Recently in InfoSoup Category
As announced on the wla blog and various lists, the WLA Literary Awards Committee has announced their awards for 2009. I created a BookLetters page to highlight the selected titles. To view the list, you can click on the rotating covers on the InfoSoup Readers' page.
> contributed by Evan
> contributed by Evan
LibraryThing has been alive and well in InfoSoup for a couple of weeks now. Hopefully, you noticed and have been enjoying it. If not, give it a try!
I have loaded a new screencast on the InfoSoup blip.tv channel showing how to use LibraryThing in InfoSoup. Please take a look and share it with your patrons.
Our contract with the TELL ME MORE (TMM) languages program ends on March 22nd. For a while we were planning on giving it a try for another year. After additional evaluation, however, we came to the conclusion that renewing TMM may not be our best choice. Usage was pretty low, and both patrons and library staff encountered numerous problems getting the program to work. Because of these issues, we have decided to try a new language program called Mango Languages. Mango's main strength is that it is very easy to use. Mango can be used with any relatively recent browser and on any operating system (Mac users could not use TMM). Users only need adobe flash version 9 or higher, which is very common application. Mango is not as comprehensive as TMM -- it does not have speech recognition or writing components, but we believe it's usability is more important. Mango focuses more on everyday conversation. Anyone who has listened to a Pimsleur language tape will recognize the similarity. With Mango we also gain three new languages, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. We do, however, lose Dutch (although only four people ever tried Dutch on TMM, and I think I was one of those four). There may also be additional languages added later this year. For ESL students, Mango has three programs for learning English for Spanish, Polish, and Brazilian Portuguese speakers. More ESL programs are also planned.
Mango will be featured on the InfoSoup home page with a link to our Mango start page at http://info.infosoup.org/mango/
We will leave the TMM link up until the 22nd, with a note about why we are switching to Mango and with a link to Mango.
To use Mango from outside a library one will need a valid library card # and PIN. One nice feature of Mango is that you can use it with our without signing up for an account (although you still need your card # & PIN). If you just want to take a quick look, or don't want to remember yet another password, there is a Skip Login option (once you are on the Mango Languages page, not on the InfoSoup Page) that allows you to use Mango anonymously. If you do sign up for a Mango account, it will keep track of your language lessons.
If you have any questions or if your patrons have any questions, please let me know. I think most users will find Mango a lot easier to use.
Thanks,
Evan
Mango will be featured on the InfoSoup home page with a link to our Mango start page at http://info.infosoup.org/mango/
We will leave the TMM link up until the 22nd, with a note about why we are switching to Mango and with a link to Mango.
To use Mango from outside a library one will need a valid library card # and PIN. One nice feature of Mango is that you can use it with our without signing up for an account (although you still need your card # & PIN). If you just want to take a quick look, or don't want to remember yet another password, there is a Skip Login option (once you are on the Mango Languages page, not on the InfoSoup Page) that allows you to use Mango anonymously. If you do sign up for a Mango account, it will keep track of your language lessons.
If you have any questions or if your patrons have any questions, please let me know. I think most users will find Mango a lot easier to use.
Thanks,
Evan
We are going to be switching to a new vendor for book jackets and summaries. The switch should take place this afternoon. Once the change is in place here are the differences you will see.
- The covers will be a little larger.
- When you click on the cover (either from the brief record or the full record) a summary page will open in a frame below. On the summary page you might see anything from a brief summary, publishers comments, book club guide, or a lengthy review from BookPage. Just click on "Back to Catalog" to return to the previous screen.
- On the full record page, the Reviews & Summaries link will be replaced by and Additional Info link. This link will be the same as clicking on the cover.
- We will no longer have Publishers Weekly or Library Journal reviews through Syndetics. These can usually be found on the Amazon page or by searching EBSCO from the links on the full record page. While we lose some convenience with this, our statistics show that the syndetics reviews were getting limited use.
You can see the new book covers on our development server at http://www.infosoup.org:2082
Here are a couple of examples
http://www.infosoup.org:2082/record=b1703003~S77 (With Review)
http://www.infosoup.org:2082/record=b1446333~S77 (Generic)
We apologize for the short notice. We have been looking at this switch for a while, but we were uncertain until very recently that the new vendor (BookLetters) would have their product ready in time. Our contract with Syndetics has run out so we needed to move quickly.
Why the switch? Two main reasons. One is that we believe BookLetters will provide a faster service. We have had numerous slowdown issues with syndetics over the years. This is something we will keep an eye on with the new service. The second is that we will be saving money which we hope to put toward other catalog enhancements. Please let me know if you have any questions or notice any problems.
Thanks,
Evan
At the end of January, the American Library Association announced their selection of top books for children including the winners of the prestigious Caldecott and Newbery awards.The 2009 Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature was awarded to The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman.
The 2009 Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children was awarded to The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson.
Visit the InfoSoup Family Page to see a list of the 2009 Newbery and Caldecott honor books. For more great titles, don't miss Award Winners for Kids.
