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Product News

Book and Document Scanners

There are a variety of products available now to scan documents that can then be e-mailed, saved to a USB drive, or printed. Among them:

Book Scan Station

The Book Scan Station has a patented book-edge design that allows the book page to lie flat on the glass thus capturing the full image of the page without distortion. It also offers easy-to-use touchscreen instructions that guide the user through the scanning process.

There's an App for That

Various companies are developing applications (apps) to make their products available to smartphone users.

SirsiDynix iPhone App Available

SirsiDynix announced the availability of BookMyne, a comprehensive Apple iPhone application for library users. The free app locates nearby libraries and allows users to search library catalogs for available materials. Users registered with a library
can also place and cancel holds at their library using their iPhone.

New iPod-Compatible eAudiobook Subject Sets

To meet growing demand for iPod-compatible eAudiobooks, NetLibrary’s collection development librarians have selected some of their most popular titles and packaged them. The iPod-Compatible eAudiobook Subject Sets make it easy for users to connect, click, and listen to eAudiobooks on virtually all MP3 players, including iPods, iPhones, and many other portable listening devices. Librarians will find time-tested classics such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, as well as new releases including The Wild Things by Dave Eggers.

American Indian History Online

American Indian History Online offers fast access to more than fifteen thousand years of culture and history through event and topic entries, biographies, images and videos, maps and charts, legends, primary sources, and timeline entries. The “Tribes and Culture Areas” section is easy to browse with a helpful tabbed list of tribes, representing more than six hundred Native American groups, and a browse-by-culture-area feature.

OverDrive Expands Download Video Catalog for Libraries

OverDrive announced that it has expanded its download video catalog to more than ten thousand titles from top suppliers including PBS, Starz, HDNet, and Magnolia Pictures. In addition, new download video content will be added throughout 2010 as a result of recent agreements with Digital 1 to 1, Diva Video Access AG, Film Movement, Films Media Group, Independent Film Channel, Rooftop Comedy, Sundance Channel, and more than a dozen other suppliers.

Summer Reader Software Version 8 Now Available

Evanced Solutions announced that the newest release of their popular Summer Reader product is now available. The 8.0 release brings new features and functions to customers as they begin preparations for a new year of summer reading.

The release features many changes driven by the requests and needs of Evanced customers. Changes include:

integration with Facebook;

addition of “patron goal” and “program goal” progress bar graphics;

improved advanced search features; and

JobNow Online Job Help Available from Brainfuse

JobNow, powered by Brainfuse, provides live interactive online help combined with online resources to guide users through the necessary tasks to get a job.

The JobNow service offers résumé and cover letter templates and examples, live interview practice, online resources, local job search websites, and more. Patrons can also submit a résumé at any time of day through the JobNow Résumé Lab and a job coach will send it back to them within twenty-four hours with detailed feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Manage Library Reading Programs with LitKeeper

LitKeeper (short for Literature Keeper) from Plymouth Rocket, is designed to help libraries and their patrons keep track of the literature or media that they are enjoying (or not).

For starters, it can be a book list and kids can pick a book and enter the number of pages or the number of minutes that they have read today. It’s easy for them—and library staff— to keep track of their progress.

Recorded Books to Offer Online Video-Based Study Programs

Recorded Books has partnered with ePrep, Inc., to launch a new library version of ePrep’s suite of online video-based study programs. This partnership will allow libraries to offer patrons the opportunity to improve SAT, ACT, and PSAT scores and feel more comfortable taking these tests.

In My Book Wholesale Shop for Libraries and Friends

For libraries that have a library or Friends store or booksale, or are selling book-related merchandise at the circulation desk, In My Book cards may be resold as fundraisers for the library. The In My Book website has a special wholesalers section that welcomes libraries and Friends groups.

Harlequin Launches New Teen Series

In August 2009, Harlequin Teen was launched with new novels from New York Times best-selling authors Rachel Vincent and Gena Showalter.This new line will offer authentic new fiction for the teen reader who loves to escape beneath the covers of a great read. The range of genres will include contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, historical, and, of course, some romance.

Free Online Career Resource from Glassdoor

Glassdoor is a free online career resource for libraries that gives users an inside look at more than 26,000 employers. Glassdoor is offering special links to libraries and career centers so patrons can see all the information for free. Hundreds of career centers have added links.

Alexander Street’s American History in Video

American History in Video is a rich, online collection that includes more than a thousand titles and is continuously growing, with complete videos and synchronized, scrolling, searchable transcripts. American History in Video offers the complete online newsreel streams of United News and Universal Newsreel; important documentaries and series from The History Channel, PBS, and others; and archival footage.

Vocera Communications Systems from 3M

The Vocera communications system enables instant wireless voice communications that users control with naturally spoken commands. This easy-to-use system is ideal for libraries where staff members need to stay in contact in order to provide a higher level of patron service.The wearable communication device is 4.2" x 1.4" and weighs less than two ounces. It can easily be clipped to a shirt pocket or worn on a lanyard. It enables two-way voice communication without the need to remember a phone number or manipulate a handset.

Now Available to Libraries from EBSCOhost

Through a distribution partnership between Consumers Union (CU) and EBSCO Publishing (EBSCO), libraries can now subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org for a fixed annual subscription. The resource will be available alongside all other EBSCOhost databases so authentication and entry points are seamless and consistent.ConsumerReportsHealth.org includes:

ConsumerReportsHealth.org Readex Launches American Newspaper Archives

Readex, a division of NewsBank, announced the launch of American Newspaper Archives, an expanding online collection that will offer access to major U.S. newspapers. A part of America’s Historical Newspapers, the archives will provide users with fully searchable digital editions of historically significant and regionally diverse publications from the nineteenth century through the 1990s.

DEMCO Offers Mobile Reference Desk

The new TechnoLink Mobile Reference Desk is designed to link technology and furniture effortlessly. This desk offers height adjustment,wire management, locking casters, and a spacious work surface that can adapt easily to different users and equipment.

Sony Reader and OverDrive Sign Library Marketing Agreement

OverDrive announced a joint marketing agreement with Sony Electronics, developer of the Sony Reader Digital Book. OverDrive and Sony will cross-market OverDrive’s library network and the Reader, an e-book device that is compatible with industry standard e-book formats offered by libraries.

Moderro Solution for Libraries

Moderro Xpack is a miniature computer that was built specifically for public areas. The Xpack CPU is a small (paperback-size), low power, silent mini-computer. It weighs around three pounds and consumes on average thirteen watts of power. Xpack comes with custom-designed keyboard and mouse, Ethernet CAT5 and VGA cables, and mounting hardware. The CPU can be placed in a cradle that can stand alongside the monitor, or be attached to the back of the monitor using the VESA bracket (included).

TLC Debuts Library Software for Kids

The Library Corporation (TLC) has developed LS2 Kids––the children’s version of TLC’s LS2 PAC. LS2 Kids was developed with input fromlibrarians as well as children ages five to eleven.

Tutor.com Introduces New Learning Suite to Better Serve Students and Adults

Tutor.com recently launched the new Tutor.com Learning Suite to thousands of libraries, corporations, colleges, and schools across the country. The expanded product suite includes services for K–12 students, college students, and adults who are returning to school or job searching. Along with its signature Live Homework Help program, students of any age can now obtain real-time writing assistance and résumé help using the ProofPoint Real Time Writing Center and access to vetted resources in the 24/7 SkillsCenter Resource Library.