Mango Languages Review Completed

Thanks to all the libraries who participated in our review of Mango Languages. The review is now complete, and can be found in the Product Review area of the Clearinghouse on the Califa website.

Or you can just go directly to it, here.

The average composite score was a 3.02 out of 4. Some of the comments include:

There was a lot of vocabulary, and currency exchange phrases reflected present day currencies, for example. I think if you worked your way through a course, you’d be very comfortable when traveling in a country where that language was spoken.

and

I think that anyone who has gone through all the lessons for a particular language would be at ease when traveling in a country where that language is spoken. The biggest drawback is often beginning with sentences that do not seem to apply to the main topic or title of the chapter. For example, when a chapter is entitled “Setting the Table”, does “This blouse is too tight around the shoulders and back,” seem relevant?

Check out all the comments and scores at the review, and let us know if you have any questions.

Wireless Mobility AT&T FOCUS Lunch+Learns

Jackie Siminitus, AT&T Library Advocate, sent us the following invitation to pass along to our members.

California library technology leaders are invited to one of two FOCUS Lunch+Learns scheduled for California: San Francisco on June 17 and Anaheim on June 26.

The events are dedicated to enterprise mobility and the virtual workplace. As we've all heard, wireline and wireless technologies are converging. Handheld devices are able to do more and more each day.

Jackie would like to host a table of librarians so mobility specialists can get an earful of how libraries use or would like to use telecommunications within their library and the community they serve. To reserve a "Librarians' Table," email Jackie.

AT&T FOCUS events are open, so librarians should directly register at http://www.thefocus.org/ -- go to "Local Chapters" then "Lunch+Learns."

Current Issue of Charleston Advisor

Califa member libraries have free online access to the Charleston Advisor's critical reviews of online resources. Reviews contain thorough product descriptions and considers factors such as strength and weakness, searchability, content, etc.

April's issue includes a look at the following products: ReferenceUSA, CQ Political Reference Suite, Value Line Research Center, and WorldCat.

Log onto the Califa Web site and find the Charleston Advisor on the left-hand menu. Instructions for signing in to this resource are also posted.

New Poll for Members

Over to the right, there is a new poll for our members asking whether we should work with any of the listed business database vendors. Please take a moment to let us know your opinion on these companies, and whether we should negotiate a Califa discount with any of them.

Thanks so much for your time and effort!

Free offer from Ebrary for National Library Week

In support of U.S. National Library Week, April 13 to 19, 2008, ebrary would like to offer librarians as well as students and faculty in library science and related programs complimentary access to their Library Center for one year. Non-U.S. libraries are welcome to participate as well.

Subsidized by ebrary, the Library Center includes more than 85 full-text e-books covering topics such as digital library development, general collection development, and the history of libraries and librarianship, as well as illustrated guides from the U.S. Library of Congress. Contributing publishers include Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Idea Group, Inc., Greenwood Publishing Group, Library of Congress, and MIT Press.

To receive complimentary access, students,faculty, and librarians may register at http://www.responsetrack.net/lnk/surveymonkey849667/?146V202MWE0.

For more information, please read the ebrary press release at http://www.responsetrack.net/lnk/ebrary849668/?146V202MWE0.

Gale Books and Authors Trial Available

Trials are now available for Books and Authors, the new Readers Advisory product from Gale. To sign up for a trial, or to get a quote with introductory pricing (through May 31), please email califa@califa.org.

Mango Languages Review Team Forming

We are forming a Review Team for our members to evaluate Mango Languages, a competing product to Rosetta Stone. If you have an interest in languages, or have experience with Rosetta Stone, we would love for your input, and would ask that you consider taking part in the review. If you would like more information, or Review Guidelines, please email califa@califa.org.