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Online Library Offers 1.5 Million Works and Counting...

From CNET news - (link)

The Universal Digital Library, backed by several major libraries around the globe, is more about preservation and less about getting clicks.

By Candace Lombardi
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: November 27, 2007, 1:53 PM PST

The Universal Digital Library, a book-scanning project backed by several major libraries across the globe, has completed the digitization of 1.5 million books and on Tuesday made them free and publically available.

The online library offers full text downloads of works that are in the public domain, or for which the copyright holder has been given permission to make available. Having the backing of prominent institutions such as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, however, the collection goes far beyond the widely available classics, though those are there, too.

"You're not going to find over 900,000 works in Chinese on Google," said Michael Shamos, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and director of intellectual property for the Universal Digital Library (UDL).

In fact, there are many differences between the book-scanning projects that Google and even Microsoft are doing, and the UDL, according to Shamos.

"If your subject is ancient archery and you have trouble because it's not something stocked at Barnes & Noble, you can find it at the Universal Digital Library."

--Michael Shamos, UDL director of intellectual property

For one, the UDL isn't interested in how many users it gets. Though its abundant amount of content and easy-to-download texts may make it attractive to e-book users looking for free compatible content, the library offers a large number of obscure works likely interesting to only a niche group of academics or hobbyists.

"If your subject is ancient archery and you have trouble because it's not something stocked at Barnes & Noble, you can find it at the Universal Digital Library," Shamos said.

Most importantly, he said, this is an undertaking of preservation for all humankind.

"Remember when the Taliban took over in Afghanistan and they dynamited statues they thought were heretical? We'll never have them again. But once books are digitized and stored on servers around the world, it becomes impossible for any one government to destroy all the copies of a book. Once it's there it remains immortal," he said.

The project, which has been ongoing for the last five years, was founded and is still directed by Raj Reddy, a Carnegie Mellon computer science and robotics professor who has been awarded everything from the ACM Turing Award to the French Legion of Honor. The project is funded partially by the National Science Foundation and, in addition to Carnegie Mellon and Bibliotheca Alexandrina, is led by Zhejiang University in China and the Indian Institute of Science in India. Seven other Chinese universities and eight other Indian universities are also partners.

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Another difference between the UDL and other book-scanning projects is formatting. Because it was such a widespread project--books were scanned by several different groups in multiple countries--many open formats were used instead of one. Books from the Universal Digital Library are available in the open formats HTML, TIFF and DjVu (pronounced deja vu), an alternative to PDF.

While all of the content, regardless of copyright, has been digitized and indexed, those works still in copyright are only offered as abstracts. Even works from publishers long dissolved are included among the copyright text group if rights cannot be absolutely determined. That ensures that there is not even the slightest chance of copyright infringement, Shamos said.

"We don't have the legal resources of Google. We don't want to spend the university's endowment in legal fees," he said.

Reference from Home!

Many people have heard of our downloadable eAudiobook program. But did you know there is another program -- eBooks available for online viewing directly through PowerLibrary. If you have a reference question for which you can't find the answer, try NetLibrary's eBooks! There are plenty of topics covered...and you can do it from home with your library card. To visit NetLibrary, log onto http://online.lancasterlibraries.org and click on the POWER Library icon. The navigate to NetLibrary and search for your subject. Books are viewable on-screen only and cannot be downloaded.

Ahoy! Treasure Your Freedom to Read and Get Hooked on a Banned Book!

Greetings! Starting September 29th, the library will be featuring a special exhibit on censorship and displays of banned books! Stop by to see whether YOUR favorite book has ever been challenged. Visit http://www.ala.org/bbooks for more information on this national initiative.

Two More New Databases Available!

The library system has added two new databases that may be of interest:

Science Resource Center is a one-stop source for your science research needs. Concepts such as earth, life, physical and space science, as well as history and technology, are featured. Search through major reference titles, magazines, academic journals, multimedia websites and science experiment guides.

This authoritative source of information on American and foreign firms operating internationally covers 190 countries and 500 industries. American and foreign firms with branches, subsidiaries or affiliates that have a substantial interest in the US or in foreign countries are represented here.

To access these databases from home, visit http://online.lancasterlibraries.org and enter your library card number!

Are you reading this year's book?

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order, and predictability shelter him from the messy wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.

Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crises within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.

For more information about the book, and the ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN, visit the website at www.oboc.org.

Library ELF - Keeping Track of Your Library Account

Check out this great new service, Library Elf, at www.libraryelf.com.

