H.W. Wilson Launches Free Resource for Librarians: Standardcatalogs.com
"Clearinghouse" of Free Tools for Collection Development

New York, New York, July 5, 2006
Over the course of a century, librarians have made the Wilson Standard Catalogs standard resources in libraries, for their help with collection development and maintenance. Today H.W. Wilson announced a free service for librarians that will "give back" to the profession--Standardcatalogs.com.

Standardcatalogs.com is a free clearinghouse for tools for collection development: "Best" lists, Editors' picks, hot topics, periodicals lists, best professional books, librarian home pages and blogs, profiles of editors (and others) who shape the Wilson Standard Catalogs, and more.

The site will tap the expertise of librarians nationwide--those on the Wilson staff, special consultants, and librarians offering their input from the field. "Best" Lists will include Libraries' Best Lists, Readers' Best Lists, Committees' Best Lists, Newspapers' Best Lists, as well as contributions from individuals. An "Editors' Picks" feature will focus on notable titles from Wilson's Children's Catalog, Public Library Catalog, Fiction Catalog, Senior High School Library Catalog, and Middle & Junior High School Library Catalog. Recommended books on hot topics will also be highlighted, focusing on issues in the headlines, including topics suggested by Standardcatalogs.com users.

Help with professional development will be provided in lists of Best Professional Books for Librarians and links to librarians' home pages that feature useful resources.

Standardcatalogs.com will be a continuously evolving tool, welcoming the input of librarians and other information professionals. The site is edited by Raymond Barber, Special Consultant to the Wilson Standard Catalogs and Editor of Senior High School Library Catalog, along with Joseph Miller, H.W. Wilson Director of Cataloging Services. Dr. Barber has worked in school libraries and taught library science at several universities, and has served on the Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz award committees, the Best Books for Young Adults Committee and the Notable Books Council.

For more information, visit www.standardcatalogs.com.