IT Report from the Field
The COMDEX/Fall ’99 Show
Held in Las Vegas, this largest of computer shows has always been reminiscent of a circus with its showgirls, clowns, acrobats, and actors. This time the products were also very much part of the show.
by Péter Jacsó — Page 1

IT Viewpoint
Things Fall Apart
A visit to the Online Information 99 Conference and Exhibition in London offered few answers but plenty of questions about the current state of the information industry and the players involved.
by Richard Poynder — Page 1

IT Report from the Field
’99 Chemical Information Conference
This annual conference, held last October 25-27 in Annecy, France, featured a number of excellent speakers, a high-quality program, and wonderful ambiance.
by Ev Brenner — Page 50
 

Bell & Howell Will Restructure to Create Two Separate Companies
by Paula J. Hane — Page 1
Tim Andrews Leaves Factiva; Clare Hart Appointed New CEO
by Barbara Quint — Page 17
Manning & Napier Information Services Announces CINDOR,
a Multi-Language Search-and-Retrieval System
by Susan Feldman  — Page 42
Intelligence Data Launches Intranet Distribution Product
by Paula J. Hane — Page 42
Ingenta Merges with UnCover
by Paula J. Hane — Page 46
OCLC Opens Web Catalog to All Comers
by Mick O’Leary — Page 47
 

Quint’s Online
Designing the Perfect Information Portal
Barbara Quint offers suggestions on how to create the “Perfect Portal for Perfect Information Professionals” (PPPIP), a one-stop source where, ideally, users can find almost everything they need. — Page 7

Database Review
Project Vote Smart Helps Confused Voters
Mick O’Leary describes Project Vote Smart, a Web site where users can get the lowdown on 13,000 elected officials including state legislators, members of Congress, and presidential candidates. — Page 14

Hiring Line
Changing Jobs? It’s a Changing Market
In this first of four Hiring Line columns for 2000, Richard Ream offers some tips and resources for job-seeking information professionals in an industry rife with movement.  — Page 18
 

Company Announcements

• Sagebrush Corp., Winnebago Software Co. Announce Merger— Page 43
• RoweCom Announces Partnership, Linking Agreements— Page 48
• VertiNews.com Changes Name to Internet Publishing Group— Page 48
• Auto-Graphics, Inc. Announces Organization of New Subsidiaries— Page 49
• University of Michigan Receives NSF Grant to Research Security and Privacy— Page 49
• Handshake Productions to Launch E-LAM Reports for Libraries, Archives, and Museums— Page 49
• Information Today, Inc. Acquires Knowledge Asset Media— Page 49

Internet Waves
Through the Virtual Back Door
Shirley Kennedy warns of security problems—and potential identity theft—for those with on-all-the-time Internet connections. — Page 24

Internet Announcements

• Ovid Announces Books@Ovid, OpenLinks Toolkit— Page 21
• Internet Policy Institute Launched as Independent Think Tank — Page 21
• Columbia Earthscape Launched Online by Columbia University— Page 22
• Sea Change Corp. Releases WebClarity— Page 22
• IHS Group Provides Content for Excite@Home’s Work.com— Page 23

Focus on Publishing
A Distance Learning Reality Check
Robin Peek removes the rose-colored Web glasses that are often used to look at distance education, and explores some of the limitations, issues, and poor implementations. — Page 30

Internet Publishing Announcements

• FileNET Introduces Panagon Web Publisher 4.0— Page 29
• Barnes & Noble Selects IBM as Provider of Print-on-Demand Technology— Page 29
• Concentric Network Corp., Trellix Corp. Partner to Provide a Complete Web Solution — Page 31
• R.R. Donnelley Chooses MessageMedia for Its ePublish Program — Page 31
• Academic Press Selects MediaDNA as Online Distributor — Page 31

CD/DVD Commentaries

Looking Back: CD/DVD-ROM in 1999
Péter Jacsó reports that CD-ROM drives are gradually losing ground to CD-RW,  CD-R, and DVD-ROM drives, and that there were relatively few quality CD-ROM software products released last year. — Page 34

CD/DVD Announcements

• MediaFORM Introduces cdDIRECTOR 3706NT— Page 33
• Microtech’s ImageAutomator 105 CD-R System Now Upgradable to 12 Drives— Page 33
• SilverPlatter to Make New Databases Available on Both CD-ROM and the Web— Page 36
• Kenwood Technologies Releases Kenwood 72x TrueX CD-ROM Drive— Page 36

The Systems Librarian
JSTOR Reaches Critical Mass
Terry Ballard praises JSTOR, a system that saves libraries valuable shelf space and makes searching for relevant articles easy. — Page 38

Library Systems Announcements

• SIRS Mandarin Premieres New Interface and Databases, Receives Automation Contract— Page 37
• COMPanion Corp. Extends End Date of Software Promotion— Page 37
• Libraries Select SIRSI’s Unicorn Library Management System— Page 39
• OCLC Opens TechPro Office at Ambassador Book Service, Finalizes Agreement with Pica— Page 40
• TLC Announces Library Automation Contracts— Page 40

• Calendar — Page 43
• Book Review

Online Retrieval: A Dialogue of Theory and Practice, second edition
by Geraldene Walker and Joseph Janes, reviewed by Gwen Gregory — Page 47
• People Line — Page 53

• Index to Advertisers