7/13/09–As mentioned when we announced the new ArcGIS Online Sharing Application a few weeks ago, better sharing of geographic information is enabled in part via new ArcGIS technology that allows layers referencing feature or raster data to be packaged into a single "layer package", comprised of both the layer cartography and data. These layer packages can be shared with other users via files, e-mail, or the new ArcGIS Online sharing capability.

Learn about Layer Packages, ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Explorer 900 in the GIS Education Community Blog.

For tutorials on layer packages, see A tutorial for creating good layer packages and Creating layer packages part 2 - using group layers in the ArcGIS Explorer blog.