Database Updates from Facts-On-File News Services

Facts On File is delighted to announce that our parent company, Infobase Publishing, has recently acquired Facts On File News Services. With this transaction, Facts On File (http://www.factsonfile.com/) and Facts On File News Services (http://www.facts.com/) are once again under common ownership, as they were before March 1996. We are committed to our database publishing program, and we will continue to add new resources and features to help your users make the most efficient use of our databases. Here are just some of the exciting additions to your News Services subscription.

Facts On File World News Digest :

• All-new Research Features spotlighting Iran’s nuclear development, the use of performance-enhancing substances in competitive sports, and the 50th anniversary of school desegregation in Little Rock, AK.
• New “Need a Research Topic?” sections focusing on three key aspects of history and recent news: Church-State Separation, Same-Sex Marriage, and the fall of Communism in eastern Europe.
• Access to top Issues in the News coverage from Issues & Controversies.
• Understanding Historic Documents—Student Resource Center guidelines on the importance of primary source documents in research and tips on how to work with them, plus a special Historic Document Worksheet template.
• Front-page access to Recent Featured Stories from the Facts On File World News Digest, giving instant access to the recent content on everything from political and business news to the arts and sports.
• The updated 2008 Presidential Election Guide, with a quick link on the front page.
• The latest key events always added to the front-page Iraq War Coverage Guide.
• More than 100 new and topical Editorial Cartoons with Questions on recent news, with thought-provoking discussion questions and links to related news coverage and context articles.
  

Issues & Controversies:

• Full coverage of the 2007 National High School Debate topic: Public Health Aid to Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Education Resource Center material on working with Primary Source Documents.
• Editorial Cartoons with key questions and links to current information on recent topics in the news, from Hurricane Katrina to Immigration and the Pledge of Allegiance.
• New articles like College Rankings, Ecotourism, and Special Education.
• Updates on newsworthy issues for students like Detainees’ Rights, Education Standards, Performance-Enhancing Substances, and Teen Pregnancy.
• Follow-ups, covering breaking news on important issues like the Minimum-Wage Increase and Students’ Free-Speech Rights.
• Statistical Updates that track key statistical shifts on topics from Advertising to Youth Depression.

Issues & Controversies in American History:

• Resource Center for Students and Educators—packed with tips on using this unique database for learning and teaching.
• Special Feature: Understanding Primary Documents, including a Worksheet, and an educator's guide to Suggested Activities incorporating historic documents.
• All-new articles on more debated aspects of U.S. History: the Astor Place Riot, Flappers, the Homestead Act, the introduction of Income Tax, the Iran-Contra Scandal, Social Darwinism and the Texas Revolution.
• More than 60 additional Primary Source Documents, giving unique insights into history as it was lived and experienced.
• More Discussion Questions and Activities.
• Many more Historical Cartoons with key questions—fascinating caricatures of political events and controversies, from the Stamp Act through the USA Patriot Act.

Today’s Science:

• More than 30 new, highly illustrated articles covering the most important headlines and breakthroughs over the summer, in Biology, Earth, Space and Physical Sciences.
• New listing of standards-based Classroom Activities and Experiments.
• “Issues & Controversies in Science”—a list of top articles on scientific subjects from Issues & Controversies.
• Science Fair Guide—a practical, easy-to-follow manual for students with tips on how to design and carry out a science project.
• Discussion Questions accompanying each new article, to build understanding.
• Links to Journal Abstracts leading straight from Today’s Science coverage of top science news to the published abstract of the research itself.

World Almanac Reference Database:
New, improved article interface:

• 2007 World Almanac and Book of Facts data added.
• Improved World Almanac and Book of Facts data delivery automatically leading to the most recent available edition’s information from every menu listing.
• New “World Almanac Archive” links at the top left of articles allowing users to compare the most recent data with previous editions, to see how statistics trend over time; also display automatic links to more recent information if available.
• New identifier at top right of each online article providing the date of the print edition where it appeared.
• New Chapter listing near top right of each article gives link from each specific information page to the general Contents listing for that subject.
• Recent World Almanac Cover Stories chronicle the 60th anniversaries of the Marshall Plan for rebuilding postwar Europe, the founding of the CIA, and Indian and Pakistani independence, as well as examining the first terrorist attack at the Olympics, in 1972.
• More than 60 brand-new World Almanac Encyclopedia articles, including biographies of figures from Bella Abzug and Charles Addams through Jerry Falwell, L. Ron Hubbard, Leni Riefenstahl, and Nicolas Sarkozy to Darryl Zanuck—plus updates to hundreds of articles.
• Special Reports on topics of interest from the government changes in Britain and France to safety concerns about products from China, Harry Potter’s final chronicle, and the true age of cats!

Fifteenth Annual Festival of Reading

University of South Florida
St. Petersburg
140 7th Avenue South
St. Petersburg , FL
Saturday, October 27, 2007
10 am - 5 pm

Event site: http://www.festivalofreading.com/
2007 Festival Author Biographies

Featured Authors: David Andelman, Betsy Carter, Michael Connelly, Jane Porter, Sharon Robinson, R.L. Stine, Dawna Stone, Mark Winegardner

Remembering September 11, 2001

The flags on all SPC sites will fly at half-staff today to honor and remember all who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. This day has been designated as Patriot Day by Congress. President George W. Bush’s proclamation follows:


Patriot Day, 2007 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/print/20070904-6.html


September 11, 2001, was a defining moment in American history. On that terrible day, our Nation saw the face of evil as 19 men barbarously attacked us and wantonly murdered people of many races, nationalities, and creeds. On Patriot Day, we remember the innocent victims, and we pay tribute to the valiant firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, and ordinary citizens who risked their lives so others might live.


After the attacks on 9/11, America resolved that we would go on the offense against our enemies, and we would not distinguish between the terrorists and those who harbor and support them. All Americans honor the selfless men and women of our Armed Forces, the dedicated members of our public safety, law enforcement, and intelligence communities, and the thousands of others who work hard each day to protect our country, secure our liberty, and prevent future attacks.


The spirit of our people is the source of America's strength, and 6 years ago, Americans came to the aid of neighbors in need. On Patriot Day, we pray for those who died and for their families. We volunteer to help others and demonstrate the continuing compassion of our citizens. On this solemn occasion, we rededicate ourselves to laying the foundation of peace with confidence in our mission and our free way of life.


By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day." NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2007, as Patriot Day. I call upon the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Patriot Day. I also call upon the people ofthe United States to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and remembrance services, to display the flag at half-staff from their homes on that day, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. eastern daylight time to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred andthirty-second.


GEORGE W. BUSH

Create and search your own library on Google Book Search

LibraryThing et al. allowed users to catalog their books online with tags, annotations, reviews etc. in order to share these collections with others. Google Book Search now allows users to "label, review, rate, and of course, full-text search, a customized selection of books." Try it out at: http://books.google.com/googlebooks/mylibrary/