD-ROM.

Source: Facts On File, Inc., New York, 212/967-8800; http://www.factsonfile.com.
 

EBSCO Publishing Offers New Materials
EBSCO Publishing has announced that it will be offering the complete electronic archive of The Nation, America’s oldest continuously published weekly magazine. Its 135-year history of reporting, opinion, and criticism is an important collection of primary source material of use to anyone interested in the history of politics, culture, books, and the arts, EBSCO says.

The archive will be presented via an intuitive Web-based environment, which allows users to view high-resolution images of the original magazine pages. The full text is searchable by word or phrase.

In other news from EBSCO Publishing, the company has made an agreement with BIOSIS (http://www.biosis.org) to offer the Biological Abstracts database via EBSCOhost. EBSCO SmartLinks, now available for EBSCOhost Web, will allow users to link from a citation in the result list of one database to the corresponding full text in another.

The Biological Abstracts database is a complete collection of bibliographic references to more than 4,000 biological and medical research journals, and almost 90 percent of the references contain informative abstracts written by the authors.

Source: EBSCO Publishing, Ipswich, MA, 800/653-2726, 978/ 356-6500; http://www.epnet.com.
 

E-BOOK DEVELOPMENTS

Lightning Source Makes Partnerships with Holtzbrinck and Versaware Companies
Lightning Source, Inc. has announced an alliance with Holtzbrinck Publishers, the U.S. publishing group that includes St. Martin’s Press, Picador, Tor, Forge, Henry Holt, and Farrar, Straus & Giroux, to become Holtzbrinck’s primary provider of a comprehensive suite of digital fulfillment services. In addition, Holtzbrinck’s worldwide publishers such as Pan Macmillan and Palgrave will participate in this alliance.

Under the agreement, Lightning Source will provide print-on-demand, short-run, and galley printing services to Holtzbrinck, in addition to e-book conversion, storage, and fulfillment services.

The company has also announced that it has formed a long-term strategic alliance with Versaware, Inc. to expand the product offerings of both companies.

Under the agreement, Versaware will help digitize titles being added to Lightning Source’s library. Using Versaware’s e-book solutions, titles can be made available in any popular e-book format supporting all popular hand-held devices, including Microsoft Reader, Glassbook, Versabook, Adobe PDF, and HTML. Lightning Source will allow Versaware customers to receive titles in traditional hard cover and paperback editions, as well as in various digital formats.

Source: Lightning Source, Inc., La Vergne, TN, 615/213-5815; http://www.lightningsource.com.
 

O’Reilly Announces Its Safari Service
O’Reilly & Associates has announced Safari: O’Reilly Books Online, a Web-native service that will be available this fall at http://safari.oreilly.com. According to the announcement, it’s not just a collection of digitized books. It’s a “knowledge interface” that provides search and navigation across O’Reilly titles, plus features like annotation and bookmarks that allow you to customize the interface.

A subscription-based service, Safari allows you to build a customized online library. You pay a flat fee based on the number of titles to which you subscribe, and you can change the titles in your subscription as your needs change.

The company reports that Safari will include 50 of O’Reilly’s best-selling books at launch, and the company will add titles until the entire O’Reilly publishing list is available.

Source: O’Reilly & Associates, Inc., Sebastopol, CA, 800/998-9938, 707/829-0515; http://www.oreilly.com.
 

ADMINISTRATOR TOOLS

Network Instruments Announces the Release of Observer Suite Version 7.0
Network Instruments has announced that it has released version 7.0 of its Observer, Expert Observer, and Observer Suite network troubleshooting and protocol-analysis software tools. Observer is a software-only, Windows-based, real-time network monitor and LAN troubleshooting tool. It offers event notification and a complete trending and baselining collection system to view historical data collected over days, weeks, or years.

In addition to increased general performance and more efficient data handling, new features of Observer 7.0 include new post-capture statistics, including Summary, Protocols, Top Talkers, Matrix, and Internet Usage, and improved packet capture timing resolution. Expert Observer 7.0 contains all of the new Observer features, plus What-If Live Modeling, VoIP Expert, and Expert Summary. Observer Suite 7.0 includes all the new features of Observer and Expert Observer, plus SNMP Extension and WEB Extension.

