Greetings, all (from this mornings "Herald" as I still call it) I see something there about a biography index. Please don't inundate the librarians with too many routine questions. But maybe someone can lobby them and see what kinds of genealogical/historical information would be available. Don't forget "inter-Library Loan." It often is the best $3 you'll ever spend. (Been awful quiet lately folks. Must be the interminable winter) Ray Marshall -------------- Local & State News Duluth library unveils new online goodies By Bob Linneman News Tribune staff writer For months, staffers at the Duluth Public Library have been fine-tuning what they consider to be the next great addition to their catalog, a longstanding provider of education and information in the Twin Ports. The library's Web site -- www.duluth.lib.mn.us -- is a search engine and research tool all its own. And with next week being National Library Week, the staff wants to show off. "You can use our hard work to make your life easier,'' said Lucie Holzemer, the fiction collection librarian. "What it does compared to a regular search engine is we eliminate all the noise. We're really helping you find what you want to find.'' The Web site has organized and expanded its electronic resources to such an extent that nearly anything can be found from your home computer. >From biography databases to local clubs and organizations, government, obituaries and an impressive list of online newspapers and journals, the site seems almost endless. What the library staff members have worked to develop is an easy way for the services to be accessed by the public. "It's a timesaver,'' Library Director Beth Kelly said Friday. "We're starting to see more use of the Web site and more holds (on books) coming from people's homes.'' The library's site averages 4,000 to 5,000 hits a month and that number is increasing, said Nancy Eaton of the library's community services department. Kelly said the Web site project is funded for three years by the state. In 2000, the first year of the site, the cost was $1.5 million, which included subscriptions to a variety of online services that Northland residents can access free of charge. While the state pays the bulk of the cost, the city of Duluth spent $1,500 for a subscription to "NoveList,'' a site ideal for book groups, schools and others who thirst for more information about authors or specific works. The database includes more than 96,000 fiction titles and more than half of those include reviews, awards or comparisons with other works. NoveList, which also allows people to search for out-of-print books, promises to be one reason library officials expect the site to continue its growth. The library's Web site also offers a direct link to Duluth librarians, who can handle questions and other inquiries via e-mail. Eaton said she is pleased with the site's progress so far, but more is to come. "It's a work in progress,'' she said. "It's very exciting finding things we can add.'' The Duluth library staff invites Northland residents to celebrate National Library Week, beginning Monday. All you have to do is sign on. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Bob Linneman is a community reporter. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 723-5319 or by e-mail at blinneman@duluthnews.com. © 2001 Duluth News Tribune. All rights reserved.