Re: World Book revisited

["Judy B. Smith" <jsmith@NWARK.COM>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Cathie Miller <Cathie_Miller@PDS.K12.NJ.US>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Date: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: World Book revisited

Cathie - We've been through the same steps with WB - first using the 95
single disk, then the 97 multiple disk which was very difficult to run on a
network.  We finally got it to work late last year by buying an additional
drive.  Searching is more in depth but also more complex as you mentioned.
If you decide to go to the multiple, you might consider subscribing online
in a year or so.  That would cure your network problem.  WB has come out
with a new print encyc for K-3 called Student Discoverer.  Maybe we need to
push WB to get it on CD as soon as possible.


>Several of you echoed my concern about the changes which have occurred in
>the electronic editions of World Book. You asked that I report what I
>learned from other libraries. Suffice it to say that no one responded that
>they were successfully using these electronic versions with 2nd-3rd
>graders. Since no one here could tell me what I might do to make this
>situation with the multimedia editions better, I called my rep who called
>their tech department. I wanted to know if the single disc version which
>we had been running was going to be updated but  remain as user friendly
>as in the past. The technical person gave me the bad news that this
>version has followed the path of the multiple CD version in making the
>changes which have rendered it much more difficult to use. He did indicate
>that he would pass along my objections to these changes.
>
>The edition we had used had been updated through 1998. Since we were using
>the CD, we own this version on single disc. It is the product the children
>and teachers know and love. In an effort to be more up-to-date we ordered
>the new network version on three CD's. I have looked at the version
>running over the net and find that it, too, lacks the intuitive searching
>strategy which marked the version we have. The version we like was a nice
>parellel to our OPAC and made teaching both easy.
>
>So, what do you think? Do we continue to run the 1998, although not
>current? Do we try to find another encyclopedia for our lower school?
>Suggestions? Do any of you run Book of Knowledge for your lower school
>children? Do we give up and run this new version in spite of its
>difficulty ( I mean this sincerely. Our technical director and I had a
>terrible time with it and we have forty years of experience between us)?
>What would you do?
>
>In the meantime, if any of you wish to let your WB representative know
>that there are concerns, please do so. Perhaps, our group strength will
>get us back a product we can count upon as we have depended upon WB for so
>long.
>
>Cathie Miller                   cathie_miller@pds.k12.nj.us
>Middle School Librarian
>Princeton Day School
>Princeton, NJ 08542
>609-924-6700X242
>
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