Through a nonprofit, TechSoup, public libraries can receive brand-new software donated by top companies for use on public access computers. For example, Microsoft Office Pro 2007 is available for a $20 admin fee or Vista for a $10 admin fee.

Not only can you get donated software, you can get articles, a community forum, free webinars and more. Attend this webinar and learn how your library can benefit from everything that TechSoup has to offer.

Brenda Hough of TechSoup’s MaintainIT Project, will interview Becky Heil from Dubuque County Library in Farley, Iowa and Brett Fisher from Flathead Country Library in Kalispell, Montana to learn how they use TechSoup and what advice they'd give to people new to TechSoup.

Space is limited, sign up today!

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm Pacific (Noon Mountain/1 PM Central/2 PM Eastern)
Registration Link here

--Stephanie Gerding, MaintainIT Contributor

Absolute Xpress Publishing is proud to be announcing the opening of its doors. An imprint of Hades Publications, Inc. created in 2008 over a cup of coffee, Absolute Xpress’ slogan is “Great Books When You Want Them”. A publisher dedicated to E-Books and Short Run Printing in the Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Romance and Mystery genre Absolute Xpress is currently open for submissions and can be found at http://www.absolute-x-press.com . Our monthly contests and winners can be found at http://www.axpcontest.blogspot.com. Our romance line has a very active blog at http://www.absolute-x-press.blogspot.com and an active MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/absolute_x_press .
Absolute XPress will be releasing new books in the genres it has submission in on a rotating monthly basis. Currently the rotation will be: Science Fiction books will be released in e-book format in December, March, June and September and in print form in January, April, July and October. Fantasy books will be released in e-book form in February, May, August and November and in print form in March, June, September and December. Romance books will be released in e-book form in January, April, July and October and in print form in February, May, August and November.
Absolute XPress and its staff invite you to stop by and see what we have to offer.
http://www.absolute-x-press.com

Announcing ‡biblios.net, the world's largest database of
freely-licensed library records

COLUMBUS, OH--January 23, 2009--LibLime, the leader in open solutions
for libraries, announced today the launch of ‡biblios.net--a free
browser-based cataloging service with a data store containing over
thirty-million records. Records are licensed under the Open Data
Commons, making the service the world's largest repository of
freely-licensed library records.

‡biblios.net (pronounced 'biblios dot net') features an intuitive
metadata editor complete with templates, macros, authority
auto-completion and embedded context-sensitive help. The central
record repository contains 25-million bibliographic records and just
under eight-million authority records. The data is maintained by
‡biblios.net users similar to the model used by Wikipedia.
Catalogers can use and contribute to the database without restrictions
because records in ‡biblios.net are freely-licensed under the
Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License
(https://biblios.net/open-data-commons-license).

‡biblios.net also includes a built-in federated search system allowing
catalogers to find records from any Z39.50 target. A central Search
Target Registry, seeded with over 2,000 Z39.50 servers, makes it easy
for catalogers to find, create and share Z39.50 targets.

In addition to offering a cutting-edge cataloging interface,
‡biblios.net offers a unique social cataloging environment. Built-in
forums and private messaging make finding help and communicating with
other users a cinch. Real-time chat is slated for an upcoming release.

"The philosophy behind an Open Data movement scarcely needs an
explanation to a library audience," explains LibLime CEO, Joshua
Ferraro. "The mission of libraries--to provide open, free access to
ideas and information--surely applies to the metadata created BY
librarians," Ferraro says.

"To date, libraries haven't had a freely-licensed repository of
library records to date and that makes ‡biblios.net an especially
exciting development, one that I'm proud to have been a part of," says
Ferraro. "It's our hope that ‡biblios.net, as well as other open data
movements, will usher in a new era of library openness, where
libraries can collaboratively create and share metadata with the whole
community," Ferraro says.

You can sign up for a free ‡biblios.net account by visiting http://biblios.net.

About ‡biblios.net

‡biblios.net is a free browser-based cataloging service. In addition
to a metadata editor, ‡biblios.net includes community features such as
integrated chat, forums, and private messaging. ‡biblios.net also
provides access to the world's largest database of freely-licensed
library records, over 30-million and growing.

Free access to the entire database is available via Z39.50, OAI, and
direct download. Furthermore, the database is maintained by
‡biblios.net users similar to the way that Wikipedia's database is
maintained by users.

About ‡biblios

‡biblios (http://biblios.org) was originally conceived and created as
an open-source, web-based metadata tool for libraries during the 2007
Google Summer of Code program. Google Summer of Code is an annual
program in which Google awards stipends to students who successfully
complete a requested free software / open-source coding project during
the summer.

‡biblios was first debuted at the 2008 Code4lib conference, where lead
developer Chris Catalfo gave a sneak preview presentation on the
technology and architecture of ‡biblios. ‡biblios is now developed and
maintained at LibLime and we're looking forward to helping grow an
active community around the project.