Basically, Library Elf is an internet-based tool for keeping track of what's due, overdue and ready for pickup. Users can keep track of one or more library accounts in one place and receive reminders. Reminders are sent when the user wants it -- before items are due (up to seven days advance notice, weekly notice or everyday reminders).

To sign up for Library Elf, all you need is your library card number, your PIN (from My Account i the catalog) and your email address. You can even have reminders sent to your cell phone (standard text messages charges apply)!

This service is free! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Love to Read Books, But Just Can’t Find the Time?

The Ephrata Public Library is offering the latest, hottest idea for people who want desperately to read, but just can’t find the time. The library delivers portions of books to you in your email. Each day, Monday through Friday, the library emails subscribers a portion of a book that takes about 5-minutes to read. By the end of the week, subscribers have read two to three chapters from the book and if they like it, they check it out of the library. New books are featured every week.

There are 11 book clubs to choose from. Something for every age and taste: Fiction, NonFiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Good News, Horror, Business, Teen, and Audio books (that you can listen to in your email) and a special sneak preview Pre-Pub Club that lets you start reading books that aren’t even published yet.

You can sign up for the service by visiting the library's website at www.ephratapubliclibrary.org

Playaways are Here!

EPHRATA PUBLIC LIBRARY WRITES NEW CHAPTER IN CONVENIENCE, OFFERS PRE-LOADED PLAYAWAY® DIGITAL AUDIO BOOKS TO PATRONS

Each Palm-Sized Unit is Permanently Loaded with an Audio Book to Make Listening as Simple as Pressing a Button; Bestselling Titles Available

Ephrata Public LIbrary is now offering Playaway – the first self-playing digital audio book – in their library, adding the innovative digital format to their existing audio book collection.

Not an MP3 or CD player and not software, Playaway is the self-contained audio equivalent of a book. Half the size of a deck of cards, Playaway is packaged with earphones, a lanyard and a standard AAA battery to allow for immediate listening. Using clearly marked buttons, Playaway gives listeners the option of placing digital bookmarks and controlling the speed of a narrator’s voice, all while easily moving both forward and back through audio book selections that can range from six to twenty-four hours. Additionally, Playaway has a universal headphone jack that works with almost any type of headphone or mobility accessory.

Playaway currently has licensing agreements with several leading publishers and content owners, including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Penton Overseas, Brilliance Audio, Blackstone Audio, Franklin Covey, Random House and Recorded Books. Playaway’s audio book collection currently totals more than 120 titles.

Each Playaway title is available in secure, protective casing specifically designed to meet library needs.

“With Playaway, we set out to create a product that was portable, technologically simple and easy to use, and it’s been a perfect fit for libraries,” said Christopher Celeste, President, Findaway World. “Through new title acquisition and program initiatives, we look forward to greatly expanding our library program capabilities.“

Playaways are currently located on the new bestsellers shelf directly in front of the circulation desk.

New York Time Bestsellers - June 3rd

HARDCOVER FICTION TOP 5
1. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini
2. THE OVERLOOK, by Michael Connelly
3. THE 6TH TARGET, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
4. INVISIBLE PREY, by John Sandford
5. BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE, by Lee Child

HARDCOVER NONFICTION TOP 5
1. THE ASSAULT ON REASON, by Al Gore
2. THE REAGAN DIARIES, by Ronald Reagan
3. EINSTEIN, by Walter Isaacson
4. GOD IS NOT GREAT, by Christopher Hitchens
5. PRESIDENTIAL COURAGE, by Michael Beschloss

HARDCOVER ADVICE TOP 5
1. THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne
2. THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS, by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden
3. REPOSITION YOURSELF, by T. D. Jakes
4. THE EXCEPTIONAL PRESENTER, by Timothy J. Koegel
5. THE DIP, by Seth Godin

PAPERBACK FICTION TOP 5
1. THE HUSBAND, by Dean Koontz
2. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, by Sara Gruen
3. THE KITE RUNNER, by Khaled Hosseini
4. THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER, by Kim Edwards
5. THE ROAD, by Cormac McCarthy

PAPERBACK NONFICTION TOP 5
1. EAT, PRAY, LOVE, by Elizabeth Gilbert
2. THE GLASS CASTLE, by Jeannette Walls
3. BLINK, by Malcolm Gladwell
4. 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey
5. THE FINAL MOVE BEYOND IRAQ, by Mike Evans

PAPERBACK ADVICE TOP 5
1. 1,000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE, by Patricia Schultz
2. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway
3. RICH DAD, POOR DAD, by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter

4. NATURAL CURES “THEY” DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT, by Kevin Trudeau
5. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman

What's In Your Attic?

