Tech Sightings from ALA Midwinter

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By Staff -- School Library Journal, 02/01/2004

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Although short on sizzle, this year's midwinter meeting offered an array of solid products. Here are some of the best tech picks:

3M (www.3M.com/us/library) unveiled its Public Access Management System, which helps libraries keep track of paper and toner cartridge use. Using smart cards that are loaded with a library user's information, users can access the Internet and pay for any printed materials.

Checkpoint (www.checkpointsystems.com) has introduced a portable wireless self-checkout system, which can be set up temporarily in the children's area and moved to different sections of the library.

Dynix (www.dynix.com) will release in June Web Reporter software for its Horizon automation system. The new software can be used to create specialized reports and track circulation.

Greenwood Publishing Group (gem.greenwood.com) has expanded its Web site for middle schoolers and older students. Greenwood Daily Life Online provides information on about 30 different cultures and describes how common people have lived throughout history.

Xrefer Plus (www.xrefer.com), a database of 150 digital reference books, from the Penguin Business Dictionary to the Andromeda Illustrated Dictionary of Science, now offers a metasearch tool that allows users to leap effortlessly from one reference book to another with the click of a mouse.