RALEIGH — A new CD-ROM from Cary'sSouthPeak Interactiveand theHistory Channelis catching on with history buffs and students.

The SouthPeak project is the first of several planned with the History Channel. The disc contains more than 3,000 images from the Library of Congress as well as documents, letters and interactive features which tell the story of the nation.

It provides a rich pictorial view of who we are as a nation. Through the CD-ROM a user can link by modem to theLibrary of Congressfor even more information. There are narrated tours through special collections.

Library of Congress specialists produced the program with an eye toward knowledge and entertainment.

It is all interesting and available for PCs or Macs for $40.Friday kicks off the four day longGreat Backyard Bird Count. The Web site gives bird lovers instructions about counting birds in their neighborhoods and posting the information on the Internet.

Cornell University and theNational Audubon Societyhope students and naturalists will help them develop a database on bird behavior.