On the teen front, this year's winner for excellence in young adult literature is Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta. Please visit the InfoSoup Teen Reads page and Teen Award Winners to find more award winning books for young adults.
> contributed by Evan
We have added a new help video (a.k.a. screencast) to show you how to use the
Saved Searches feature of InfoSoup. This
feature allows you to save your favorite searches in your InfoSoup account,
where you can then redo a search with the click of a link or tell InfoSoup you
would like to receive an email when materials are added to the collection that
match your search criteria.
Have a favorite author? Save an author search, mark your search for email, and you'll receive an email when items are added to InfoSoup written by that author. The email includes a link to InfoSoup, so you can check for availability and place a hold. It's a great way to sit back, relax, and let us do the work for you!
Here's the video if you'd like to take a look:
Have a favorite author? Save an author search, mark your search for email, and you'll receive an email when items are added to InfoSoup written by that author. The email includes a link to InfoSoup, so you can check for availability and place a hold. It's a great way to sit back, relax, and let us do the work for you!
Here's the video if you'd like to take a look:
While the next person we help with a job search may not go on to become president of the United States, we do know that libraries can be an invaluable resources for the job seeker. As posted on the InfoSoup Development Blog, we have updated and posted to InfoSoup a Job & Career Resources page. A link is available on the Research Tools page (under Language, Test, Study Skills, & Jobs). Libraries can also link directly to the page from their home page. We would like to keep the page fairly basic and easy to maintain, but suggestions for additional resources are always welcome.
> contributed by Evan
> contributed by Evan
Stories Without Words is a new booklist on the Family Page on InfoSoup. This list highlights some of the very creative artists/illustrators that tell wonderful stories though wordless or almost wordless picture books. I took the liberty of adding two of our family favorites, Lights Out and Hogwash by the ever inventive Arthur Geisert. Thanks to Sue Abrahamson in Waupaca for sharing this list! If you have a list you would like to share please contact me. > contributed by Evan
Every year, Bookfinder.com lists the 10 most sought-after out-of-print books in America. Here's that list, and some information about these items in InfoSoup.
> contributed by Gerri
- Once a Runner: A Novel (1978) by John L. Parker, Jr.
The cult classic distance running novel, coming back into print April 2009
No copies in InfoSoup - Sex (1992) by Madonna
The pop icon’s book of erotic photos, a perennial favorite
No copies in InfoSoup - Promise Me Tomorrow (1984) by Nora Roberts
An early novel that the bestselling romance novelist refuses to reprint, describing it as “mediocre”
No copies in InfoSoup - Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstellar Record (1978) by Carl Sagan
A document from the first great era of space exploration
1 copy in InfoSoup (Appleton); currently available. 3 total checkouts, no checkouts in 2007 or 2008. - Carpentry for Beginners: How to use tools, basic joints, workshop practice, designs for things to make (1900) by Charles H. Hayward
A century-old (!) title from a prolific Canadian carpentry author
2 copies in InfoSoup (2 different editions. Tigerton and Oneida). Both currently available. 1 total checkout, in 2008. - A Lion Called Christian (1972) by Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall
A memoir about a pet lion, coming back into print April 2009; the video of the authors’ reunion with Christian was all over YouTube
2 copies in InfoSoup (Appleton and Black Creek); both currently available. 6 total checkouts, 1 in 2008. - Comanche Heart (1991) by Catherine Anderson
The second book in the series. The first, Comanche Moon was reissued and placed on the New York Times bestseller list. This will be coming back into print June of 2009.
No copies in InfoSoup - Legally Sane (1972) by Jon K. Hahn with Harold C. McKenney
An investigation of an international killing spree and the chilling accounts of a psychopathic murderer
No copies in InfoSoup - Woodworker’s Essential Shop Aids and Jigs; Original Devices You Can Make (1992) by Robert Wearing
An indispensable resource for DIY craftspeople
2 copies in InfoSoup (Both in Waupaca); both currently available. 42 total checkouts, 1 in 2007 and 1 in 2008. - The Principles of Knitting: Methods and Techniques of Hand Knitting (1989) by June Hemmons Hiatt
Incredibly popular comprehensive knitting guide
4 copies in InfoSoup (Algoma, Florence, Marinette, Wausaukee); all currently available. 42 total checkouts, 5 in 2007 and 4 in 2008.
> contributed by Gerri
If you're looking for an old classic or something less conventional to
watch, the InfoSoup holiday movie lists are the place to start. The staff at
the Appleton Public Library has pulled together a great selection of
traditional, non-traditional, and nonfiction movies. If you see a title
missing or just want to share a holiday favorite, just let us know and
we will add it to the favorites list.Take a look at:
For families with kids, we also have a family movies list and a fantastic selection of holiday and winter books for kids of all ages. Check out:
Enjoy!
> contributed by Evan
For families with kids, we also have a family movies list and a fantastic selection of holiday and winter books for kids of all ages. Check out:
Enjoy!
> contributed by Evan
