Fresh Updates to the Midwest Tape Website

Customer feedback fuels our development, and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our website’s features and functions.  Therefore, we’ve made a handful of updates to aid your selection and acquisition experience.

Rotten Tomato icons added to Search and Browse results.
View a title’s “freshness” by noting:

Read Rotten Tomatoes’ reviews by clicking:

Click to view larger graphic.

AllMusic Guide icons added to Search and Browse results.
View a title’s star rating by noting:

Read AllMusic Guide’s review by clicking:

  Click to view larger graphic.

Searching functions now allow for “Last, First” and “First Last” name queries.
Customers can now search the web by both “last name, first name” and “first name last name” when searching for a person. For example “King, Stephen” and “Stephen King” will now provide complete search results.  This new searching capability is available with Search, Browse, and SmartBrowse.

Combating Bandwidth Rates to Ensure Optimal Web Browsing

With the internet becoming more and more integrated into everyday activities, it is only natural for patrons to expect satisfactory internet service from their libraries. However, as reported in an article in Library Journal, “Nearly 60 percent of public libraries report inadequate Internet connection speeds to meet patron demand" (Faced with Too Little Bandwidth…). Undesirable web content, such as pornography and popular streaming media sites such as MySpace.com and Youtube.com, can quickly cripple a library’s internet service.

While there are many things that can cause internet slow-down, libraries have several options in combating ill-wanted content and optimizing their patrons’ web-browsing experience. First, by updating their web browsers to the latest release (Midwest Tape's Website Developing beyond the Capabilities of IE6), libraries can help protect their computers and their networks from resource-hogging malware. Second, libraries can regulate bandwidth to streaming media sites or use third-part software to block certain content all together.

How is your library addressing issues with connectivity speed, malware, and undesirable web content? Share your experiences here as comments.

Midwest Tape Changing MARC Terminology

We're changing the names of our “Unedited” records to “Full” and our “Brief” records to “Vendor.”  Our customers already identify with these terms; therefore, this change will ensure our verbiage better correlates with library terminology. We are currently in the process of updating our web and print materials to reflect this name change.  If you have any questions regarding cataloging or the new MARC Record names, please contact Customer Service at 1.800.875.2785.  Additionally, you can share your thoughts and feedback here as comments.

Midwest Tape Offers Way to View Vendor Records Directly from Website

Midwest Tape now offers our customers the ability to view Vendor records on our website by clicking the icon:

A preview of the Vendor Record, complete with your preset 9xx Order Record Tags, will open in a separate window.  We developed this feature based on feedback that some libraries do not have the software necessary to preview our free Vendor records prior to loading them.

How does this new Midwest Tape feature aid you in your cataloging efforts?  Share your thoughts with other librarians by posting them here as comments. 

If you have any questions about how to use this new feature, please contact Customer Service at 1.800.875.2785.