Creating a Power Web Site: HTML, Tables, Imagemaps, Frames, and Forms with Cdrom FROM THE PUBLISHER
If you've already created a basic Web site for your library, but want to turn it into a high-end one, this is the package for you! The easy-to-follow manual contains numerous library examples and practical exercises that help you make your Web site more appealing, efficient, and interactive. You'll learn how to create tables, arrange content more effectively, get more feedback from patrons, and add imagemap graphics which will allow patrons to connect to information in other parts of your Web site by clicking on picture.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
This book is not a comprehensive HTML manual designed for creating library homepages. The HTML tags included are based on HTML version 3.2 and not the current version 4. The decision by the authors to use the previous version of HTML is based on both the uneven implementation of HTML 4 tags and the continued use in many homes and libraries of computers that have not been upgraded to the latest HTML 4 capable browsers. This may be true for now, but HTML 4 tags will eventually be more widely used. A chapter on current tags and style sheets would have made this book more timely and comparable to current HTML 4 manuals. Presented are the basic tags needed for creating a library homepage; the more advanced HTML 3.2 tags, including those for tables, frames, imagemaps, and forms, are also covered. In addition, there is a detailed chapter on library-oriented PERL/ CGI scripts for adding interactivity to a homepage and handling form data. The accompanying CD-ROM, requiring a computer with a CD-ROM drive and web browser software, contains HTML examples, an evaluation imagemap editor program, PERL/CGI implementation software, and scripts with corresponding HTML documents. The forms and PERL scripts cover such library services as interlibrary loan, reserve/hold materials, library card applications, and material requests. Each chapter ends with a review and short quiz. The appendixes include a glossary of general, HTML, and PERL terms; a classified bibliography that includes print and web resources; HTML equivalent (special) characters; hexadecimal color codes; and a PERL "Cheat Sheet." Unfortunately, the price of the book prevents a wholehearted recommendation. It's not simply overpriced, it's outrageously overpriced. The HTML tags included can be found in any good HTML manual, even an older edition. The library-oriented HTML documents, forms, and PERL/CGI scripts are helpful and reflect the authors' effort and collective expertise (Junion-Metz is School Library Journal's Internet columnist and author of several web guides), but this still does not justify the high cost. Even a continuing education class on HTML or PERL/CGI would be less expensive than this book. For those interested in learning PERL/CGI programming, consider Rafe Coburn's Teach Yourself CGI Programming in a Week (Computer Media, LJ 8/98).--Robert Battenfeld, Long Island Univ.-Southampton Lib., NY
Booknews
Provides a step-by-step guide by way of numerous examples and practical exercises in order to improve library Web sites. Discusses the basics of HTML, CGI, and PERL, and also explains Netiquette in the library setting, and copyright issues and protections for digital information and Webpages. Appendixes contain a glossary, a list of HTML equivalent characters, a PERL command HTML cheat sheet, and a list of hexadecimal color codes. The CD-ROM includes copies of HTML documents with corresponding PERL scripts, Windows and Linux versions of the PERL interpreter software, and simple installation instructions for the software. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)
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