A New Fay Wray Computer Resources to Tame Your Library By Bruce Winter Volume 20 Number 2 1992 March From astronomy to topographic map explorations, from the Bible to videos--when you're thinking computerized resources, don 't forget to check out our annotated mediography of Canadian software and CDs. Many computer programmes available in Canada appear to be American in origin and content. When asked to compile a listing of Canadian software and CDs for CM, I was curious about what might be out there, because I had never seriously thought about the "Canadian factor." However, after sifting through some of the sources available, I found there are many programmes that are either Canadian in content or produced in Canada that perhaps deserve some consideration. For example, the programme Chemnames is a good reinforcement programme for senior chemistry classes in inorganic and organic nomenclature. Either the Canadian Business and Current Affairs CD or the Canadian Periodical Index CD is almost a must in senior schools today in order to allow students to make good searches of a school's periodicals or to look for journal articles in surrounding libraries. The following mediography represents a beginning listing of Canadian software and CDs. It is by no means definitive. Additional sources and/or suggestions are most welcome. Prices are given for a single copy and/or a site licence (multiple copies) where applicable. Software Adventures in Astronomy. (MS DOS, Apple). Entrex Software. Single copy $99, site licence $396. Grades 4 to 8 In this simple-to-use simulation students join the Space Academy and learn the answers to the following questions: what is a comet? where is Saturn? and many more fascinating questions. Aftermarket. (MS DOS or Macintosh). Smythe Computer Software. Site licence $290. Senior high school An educational business simulation allowing student-controlled companies to penetrate a controlled wholesaler/ retailer market. Canada's Postal Markets. (MS DOS). Financial Post Publications. $395. Senior high school and up/Professional For each Forward Sortation Area (FSA) of Canada's sophisticated postal coding you get consumer demographics, population, and household income estimates and projections, along with data on the size of businesses, "The Top 100" rankings, and shopping centre data. Canadian Markets. (MS DOS). Financial Post Publications. $171.25. Senior grades and up This is an easy-to-use abridged version of the Canadian Markets book, allowing the user access to historical, current and projected statistics for population, retail sales, households and income. Chemnames. (MS DOS). Smythe Computer Software. Site licence $169. EGA required. Senior high school Inorganic and organic nomenclature. Crosscountry USA and Crosscountry Canada. (MS DOS or Apple). Didatech Software. School edition $77 each, lab pak $160, site licence $395. This series brings geography alive by taking students on computer-enhanced trips of discovery which require map reading and problem-solving skills. Directory of Apprenticeship Careers. (MS DOS). Ontario Ministry of Skills Development. $ Market. (MS DOS). Smythe Computer Software. Single copy $59, site licence $149. Senior high school A supply-and-demand simulation designed for high school economics classes. Fay: That Math Woman. (MS DOS, Apple, C64). Didatech Software. School edition $49, lab pak $98, site/ network$245. Elementary This program takes students beyond memorization to a true understanding of arithmetic. It helps children visualize how and why basic arithmetic works. Fay: The Word Hunter. (Apple, C64). Didatech Software. School edition $49, lab pak $98, site/network $245. Elementary This program helps kids visualize correct spelling ... to know when words "look right." Markbook--2000. (MS DOS). Smythe Computer Software. Single copy $59, site licence $169. Professional State-of-the-art teacher's computerized gradebook. Resources. (MS DOS). Smythe Computer Software. Site licence $99. EGA, mouse required. High school Resources is a complete three-day computer-enhanced lesson. Top Map. (MS DOS). Smythe Computer Software. Site licence $99. EGA required. High school Three-dimensional topographic map explorations. Vistas Canada News Disk. (MS DOS). Prentice-Hall Canada (and Infomart Online). $50. 3.5 in. disk only. Annual updates. High school This disk contains thirty-five current articles drawn from the over thirty newspapers and journals and is correlated to the text Vistas Canada: Environmental and Economic Issues used at the OAC level in Ontario schools. No copyright infringement. World Prospects News Disk. (MS DOS). Prentice-Hall Canada (and Infomart Online). $50. Annual updates. High school Similar to the above disk but supporting the text World Prospects (second edition) used in the OAC World Issues course in Ontario. Available spring 1992. The Workings of Markets. (MS DOS). Vancouver Community College Press. Single licence $250, class licence $1750, site licence $3000. EGA, VGA required, 4 megabyte hard disk. Senior high school and first-year economics at colleges or universities The Workings of Markets is a computer-based introductory economics course that won the prestigious Northern Telecom National Award. (Free demonstration disk available.) CD-ROM Canadian Business and Current Affairs. (MS DOS). Micromedia. Educational $800 U.S., other $1450 U.S. A comprehensive indexing source