Welcome to the New Mathwright Library and Cafe!

Our Library has changed again, and we have streamlined and simplified the checkout procedure. All of the Players needed to read Library WorkBooks or Microworlds are free downloads. You may get them at any time on the Free Stuff page. While 10 Demonstration WorkBooks and Microworlds are available to be read immediately there, you must be a Library member to download the other WorkBooks or to read the remaining Microworlds from the Stacks. We are in the process of converting all of the Mathwright WorkBooks to Microworlds, and will be adding many new explorations in Microworld form.

What is a Microworld? The short answer is: read this. You may now read books in your ActiveX-enabled browser (MSIE 4 or higher, for example). These books are called Microworlds, and they behave in many ways like Applets, but in other ways, they extend the functionality of Applets.

These microworlds are multi-page web documents that reside in a web page but are portals to interactive mathematical and scientific stories whose range and scope extend far beyond that of an Applet. You read and interact with them in your browser once you have downloaded the free plugin: MathwrightWeb and/or the application: Mathwright32 Reader from the Free Stuff page.

MathwrightWeb is the ActiveX Control that enables your browser to read these Microworlds. To enter our Microworlds, your browser must be able to read ActiveX controls. Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Browser (or later) is so equipped. You should check that the Security Settings under Tools, Internet Options, Security for the Internet have "Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins" enabled.

Several of the Microworlds make use of Databases as Active Data Objects. This means that you do not have to have a database program to use these data bases, but you should have the Microsoft Access 97 Database installed as a Data Server. To be sure that your setup is ready to use them.

In Windows 95/98/ME, just go to the Control Panel, and under ODBC Data Sources, add or select: MS Access 97 Database as User Data Source. Double click, and enter in the Data Source Name: MS Access 97 Database. That's all there is to it! In Windows 2000, the procedure is essentially the same.

We remind you that our electronic card catalog, the Search Wizard, at the entrance to the Stacks, will get you quickly to the WorkBooks you want without fuss or bother. You may search on Text and location in the Library, or you may search on Keywords. Check it out by clicking the link on the left!
If you prefer to browse the Rooms in the traditional way, visit the Directory, our mathematical road map, that is a jumping-off point to our 64 Subject Rooms and 8 Category Rooms.
Our 3D Gallery is the beginning of a fourth wing (separate from the Stacks) that is devoted to Three dimensional simulations, games, and explorations. It uses a new 3D Player called PlayScapes, and opens the door to a marvelous virtual world of color and light. At the time of our opening it has an additional 8 WorkBooks.

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