Thursday, Oct. 01, 1998

3:00:00PM

For a bi-monthly wrap up of NOLA news and information, be sure to check out NOLA Notes!
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MediaInfo  

Looking for a newspaper? TV station? Periodical? MediaINFO is a database of media outlets throughout the world that maintain a web presence. The extensive database offers information that includes frequency info, whether the service accepts advertising and if there is an email subscription service. The database includes stats on over 3000 newspapers, 2000 radio stations and 274 city guides. It is published by Editor & Publisher.

Smells Like Bill

In a move that has a distinct Bill Gates quality about it, the cable TV industry announced that it would support public libraries with free net access. The Nation Cable Television Association today issued a press release behind a news conference held in Washington. Ann K. Symons, president of the 57,000-member American Library Association said "The goal of the American Library Association is to connect every library and every community to the information superhighway. The cable industry's contribution will help pave the way by greatly expanding the availability of high-speed connections needed to provide library users with the highest quality on-line information resources." Remember, Bill G. has invested billions in the cable biz.

Good Thing You Aren't Graded at the Library

Another study pointing to the fact that technology alone is not a panacea or even in many cases helpful. 14,000 fourth and eighth grader test scores were examined based on access and usage of computer technology and the computer users scored lower. No surprise, the classes with teachers trained to use the technology fared better. Read the story.

Online Parenting

LJ Digital has a nice roundup of online parenting resources. I like the concept of a Pros/Cons evaluation. As regards actual parenting, I'll take a Furby.

Items submitted by:
Kenneth S. Bell - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

You Are Invited to a Party for Ken Bell

The NOLA Staff would like to invite you to party with us as we say goodbye to Ken, our Technology Consultant since early 1997.

Date: Monday, October 5th
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Leo's Restorante at 7042 East Market in Warren

If you would like to join us for dinner, please e-mail me by Noon on Monday and tell us how many will be attending. Hope to see you at Leo's. Ken's last working day will be October 15th.

New Technology Coordinator

NOLA is pleased that Brad Stephens will join our staff as Technology Coordinator on Friday, October 2nd. He formerly worked as the Manager of Library Technologies at OHIONET in Columbus. In that capacity, Brad coordinated the implementation and performed system administration for the OPAL shared catalog system; developed and presented training programs on a variety of technical topics for many library related organizations in Ohio, including NOLA; provided technical consulting services for OHIONET's 390+ member institutions; designed, installed, and maintained Windows NT Local and Wide Area Netowrks for OHIONET and its members throughout the state; and coordinated and managed the OPLIN training program which trained over 4,600 public library staff in less than two years.

Brad also worked for the Salem (OH) Public Library and the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, IN. He earned his MLS from Indiana University's School of Library and Information Science (1996) and his BS in Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University (1994). Brad is a Microsoft Certified Professional and will soon become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).

With Gail Junion-Metz, a frequent NOLA workshop speaker, Brad has co-authored "Creating A Power Website" (Neal-Schuman, 1998). We welcome Brad, a native of Salem.

Advertising on the Internet

Among industries spending more than $5 million a year to advertise on the Internet, those with the greatest spending increase in 1997 over 1996:

CATEGORY 1997, IN MILLIONS GROWTH
Business, technology $5.1 +401%
Games, toys, hobbycraft $5.6 +342%
Retail $16.3 +290%
Financial $42.1 +286%
Local amusements/services $18.5 +267%

Younger Adults Buy Books On-line

Books made up 8% of all on-line purchases (excluding on-line stock trading) in 1997, second to software for products most often bought on-line. Sales were $250 million. Of the 3.2 million cybershoppers, percent in these age groups buying at least one book:
Under age 30 39%
Age 30-49 28%
Age 50+ 18%

from USA Today, September 23, pp. B1 and D1

Items submitted by:
Millie Fry - Email
NOLA Regional Library System