The new (3rd) edition of the MLA Style Manual is now available. We’re really happy to see that they’ve simplified the citation of Web-based content (in particular removing the distinction between different “types” of databases that has confused students and teachers alike). We had several discussions with the MLA editorial staff about this, and they listened! In fact, we’re acknowledged by the editor (David G. Nicholls) in the Preface!

The changes introduced in the MLA Style Manual need to be implemented in NoodleBib, of course. There are some changes (like the absence of URLs for most Web citations) that we need to give some thought to and discuss with MLA, given that K-12 teachers are going to still want to see specific URLs for sources used by their students. We’ll need to verify with MLA that the changes in the MLA Style Manual will also end up in the MLA Handbook, since the intended audiences of these two style guides are different. The next edition of the MLA Handbook will not be coming for a while (Spring 2009?), so we also need to figure out the best timing for making these changes in NoodleBib. We’ll keep you posted on these decisions.

As we are every summer, we’re hard at work on some exciting new projects and NoodleBib features for next Fall (look for upcoming announcements on this blog). Meanwhile, we continue to listen to your suggestions for how to improve the existing tools. Although they aren’t always announced, we usually do a minor update to the site about once a month. Here are a few of the more significant improvements that went into the most recent update on 6/1:

• Spell-checking on the “annotation” fields.
• Interactive parenthetical reference help (now allows you to fill in page and volume numbers to customize the parenthetical reference example for your citation)
• Revised MLA forms to handle podcasts, blogs, audioblogs, videoblogs, and online video clips (based on input from the MLA editorial staff).
• Added ability to cite a personal photograph (MLA).
• Revised APA “Web site” citation form to handle various types of “gray literature” (Powerpoint slides, white paper, fact sheet, press release, etc.) as described in the APA Style Guide to Electronic References.
• For teacher/librarian folders, “Lists Shared With Me” now displays a “status” indicator showing if a source list has been viewed/commented yet. In addition, a 30-day history of the source list can be viewed (there is a link to the log when you mouse-over the status). Finally, the number of lists shared with each class name is now displayed beside the class name.

We hope you find these changes useful!