Source: Network Instruments, LLC, Minneapolis, 800/526-7919, 952/932-9899; http://www.networkinstruments.com.
 

Use NoiseNakPlus to Control PC Sound
Complete Software Solutions has announced NoiseNakPlus, its new shareware package for libraries and other environments where excess noise can be disturbing. The software puts the sound level controls for all computers on the administrator’s desktop.

With NoiseNakPlus, you can preset limits on computer volume levels and password lock them. Options include Global Control (one computer can mute/unmute other computers), Automatic Level Control (allows a computer to react to the volume of noise around it), Scheduled Volume (limits maximum volume on time-of-day or day-of-week basis), Simplified Screen Resolution Setting (can increase screen resolution/print size for visually challenged users), Command-Line Control (optimum volume levels and screen resolution can be preset for each program), and Volume Reset (resets optimum volume levels with one click).

NoiseNakPlus operates on Windows Millennium, NT, 95, 98, or 2000 operating systems. The program is available for download/free trial at http://www.comsoft.co.nz/noisenakplus.

Source: Complete Software Solutions, Memphis, TN; noisenakplus@comsoft.co.nz; http://www.comsoft.co.nz.
 

Computers By Design Offers Upgrades
Computers By Design, a developer of public-access control and reporting software, has announced that its One-Site browser program now features support for proxy servers. This feature allows customers to seamlessly integrate proxy-based Internet filtering into their controlled computing environments.

According to the announcement, this feature will be especially useful for public libraries currently dealing with filtering issues. When combined with the company’s CybraryN public access control software, libraries can determine whether a user should be offered filtered or unfiltered access to the Internet based on their authentication credentials at logon. The program uses a simple command-line switch to indicate whether or not proxy access should be used.

In a separate announcement, the company reports that in the fourth quarter of this year, it will begin rolling out an enhanced set of service initiatives designed to assist customers with using CybraryN software and its related family of products. These will include the formation of user groups, hands-on seminars, and streaming video presentations, which will cover topics such as administration, configuration, and customization.

Source: Computers By Design, Inc., Nesconset, NY, 800/THE-TOWN; http://www.the-town.com.
 

LINKING AGREEMENTS

CAS Gives Free ChemPort Reference Links
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) has announced that it will provide five ChemPort publishers with free reference links, connecting references in publishers’ electronic journals to CAS database records or the original full-text articles on the Web.

The first publishers to employ expanded reference linking in ChemPort will be Academic Press/IDEAL, the American Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry, Springer-Verlag, and ACS Publications. While expanded reference linking will be launched with five publishers, CAS reports that it expects to open the service to all ChemPort publishers next year.

Source: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, OH, 800/753-4227, 614/447-3600; http://www.cas.org.
 

Ex Libris Offers Seamless Links via SFX
Ex Libris has announced an agreement with ISI to cooperate on integrating ISI and Ex Libris solutions. The first steps will be to integrate the Web of Science with Ex Libris’ SFX link technology. This partnership will give ISI customers additional linking services beyond the 1 million scholarly journal full-text and 2 million database record links currently available with the Web of Science.

Sources: Ex Libris, Inc., Chicago, 877/527-1689, 773/404-5527; http://www.exlibris-usa.com and ISI, Philadelphia, 800/336-4474, 215/386-0100; http://www.isinet.com.
 

Academic Press Enhances IDEAL Service
Academic Press has announced that its IDEAL now offers a new facility called Link In, which allows users to enter simple details of publications and then move directly to the journal issue, pages, or articles of their choice. Link In also makes it possible for users to specify citation data or relevant DOIs (digital object identifiers) and bypass normal browse or search procedures. The Link In to IDEAL Web page (http://www.idealibrary.com/links/ journals) gives a daily snapshot of IDEAL journal holdings, specifying the articles, issues, volumes, and years available for each title on IDEAL. Also, any user can use Link In to locate content from all 238 IDEAL journals, whether or not their institutions hold current IDEAL licenses.