covering every aspect of Canadian affairs, including major Canadian newspapers and journals. The Canadian Encyclopedia on CD-ROM. (MS DOS). McClelland & Stewart. Stand alone $495 (ISBN 0-7710-18770), network $895 (ISBN 0-7710-18789), annual updates $90. Elementary and secondary This CD contains the entire text of the Canadian Encyclopedia and the Gage Canadian Dictionary in a single database. Canadian Periodical Index. (MS DOS). InfoGlobe. High schools $600$700, networked $840-$1400; colleges $700$775, networked $980$1550; public libraries $600-$1300, networked $840$2600; updates March and September. Complete indexing of CPI from January 1988 to November 1991. Canadisk. (MS DOS or Macintosh). Britannica Learning Materials. Educational $495. DOS 5.0 recommended. Macintosh 68030 recommended. Canadisk is a multimedia computer resource for the study of Canadian history and culture. Updated for 1992, it contains text, photos, statistics, environmental data, census data, and election results. Both English and French editions will be available in the spring. (Available to Ontario schools at a reduced price.) CD: Education. (MS DOS). Micromedia. $800 per year. Professional CD: Education represents a major advance in accessibility to Canadian educational research, containing the following database groups: Canadian Education Index, Onteris, and CEA Handbook. The Findit Webster. (MS DOS or Macintosh). Innotech. $99. Elementary and secondary Over 85,000 words (3,500 with pronunciation), over 30,000 verbal illustrations, all based on the New York Times dictionary. 1st Canadian Shareware Disk. (MS DOS). BetaCorp Technologies. $89. This disk is a compilation of over 600 carefully selected public domain and shareware programs encompassing 10 different application categories, including communications, graphics and utilities. Maclean's. (MS DOS). Southam Business Communications. $199. The full text of Maclean's for all the issues from March 1988 to December 1991, all easily retrievable using Data ware software. (Also available through Micromedia.) MSSB Film & Video Catalogue. (MS DOS or Macintosh). Innotech. $75. The complete and updated catalogue of films and videos for the Metropolitan Separate School Board of Toronto. The Gazette (Montréal) 1990. (MS DOS). Southam Business Communications. Educational $600, commercial $1200, LAN $400 $1000. This full-text edition is easily accessible, taking only minutes to learn. The Multi-Bible. Volume l. (MS DOS or Macintosh). Innotech. $125. A collection of five versions of the Bible. Search all five at once or individually by key word, phrase, etc. The Ottawa Citizen, 1990. Southam Business Communications. Educational $600, commercial $1200, LAN $400-$1000. Statcan: 1991 CANSIM CD Disk. (MS DOS). Micromedia. Educational $995 (annual issue), $1495 (semiannual issue); commercial $1995 (annual issue), $2995 (semi-annual issue). A comprehensive selection of Canadian data makes this a valuable resource for anyone who wants to know about Canada's economy. Access to thousands of statistics on all aspects of the Canadian economy. The Toronto Star, 1989, 1990, 1991. (MS DOS). Southam Business Communications. Educational $600, commercial $1200, Lan $400-$1000. The complete text, word by word, allowing the user unlimited access. The Toronto Sun, 1989, 1990. (MS DOS or Macintosh). Innotech. $395. The complete text of the Sun accessible in seconds. Unity Disc. (MS DOS). Southam Business Communications. $99. This disc "contains over 30,000 stories which refer to the Canadiana unity issue- stories on confederation, Meech Lake, the constitution, charter of rights, sovereignty association, distinct society, elected senate, aborigional rights, " etc. (Also available from Micromedia.) The Vancouver Sun, 1990. (MS DOS). Southam Business Communications. Educational $60, commercial $1200, LAN $400-$1000. PUBLISHERS/DISTRIBUTORS BetaCorp Technologies 5716-11 Coopers Ave. Mississauga, Ont. L4Z 2B9 (416)890-5441 Britannica Learning Materials P.O. Box 2249, Britannica Place Cambridge Ont. N3C 3N4 (800) 465-9439 Didatech Software Ltd. 3812 William Street Burnaby B.C. V5C 3H9 (604) 299-4435 Entrex Software Inc. P.O. Box 30029 Victoria, B.C. V8X 5E1 (604)727-2216 Financial Post Publications 333 King St. E. Toronto, Ont. M5A 4N2 FAX(416)350-6501 Info Globe 444 Front St. W. Toronto, Ont (416)585-5090 Innotech #107-110 Silver Star Blvd. Scarborough Ont. MI5 5A2 (416)321-3838 McClelland & Stewart 380 Esna Park Drive Markham, Ont. L3R 1H5 (416)940-8855 Micromedia Limited 20 Victoria Street Toronto, Ont. M5C 2N8 (800)387-2689 Ontario Ministry of Skills Development Communications and Marketing Branch 101 Bloor St. W. Toronto, Ont. (416)967-8408 M5S 1P7 Contact: Karen Fukunaga (416)585-5090 Prentice Hall Canada 1870 Birchmount Rd. Scarborough, Ont. M1P 2J7 (416)293-3621 Smyth Computer Software 3273 Whispering Pine Rd. Burlington, Ont. L7M 2R4 (416)332-4449 (416)820-8369 Southam Business Communications 1450 Don Mills Rd Don Mills, Ont. M3B 2X7 (416)445-6641 Contact: Dennis Albett Vancouver Community College Press 100 West 49th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 2Z6 Fax (604) 324-5577 Bruce Winter is head of the Library Services Department at Lorne Park Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. He also edits Computers in School Libraries, a newsletter dedicated to the sharing of information amongst high school teacher-librarians.