This press release from CDS invites librarians to test a
Beta version of *Catalogers Desktop on the Web* beginning
March 1:

Cataloger's Desktop Coming to the Web
Contact: Peter Seligman, (202) 707-1314,  [log in to unmask]

The Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS) of the Library of
Congress (LC) is pleased to announce that its flagship
cataloging documentation tool, Cataloger's Desktop, is
moving to the Web. Cataloger's Desktop provides access to
the most widely used cataloging documentation resources
in an integrated online system. Desktop is currently
distributed only on CD-ROM.

Beta testing of a Web version of Cataloger's Desktop will
begin on March 1, 2004. The Web version will employ nxtTM 4,
an open source, XML-based content delivery system. CDS chose
nxtTM 4 because it is one of the few standards-based
software packages on the market that also supports
Unicode. According to Bruce Johnson, Cataloger's Desktop
Development Team Leader, "Librarians expect the Library of
Congress to be in the forefront of content standards
application, and the Web version of Desktop will give
LC an important opportunity to demonstrate how an XML
content delivery system makes it possible to provide
documentation resources more specifically tailored to the
needs of individual catalogers."

Catalogers are encouraged to use the beta product from March
1 to April 30, 2004. "CDS will provide the Web version of
Cataloger's Desktop at no cost during the beta test," said
Johnson. "We are looking forward to user feedback to help us
fine-tune it before its scheduled launch as a
fee-for-service product at ALA Annual in June."

"As Web-based cataloging capabilities mature,"  said Kathryn
Mendenhall, Cataloging Distribution Service Chief, "CDS
continues in the forefront of product development with the
introduction of a Web version of Cataloger's
Desktop. We expect to collect valuable feedback from users
during the beta test," she continued, "and we encourage
users to report back to us in detail about their experiences
with the beta version."

Current users of Cataloger's Desktop should note that CDS
will continue producing the CD-ROM version for as long as
there is significant interest. However, when the
fee-for-service Web version becomes available
in June 2004, subscribers will be able to transfer their
subscriptions, if they like, from the CD-ROM product to the
Web.  Annual subscription prices will be announced as the
product nears completion in late spring.

For up-to-date announcements about the Web version of
Cataloger's Desktop, visit http://www.loc.gov/cds/desktop.