Also, IDEALFirst, a new feature that gives researchers accelerated access to journal articles, has been launched. IDEALFirst publishes individual papers online immediately upon acceptance at http://www.idealibrary.com/help/IDEALFirstinfo.jsp, well in advance of the printed journals. The feature’s initial phase encompasses 22 journals, including Developmental Biology and Journal of Solid State Chemistry. Through this article-by-article publishing feature, the current issue of each title is produced incrementally on IDEAL, with accepted papers being added to a running contents page. When the requisite number of articles is accumulated, the issue of that journal is printed and archived in the usual way.

In other news about IDEAL, CrossRef Links have been activated. The links, which appear in articles throughout IDEAL, allow users to connect to cited journals published by John Wiley, Blackwell Science, and Elsevier Science. Academic Press reports that links with the other 33 publishers participating in CrossRef are in process.

Source: Academic Press, San Diego, 619/231-6616; http://www.academicpress.com.
 

LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Endeavor Offers Unicode Capabilities
Endeavor Information Systems has introduced an enhancement to the Voyager integrated library management system that now allows its software users, located anywhere in the world, to view foreign language information contained in their bibliographic databases over the Internet.

The recent product enhancement is based on “glyph server” technology, developed jointly with InterPro Global Partners, which takes bibliographic information stored in the MARC standard format, converts it to Unicode standard characters, and then publishes the characters in the form of a language-specific set of glyphs—images that are viewable from any standard Web browser. The Glyph server allows the OPAC end-user to accurately see the language represented without having to download font sets for each language.

Source: Endeavor Information Systems, Inc., Des Plaines, IL, 800/762-6300, 847/296-2200; http://www.endinfosys.com.
 

Surpass Releases Central 2.0 Software
Surpass Software has announced that it has released Surpass Central 2.0, an upgrade to the core module of the Surpass line of library automation products.

One of the significant new features in Central 2.0 is the ability to import Accelerated Reader test lists. Central will look for matches and automatically update the MARC records in Surpass for books that have Accelerated Reader tests. Users of Safari can perform standard searches and request that the results be limited to materials for which a test is available. A patron can even specify to show only materials within a certain reading level. Another new feature in Central 2.0 allows the administrator to set custom patron fields that will trigger alert tones and display optional dialogue boxes during circulation if data is present in that field.

Source: Surpass Software, Calhoun, GA, 706/625-5399; http://www.surpasssoftware.com.

Cuadra Offers Lower-Cost Software for Small Libraries and Museums/Archives
Cuadra Associates has announced a new library automation product designed to meet the needs and budgets of small and medium-sized libraries.

Cuadra/ILS packages a version of its Cuadra STAR software with the STAR/Libraries application, which provides a full array of features and capabilities needed by most libraries, but excludes STAR’s application design tools for customizing the application. STAR/Libraries is a ready-to-use, task-oriented application that supports acquisitions, cataloging (MARC and non-MARC), OPAC, serials, request management, and circulation. Like the fully customizable version of STAR, Cuadra/ILS runs on a number of UNIX platforms and on Windows NT and Windows 2000 versions. Customers who later decide to customize the product have the option to purchase the STAR customizing toolkit.

In other news from Cuadra, the company has announced a new product designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized museums, historical societies, and permanent archives. Cuadra CMS (Collections Management System) packages a version of the Cuadra STAR software with the STAR/Museums application, but without the application design tools for customizing the application.

The new product provides for accessioning; inventory management; cataloging support; movement control; loans management; conservation management; exhibits management; insurance management; de-accessioning and disposal control; export of data into CHIN, MARC, and other formats; statistical and management reports; and links to images of items in the collection. Cuadra CMS runs on Windows NT and Windows 2000 servers and on a number of UNIX platforms. Customers will have the option to purchase the STAR graphical design toolkit at a later date if they wish.

Source: Cuadra Associates, Inc., Los Angeles, 800/366-1390; http://www.cuadra.com.
 

USEFUL WEB SITES

Kapco Posts Book-Repair Tips on Web Site
Kapco (Kent Adhesive Products Co.) has announced that it has completed an expansion of its Web site that will help libraries solve their most common book-repair problems. The new site (http://www.kapcolibrary.com) features a series of book repair tips in both English and Spanish. The TechTeam Assistant teaches users easy methods to preserve and repair library materials.

