Updated 11-4-2001

More of my favorite things (from Helen Wells):

As to software manuals, I do not buy many anymore, preferring to manage with the manuals that come with software, unless a more comprehensive manual is available that seems worth the expense and shelf space. The public libraries (downtown and Goleta) have a fairly complete selection of books on programs, including such as PhotoShop, Dreamweaver, etc., that I have found helpful. And for those who are not aware of this yet, it is now possible to check the library catalogs online at:

http://www.ci.santa-barbara.ca.us/library/

It is also possible to access a list of books you have checked out, along with the due date. (You will need to sign in with your library card number and your pin number which is the last four digits of your phone number). And it is even possible to renew books online at this website. (A handy fine saver when you realize very late in the evening that books, videos or CDs were due that day!)

http://204.96.225.6/patroninfo

Since most of my computer work involves non-fiction editing and, in turn, researching of facts, dates, etc., the books most important to me are not necessarily computer-related, other than a large collection of books on publishing that run the gamut from font assortments and font usage to styling of newsletters. However, the single most important tool I have for use in connection with my desktop publishing is the book Words into Type. (Third Edition. Prentice-Hall, 1974.) This is still available at around $50 and I have seen a copy now and then at used book sales. It is much more than a style manual and is an excellent reference book well worth its price for those preparing any type of material for print. It is also an excellent book to have on hand in any office. I prefer it to The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Ed., whenever it is not mandated that I use the latter.

For those interested in self-publishing, I believe it is important to bring oneself up-to-date on the rapidly evolving state-of-the-art by reading Dan Poynter's most recent book on Self-Publishing (now in its 14th edition). This is, I believe, available at the public library.

I use some of the software manufacturer's 'how-to' websites now and then. One of the these is: Adobe at http://studio.adobe.com/ (there is useful information there at the 'learn' link)

Other useful sites:

http://www.graphic-design.com/ -- "Design, typography, graphics, illustration, writing, printing, publishing, advertising, signs, displays and information for graphic communicators."

http://www.fontfile.com/ -- a wide variety of free truetype fonts and dingbats.

http://www.bartleby.com/strunk/ Strunk's Elements of Style can be downloaded here, complete,

free-of-charge. At this website there is a treasure trove of searchable online reference books--everything from Gray's Anatomy to Bartlett's Quotations, with dictionaries and other reference sources in-between.

http://ParaPub.com/news.html -- Dan Poynter's Newsletter site. You may also sign up for free E-mail delivery of Dan's (the guru of self-publishing) monthly newsletter.

http://www.truetype.demon.co.uk/ ---- A wide variety of information about truetype fonts.

http://www.theslot.com/ -- A very informative site for those interested in copy-editing.

http://www.rain.org/~help/rainsoft/webclass/create.html -- A starting point for those interested in creating their first website.

http://www.newspapers.com/npcom1.htm -- Online editions of newspapers throughout the United States.

http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm -- although a grim thought, it is sometimes helpful to access this free Social Security source of death records.

http://www.systransoft.com/ -- a translation service; i.e. type your phrase (I believe the limit is about 150 words) and indicate English to (whatever; French, German, Spanish, etc.) or Spanish to English, for instance. Systran will then return the translated version online very quickly while you wait. It has been quite useful to me in finding phraseology to get a point across to a non-English speaking person. There are other translators linked out from:

http://www.babelfish.com/Translations.shtml

http://memory.loc.gov/ -- "American Memory," Historical Collections for the National Digital Library (from the Library of Congress) Fun to browse, even if you don't need to find historical graphics and text.

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ -- "A core component of the California Digital Library, the Online Archive of California (OAC) is a digital information resource that facilitates and provides access to materials such as manuscripts, photographs, and works of art held in libraries, museums, archives, and other institutions across California. The OAC is available to a broad spectrum of users-students, teachers, and researchers of all levels. Through the OAC, all have access to information previously available only to scholars who traveled to collection sites." Another fun site to browse, even if you don't need to find old graphics to use.

http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/~martindale/Ref.html -- Martindale's; an almost endless source of serious information, statistical, medical, scientific, etc., world-wide in scope. Some abstracts, as well as articles, are available here, as well as a fine assortment of glossaries. You name it, and it's probably here--the subjects are virtually endless.

And lastly, a tool I use frequently is Blue Squirrel's Easy Seeker. Unfortunately, this formerly free download is no longer available at their website. However, their Web Seeker ($24.95) is available at their website and is an even more sophisticated version of this excellent web search software. I only need to type in a word or two (some for a rather obscure bit of information) and have within less than a minute a very comprehensive alphabetical 'click-on' listing of whatever has been found by Easy Seeker in its very thorough search of the entire Internet. A demo or purchase copy of Web Seeker is available at Blue Squirrel's website:

http://www.bluesquirrel.com/

Oh, yes, and a final lastly; Kelly Paper's Price Book. This quarterly publication is available at Kelly Paper locations, the nearest in Ventura at 4722 Market St. (805) 658-8901, FAX (805) 658-1015. A huge supply of retail/wholesale paper ranging from copy paper to the finest specialized cover and book stock, envelopes, printing supplies, printable wedding invitations, Christmas stationery, etc., etc. M-F 7:30 am - 5 pm, Saturdays 8:00 am -1:00 pm.

I hope there is something above that will prove helpful to you. Since my work often involves finding sometimes obscure information, please call if you have a particular need. Perhaps I can point you in a useful direction. While I don't lend any of my books, I will be happy to do a brief no-charge search for you or direct you to what has been a good source for specific types of information.

Helen 682-5893 (9am -9 pm) or hiw@rain.org