Payments for group subscriptions (i.e., teachers, schools, districts, etc.) may now be made by credit card. The credit card payment authorization form can be found at:

http://www.noodletools.com/paycc.pdf

It’s nice to know that some database vendors are taking their “citation advice” pages seriously! FACTS.com recently updated the citation examples given on their site to reflect the fact that they are a publisher rather than an aggregator (like Gale and ProQuest). This is welcome validation of the time we spent understanding this distinction with the MLA editorial staff this past summer, the results of which are now reflected in the NoodleBib version 6 subscription database wizard. Also see our knowledge base article on the subject:

http://www.noodletools.com/kb/index.php?article=136

The knowledge base article specifically dealing with the FACTS.com databases has also been updated to indicate that the citation advice given at the FACTS.com site is correct:

http://www.noodletools.com/kb/index.php?article=63

Here is the nice e-mail we received from the editor at FACTS.com:

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am an editor at Facts On File News Services, the company that provides the Reference Suite @ FACTS.com and FactsforLearning. This past summer, I undertook the task of updating our user help files and citations. I came across your site as I was conducting some research on correctly citing in MLA and APA formats.

After finishing my research and speaking with some editors at the MLA, I realized that we are indeed not a library subscription service and have corrected all our automatic citations to reflect this. In addition, all database names have been changed from “FACTS.com” to the database name where the information is coming from.

For example, one of our old citations looked like this:

“Key Event: Terrorists Attack United States; U.S. Leads War in Afghanistan.” FACTS.com. Facts On File News Services. [Name of school or library], [location], [state]. 30 Jul. 2005 .

It now looks like this:

“Key Event: Terrorists Attack United States; U.S. Leads War in Afghanistan.” Facts On File World News Digest @ FACTS.com. Facts On File News Services. 4 Nov. 2005 .

Thank you so very much for providing such a great service!

With best wishes,

[Name removed]
Curriculum Editor
Facts On File News Services
512 Seventh Ave.
New York, NY 10018

Just back from giving a general session keynote and two other presentations at the New Jersey Association of School Librarians Fall 2005 Conference, Debbie Abilock is now attending the Connecticut Educational Media Association Conference. She’ll be giving the keynote address on Monday, Nov. 7 @ 9:00 am (Doorstops, Elephants and Cheesecake). Then at 1:45 pm, she’ll be presenting Online Reading Strategies in an Information Rich Environment. Stop by and say hello if you’re attending!

Doorstops, Elephants and Cheesecake
If you find yourself facing elephants more often than creating cheesecake, it’s time to look into the collaboration refrigerator and identify what to throw out, what to snack on and what to take time to prepare well. A practical workshop on developing a strategic school wide plan for collaboration.

Online Reading Strategies in an Information Rich Environment
Our students and staff use the Internet daily to answer personal questions, solve practical problems, do their school work and accomplish goals. New technologies demand new literacy strategies from our students. Learn to teach the strategies that good readers use along with critical information literacy skills in order to help students construct meaning and analyze information in an online environment.