The new site also features an online catalog with secure ordering, links to library organizations and services, and other helpful information. Users may request free on-site workshops and free product samples.

Source: Kent Adhesive Products Co., Kent, OH, 800/791-8965, 330/678-1626; http://www.kapco.com.
 

PatentCafe.com Launches LockMyDoc.com, Its Digital Rights Management Portal
PatentCafe.com, Inc. has announced the launch of the first intellectual property and security portal that specifically focuses on digital rights management (DRM). LockMyDoc.com is a portal dedicated to information and services regarding communications security, personal and corporate privacy, digital signatures and fingerprints, authentication, and digital document management. LockMyDoc.com also includes a comprehensive library of intellectual property FAQs, professional and executive reports, leading industry newsletters, and a comprehensive DRM glossary.

Source: PatentCafe.com, Inc., Yuba City, CA, 530/671-0200; http://www.patentcafe.com.
 

REFERENCE WEB SITES

Institutions Join the Fathom Education Site
Fathom, a knowledge and education site to be launched later this year, has announced that the University of Chicago, the American Film Institute (AFI), RAND, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have joined Fathom’s six original institutions to provide an array of cultural resources online. At Fathom, the new institutions can showcase a wide variety of their prized content, ranging from images of new forms of marine life and the wreck of the Titanic (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) to the first-ever chemical analysis of rocks from Mars (University of Chicago), master seminars by cinema legends on the filmmaking process (AFI), and groundbreaking reports on education reform (RAND).

According to the announcement, Fathom will work with the leading faculty, researchers, and curators of partner institutions to develop original content on a diverse range of subjects. All content on Fathom will meet exemplary quality standards that are the hallmarks of participating institutions and will be authenticated. An advisory board made up of scholars selected from Fathom’s members will oversee content development. Content will include multimedia lectures, seminars, databases, publications, and performances.

Source: Fathom Knowledge Network, Inc., New York, 212/279-9494; http://www.fathom.com.
 

Scholarus.com for Students Makes Its Debut
Daily Solutions, Inc. has announced the debut of its newest site, Scholarus.com, an educational, research, and social resource for high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students.

Scholarus.com has links to databases and learning resources for liberal arts, basic sciences, engineering, fine arts, teaching, and behavioral sciences, as well as law school and the healthcare disciplines. Students will also have access to career centers, tutors, messaging, e-mail, and discount textbooks.

A subscription for Scholarus.com is available at an introductory offer of $39.

Source: Daily Solutions, Inc., Akron, OH, 330/867-1964; http://www.dailysolutions.net.
 

CD-ROM PRODUCTS

The Webster’s Children’s Dictionary with CD-ROM Is Now Available
IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. has announced the publication of the newly revised and updated Webster’s New World Children’s Dictionary, second edition with CD-ROM (ISBN: 0-02-863125-0, $24.95), the first dictionary in America for elementary-school-aged children in both print and electronic form.

The CD-ROM puts the complete text of the dictionary into any Windows 95/98 application, for instant access to the dictionary’s more than 33,000 entries and over 800 feature paragraphs on synonyms, homonyms, and word histories. Students can look up any word on the screen and get an instant definition. Its also features special “See It. Say It. Spell It” activities.

Source: IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., New York, 800/762-2974; http://www.idgbooks.com.
 

New Edition of Columbia Granger’s World of Poetry Has Been Released
Columbia University press has announced that the new version of Columbia Granger’s World of Poetry on CD-ROM has been released. According to the announcement, the new CD-ROM includes 30 percent more full-text poems than the previous version.

An online version is now also available. It features live access, thousands more citations from anthologies and collected works added regularly, over 10,000 more full-text poems added throughout the year, and posted correspondence with the editor for the benefit of the whole community of users.

Source: Columbia University Press, New York, 212/459-0600; http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup.
 

PrimeArray Announces New CD Servers
PrimeArray Systems, Inc. has announced the immediate availability of new ServStation and Netserve caching CD/DVD-ROM servers with maximum storage capacities of over 240 discs and processing speeds up to 400 percent faster. ServStation and Netserve will also be available with an optional CD-R reader/recorder, which will allow users to record their own custom CDs.

