The Librarian's Internet-Get Plugged in with Plug-Ins
Five you need to know about
Gail Junion-Metz -- School Library Journal, 11/1/2000
Without plug-ins, your Web browser may not be able to display interactive media or animations, play streaming audio or video files, or display government forms. Fortunately, you can download them free from the Web, and they install easily onto your computer. (The newer your Web browser, the better the chance that it already includes some plug-ins. But even the most recent versions don't include all the plug-ins you might need.) To figure out which plug-ins are already installed on your computer, visit the plug-in test page created by McMaster University (Canada) at www.mcmaster.ca/cis/projects/spg2000/plugins.htm. Click on the sample files to see which plug-ins you have and which ones you'll need to download and install. Remember to virus-check every plug-in you download! The Big Five Acrobat Reader 4.0, free version (Adobe Systems, Inc.) Shockwave Player 8/Flash Player 5, free version
The five plug-ins listed below should be installed on every Net-connected computer in your library. They make it possible for your browser to display the multimedia and text files found on many Web sites, which your browser alone may not be able to handle.
Acrobat handles Portable Document Format (PDF) files, including federal and state tax forms and lots of classroom resource materials. Platforms: Windows 95/98/NT, Macintosh OS 7.1.2 and up. Browsers: IE 3 and up and Netscape 3 and up.
(Macromedia, Inc.)
Shockwave handles interactive multimedia, graphics, and streaming audio. Flash handles animation and vector graphics. There are many educational Shockwave media files and age-appropriate Flash games on the Web. Make sure kids and teachers can access them! Platforms: Windows 95/98/NT/2000, Macintosh OS 8.1 and up. Browsers: IE 4 and up and Netscape 4 and up.
RealPlayer 8, free version (RealNetworks, Inc.)
proforma.real.com/real/player/player.html?src=down
loadr,000914rpchoice_c2_nite&dc=917916915
RealPlayer handles streaming audio (including live radio), streaming video (like the Survivor video clips), TV Webcasts (like Big Brother), animations, and multimedia presentations. Platforms: Windows 95/98/NT/2000, Macintosh 8.1 and up. Browsers: IE 4 and up and Netscape 4 and up.
Quicktime 4.1.2, free version (Apple Computer, Inc.
Quicktime handles video, sound, animation, graphics, text, music, and virtual reality. Many Web sites are now using Quicktime files to display videos. Platforms: Windows 95/98/NT, Macintosh OS 7.7.5 and up. Browsers: IE 3 and up and Netscape 3 and up.
Beyond the Basics
Once you have a good understanding of basic plug-ins, check out the following sites to locate plug-ins designed to handle more complicated programs--for instance, files that include 3-D animation and virtual-reality
Web sites.
CNET Download.com
download.cnet.com
To find a fairly comprehensive list of current plug-ins for your browser, type "browser plug in" into the search box, indicate whether you're using a PC or Mac and click "go." Downloading from there is easy.