New Appraisal Database For Antiques and Collectibles Available

With TV shows like Antiques Roadshow, Find! and What’s in Your Attic? being all the rage – collectors and treasure hunters alike are scrambling to put price tags on everything from baseball cards to tall case clocks. And, since one person’s trash is another’s treasure… it’s often difficult to put a fair and equitable price on antiques and collectibles. What is it worth? Or, more importantly, what will someone pay? Introducing Price It! Antiques & Collectibles – the most comprehensive database for pricing antiques and collectibles. Users can search and sort using a number of criteria, such as category type, sale date range (if applicable) and data source. This online pricing tool contains more than 23 million records – with 2 million records added monthly – of prices realized for art, antiques and collectibles.

COLLECTIBLES, TOO
Not just antiques... Price It! Antiques & Collectibles offers powerful data that will help you price an item’s true value, with popular collectible categories such as Bakelite, Bottles, Breweriana, Coca Cola® Collectibles, Comic Books, Cookie Jars, Dolls, Holiday Collectibles, Paperweights, Salt & Pepper, Vintage Apparel and much, much more. Users also get help in identifying their items by viewing photos of similar items. Collectors, dealers and appraisers will love the information – and the opportunities – afforded by Price It! Antiques & Collectibles.

DATA SOURCES
Unlike other online databases that draw from few sources, Price It! Antiques & Collectibles offers historical price data (plus images when available) gathered from three reputable sources – online auctions (eBay®, GoAntiques™), online retail (GoAntiques™ and TIAS), and dozens of land-based auctions. Sales information from some of the sources dates back to 1998, giving users a comprehensive view of the marketplace. Additionally, results lists include the average price, number of items, price range, sales channel, source and more. With just a few mouse clicks, users get powerful data that will help them maximize their items’ value.

2 MILLION RECORDS ADDED MONTHLY
Price It! Antiques & Collectibles offers more than 23 million prices, combined with more than 10 million images. Plus, we add two million records monthly, so they are always up-to-date and current. No other online pricing tool offers this many records, coupled with robust search capabilities and analysis.

Price It! can be accessed both from in the library and remotely from home. To access the database from home, visit the patron authentication page at http://online.lancasterlibraries.org.

New Database Available at the Library

Ancestry.com added to library's suite of online databases!

IT ALL BEGINS WITH A NAME…
“Who am I? Where am I from? What makes me the person that I am?” Some may never think to turn to the past to find the answers to these questions, but for those that do, a world of discovery awaits. The voyage to the stories of your past always begins with just one name. Every family has their own unique story — their origins, their way of life, their family ties that bind them together and their experiences that define their existence and form the very fabric of their family. Now Ancestry.com is making it easier than ever before to create meaningful connections with your family’s past and the ancestors who helped shape your present.

THE JOY OF DISCOVERY
Ancestry.com offers an unrivaled opportunity for people everywhere to unlock the mysteries of their past and search, save and share their family stories. The site holds the web’s largest collection of historical records, hosting everything from birth, marriage and death records, military records and the complete collection of U.S. Census, to newspapers, photographs and other documents that complete the fascinating puzzle of our pasts. A name, a photo, a record,
a date — clues come together through automated search functions on Ancestry.com to create a vivid snapshot of the past and tell a tale of family history.

New Features , New Functionality, More Possibilities
Ancestry.com helped fuel the booming genealogy trend by making vast amounts of genealogical content available online. Now, the company is again redefining the family history experience, making it easier for both beginners and experienced enthusiasts to unlock the mysteries of their past and experience the magic of finding their ancestors by providing millions of people many easy-to-use tools and resources that simplify their search. Newly enhanced features and functionality offer a more personalized, collaborative social-networking experience that allows people to utilize the wealth of digital content amassed on Ancestry.com, empowering the family tree to tell a story and providing a safe and private space for people to search, save and
share their family history online. Connecting the past to the present is a journey that holds the hope of discovery. Family history research links Ancestry members, not only to their ancestors, but also to millions of other members within the Ancestry.com network who are putting together the priceless pieces of their pasts. Whether you begin your voyage starting from scratch or with vast amounts of knowledge about your ancestors, Ancestry.com offers the unmatched opportunity for you to travel back in time and trace your family history, at the click of a mouse.

Ancestry.com is available in any of the Lancaster County's libraries, although remote (from access) is not yet available. All you need is your library card. Visit the patron authentication page at http://online.lancasterlibraries.org to access the service!