ServStation’s standard configuration features a single direct-access reader/loader. Netserve offers any combination of up to six DVD-ROM and CD-ROM drives, facilitating the storage of multiple discs. PrimeArray’s advanced thin-server processor now supports the recording of CD-ROMs across the network. In addition to increased capacity and faster access times, PrimeArray says its most popular models of both ServStation and Netserve are now being offered at reduced prices.

Source: PrimeArray Systems, Inc., Woburn, MA, 800/433-5133, 781/937-3910; http://www.primearray.com.
 

HELPFUL PUBLICATIONS

O’Reilly Offers Two New Sys Admin Books
O’Reilly & Associates has announced the publication of Perl for System Administration: Managing Multi-platform Environments with Perl (ISBN: 1-56592-609-9, $34.95), by David N. Blank-Edelman. Assuming only a little familiarity with Perl, Perl for System Administration is aimed at all levels of administrators. While covering several different platforms (UNIX, Windows NT, and Mac OS), it also delves deeper to explore the areas where Perl can be most useful, including file system management, user administration, directory services, database administration, log files, and security and network monitoring.

In HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide, fourth edition (ISBN: 0-596-00026-X, $34.95), by Chuck Musciano and Bill Kennedy, the authors cover every element of HTML/XHTML in detail and explain how each element works, as well as how it interacts with other elements. The book contains hundreds of examples and provides models for writing effective Web pages and for mastering advanced features like style sheets and frames.

Source: O’Reilly & Associates, Inc., Sebastopol, CA, 800/998-9938, 707/829-0515; http://www.oreilly.com.
 

Neal-Schuman Offers Library PC Guide
Neal-Schuman Publishers has announced Buying and Maintaining Personal Computers: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians (ISBN: 1-55570-376-3, $45), by Norman Howden.

This manual covers computers for public access and staff use in both PC and Mac formats. The author takes readers step by step through hardware and software issues, security, common repair tools, licenses, warranties, inventories, wiring, backup systems, preventive maintenance, costing, staffing, vendors, and more. A variety of forms and checklists spanning all phases of PC management are offered both in the book’s appendixes and as downloadable documents on a companion Web site.

Source: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., New York, 212/925-8650; http://www.neal-schuman.com.
 

Libraries Unlimited Publishes Helpful New Case Study and Directory for Librarians
Libraries Unlimited has announced the publication of two new books designed to ease the technology burden:

Library Instruction: A Peer Tutoring Model (ISBN: 1-56308-652-2, $46), by Susan Deese-Roberts and Kathleen Keating, demonstrates how you can meet student demands for instruction by using peer tutors to handle some of the responsibilities traditionally taken on by reference librarians. This book, according to the announcement, will teach you how to set up an effective peer tutor training program. Your tutors will learn how to teach library patrons online search concepts and skills.

The 2000/2001 edition of The Internet Resource Directory for K-12 Teachers and Librarians (ISBN: 1-56308-839-8, $27.50) has been published. For this new edition, several chapters have been expanded, most notably the computer science, science, and social studies sections. Each month every Web site in the directory is re-accessed, and any new addresses are posted at the Libraries Unlimited Web site (http://www.lu.com/lu/irupdates.html).

Source: Libraries Unlimited, Englewood, CO, 800/237-6124; http://www.lu.com.
 

Pinnacle Launches New XML Resource
Pinnacle Publishing, Inc. has announced the launch of a new monthly publication and Web site, XML Developer.

According to the announcement, XML Developer’s monthly articles, source code, and tips are written by and for professional developers. They not only explain what the new XML technologies are, but also how to integrate XML with existing tools, develop applications with XML, and use related XML technologies.

Online subscriptions to XML Developer, at http://www.xmldevelopernewsletter.com, feature full access to the searchable current and archived articles and source code database, along with monthly printed issue delivery.

Source: Pinnacle Publishing, Inc., Roswell, GA, 800/788-1900, 770/992-9401; http://www.pinpub.com.