About LibLime

LibLime is the global leader in open solutions for libraries. Rather
than sell software licenses for static, hard-to-customize software
products, LibLime educates libraries about the benefits of open
source, enabling them to make choices about how best to provide their
communities and staff with better technology services. LibLime then
facilitates implementation of open-source in libraries by providing
outstanding development, customization, support and training
solutions--solutions tailored to each library's needs. For more
information, see http://liblime.com.

Press Contact:

Tina Burger
Vice President, Marketing LibLime
(888)Koha ILS (564-2457)
tnb@liblime.com

LibLime, ‡biblios and ‡biblios.net are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of LibLime. Other company and product names may be
trademarks of their respective owners.

COLUMBUS, OH--January 23, 2009--LibLime, the leader in open-source solutions for libraries, announced today that the company is now offering support for Kete, an open-source community digital archive.

LibLime is offering the following Kete services for libraries: hosting, installation, support and training.

Kete is cutting-edge software that allows a community of users to collaboratively build a repository of historical and contemporary artifacts. Kete offers a complete multimedia experience, supporting upload and storage of:

• images
• documents
• audio recordings
• video recordings
• web links

Kete also allows the descriptive information and meta-data content available in popular wiki applications.

"Kete is unique because it allows a library to share responsibility for building the archive with its community users and organizations such as local history, institutional repositories, museums and genealogical groups," says Joshua Ferraro, CEO of LibLime. "Kete solves two problems libraries face in maintaining an archive: lack of time and resources, and the reluctance of private collectors to share originals with the public for fear of damage and loss."

Flexible content mediation is key to Kete's support of this collaboration. Kete can either be moderated by staff, or be moderated by members of the community (like other popular wikis).

To demo Kete and to find out more information about Kete, visit: http://liblime.com/products/kete

About Kete

Kete was created and first deployed in 2006 by the Horowhenua Library Trust in New Zealand-- the library who sponsored the original version of Koha. It was developed by Katipo Communications and has been released as open source. The blog is available online at: http://kete.net.nz

About LibLime

LibLime is the global leader in open-source solutions for libraries, with a mission to make open source accessible to libraries. Rather than sell software licenses for static, hard-to-customize software products, LibLime educates libraries about the benefits of open source, enabling them to make choices about how best to provide their communities and staff with better technology services. LibLime then facilitates implementation of open-source in libraries by providing outstanding development, customization, support and training solutions--solutions tailored to each library's needs. For more information, see http://liblime.com.

Press Contact:

Tina Burger

Vice President, Marketing LibLime

(888)Koha ILS (564-2457)

tnb@liblime.com

LibLime and the LibLime logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of LibLime. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact Sales

Contact our sales department:

E-mail: sales@liblime.com

Phone: (888) Koha ILS (564-2457)

http://liblime.com

For Immediate Release
Debbie Glade
Smart Poodle Publishing
smartpoodle@comcast.net
www.smartpoodlepublishing.com
www.lillybadilly.com
954-328-7465 Phone
954-967-6894 Fax

Can Your Child Locate New York City on a Map?

Smart Poodle Publishing Launches New Geography Program for Children
to Improve American students' Geography Knowledge - One Question at a Time

"Ask Lilly Badilly All About the World"

January 22, 2009 (Miami, FL) Smart Poodle Publishing, publisher of The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica (978-0-9800307-9-2) is on a quest to increase the geography knowledge of our teachers and students and improve the overall geography education in America's schools. The company's latest venture is called "Ask Lilly Badilly All About the World." From the book's website (www.lillybadilly.com), children can ask the main character from the book a US or world geography question. On video, character Lilly will pose the question. Then Debbie Glade, a former travel writer and author of Lilly Badilly, will answer it. A database of questions and answers is available from the website as well.

"We created Ask Lilly to get kids more interested in Geography," explained Debbie Glade. "Last fall we started visiting elementary schools and libraries around South Florida with our Reading, Writing and Geography Program. We bring large maps to engage in a fun, interactive Geography Q & A. Though they are eager to play the game, students are often unable to locate states and large cities on the USA map and answer basic questions about their own state. I believe this lack of knowledge is due to the fact that we do not offer enough geography education in our schools. Here in Florida, public school teachers are pressured to teach mostly reading and writing, the core of the FCAT, the state's standardized test. There's simply not much time or resources for others subjects, and unfortunately geography is likely one of the most to be overlooked."

To explain why Smart Poodle chose to feature this program on video, Glade said, "Learning should be fun. And since Lilly is silly, has a funny voice and is dressed in a colorful costume, kids are entertained by her posing the geography questions. Then I answer them, so that the listeners can focus on the facts."

Smart Poodle Publishing hopes that this simple program entertains and inspires kids to be more curious and seek more knowledge about the USA and the rest of the world.

Encourage a child in your life to "Ask Lilly Badilly All About the World!"

Smart Poodle Publishing is a proud member of The National Council for Geographic Education. www.ncge.org.

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