Web links in CD-ROM Products

[Peter Konshak]

Hi Everyone,

We're finding that an increasing number of our CD-ROM products have built
in links to sources of information on the web.  Phone Disc, Encarta, etc
all have links built in now.  We'd like to offer the web functionality that
comes with these products, but without turning our database machines into
Internet terminals.  With Encarta '97, for example, you're only about 3
clicks away from a search engine - thus the patron could get out to just
about anything on the Internet (I might mention that we have 5 dedicated
Internet machines - and we would prefer to keep surfing to a minimum on the
"database" machines).  At this point, we have just declined to install a
browser, so that you can't use the web functionality.

How are other libraries out there dealing with this?  I've considered
setting up a proxy, but each monthly update of Encarta contains new links
which would then have to be added to the proxy, and I'd hate to create an
administrative nightmare for myself.  Of course the web links from the
Encyclopedia make it a much more valuable resource..so it sure would be
nice to make it work somehow.  Thanks,

Peter


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Peter Konshak                             pkonshak at carmel.lib.in.us
Computer Technology Coordinator		
Carmel Clay Public Library              http://www.carmel.lib.in.us
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