FEATURE
How to Use This Directory
Now It’s Totally Live Online
This year, the printed Buyer’s Guide that you’re holding in your
hands is not the be-all, end-all that it used to be. As useful as it is, this
paper Buyer’s Guide is now the secondary version of this long-standing
product. Our new online version is king of content. Let me explain.
We have revamped the Computers in Libraries Buyer’s Guide from start
to finish. No longer do we send out paper survey forms for vendors to update,
then key in the changes, then extract the database information once a year
to produce our annual print directory. Instead, now we are totally live online.
Our hard-working IT guys re-created our database so that vendors could update
their own product, service, and address listings online. We invited all past
Buyer’s Guide vendors (along with some new ones) to visit our dedicated
Web site and to make changes online.
For buyers, the new front end will make it easier for you to search by keyword,
company, or category. What’s more, vendors can now log in to their records
anytime and update their listings. So our online version will always be more
up-to-date. This is why these printed pages are now taking a back seat. Right
now, what you see in print is all of the listings that vendors updated by our
print-production deadline in May; by the time you’re reading this in
July, there will be more listings online than there are here.
Both versions work the same way:
Products and Services by Category
Various types of hardware, software, supplies, and services related
to library automation are listed in the first section. We’ve
also listed many types of information that are sold or licensed. Got an idea
of the general type of product you want? Look here to find out who sells or
distributes it. The categories are extensive, so you should be able to find
whatever you need. If not, be sure to drop a line to CIL editor Kathy
Dempsey at kdempsey@infotoday.com.
Products and Services by Vendor
This is an inverse listing of the previous section, which collates all of
the products and services offered by one company under its name. Look up vendors
alphabetically to find out everything that a given company has to offer.
Addresses of Companies
This section is the heart of the Guide—the complete and up-to-date
listing of addresses, phone/fax numbers, e-mail addresses, and URLs for all
the companies, distributors, and suppliers that list in the Guide. Once you’ve
found something you want to buy, use this section to figure out how to contact
the company.
Consultants Listings
One aim of the Buyer’s Guide has always been to draw attention
to consultants. This section lists only companies that do consulting work,
so it may come in handy when you are contemplating change, seeking outside
help, or writing a marketing plan.
Old and New Disclaimers
We gather new data directly from companies, using online survey forms. With
our new system, whatever vendors enter online becomes part of our database,
without any intermediaries doing data entry or fact-checking. So what the vendors
enter is exactly what you get.
All companies in this industry are welcome to have free listings printed
here. We make every attempt to ensure accuracy and completeness, but human
(or computer) error is always a possibility. If you find any inaccuracies,
please let the vendor know.
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