Errata Page for Your World Atlases

Link to 7/21 Huffington Post, "McCain's Secret Map Showing Iraq/Pakistan Border".

Raise your hand. How many libraries still have an atlas case?

Social Issues to Appear on Many State Ballots This Fall

Link to July 24 Stateline.org post, "Social issues crowd state ballots".

Excerpt:

So far, there is no single issue dominating statewide ballots, unlike in 2004 when gay marriage bans were voted on in 11 states, or in 2006, when minimum wage was on six state ballots and property rights on 12.

Among social issues, more proposals that would appeal to conservative voters than to liberals are showing up in 2008. But there is no consensus on whether ballot measures tend to drive enough voters to the polls to give an advantage to a presidential candidate.

Wisconsin hasn't joined the circus this year.

Here's a tally from a sidebar, "2008 Ballot Measures". (Number of times states are mentioned.)

4 - California

3 - Arizona, Colorado, Oregon

2 - Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan Missouri, South Dakota

1 - Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota

For more information click here. (Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. "A Brief Survey of Ballot Initiative Activity around the Country".)

Sony Ups the Ante on E-Books

Link to July 24 NEWS.com post, "Sony opens e-book reader to outside publishers".

Excerpt:

Sony announced on Thursday that its Reader Digital Book will be able to read electronic books published using the .epub format that many of the largest book publishers are using.

Until now, Sony's e-book reader could only read books available from the Sony e-book store, PDF documents, and DRM-free text. Starting next month, the new PRS-505 Sony Reader model will be able to access secure DRM- and non-DRM-protected content in the .epub format, formerly called the Open eBook format. (Here's a review of the device.)

.......

"This upgrade opens the door to a whole host of paid and free content from third-party eBook stores, Web sites, and even public libraries," Steve Haber, senior vice president of consumer product marketing for Sony Electronics, said in a statement.

See 7/18/2008 LibraryJournal.com post, "Broward County Library Reports Success Circulating Sony Reader".