Is it Real or is it Virtual?

Abstract

Digital facsimiles of the Netherlands viewable over the Internet or available on CD-ROMs-as an example of what may be available for other countries-are the focus of this article. The first part of the article discusses facsimiles generally, both analog and digital, as well as the way digital facsimiles have been produced, facilities and places where to find digital reproductions of maps and atlases.     

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Abstract

This knowledge path is divided into five sections covering basic patent questions, the U.S. patents database, patent law (statutes, regulations, treaties and court cases), statistics and general information patent Web sites. The U.S. patent database file, the text of patent laws and regulations, and statistics are available from the USPTO Web site. Since USPTO does not compile a complete list of court cases pertaining to patents, better resources for this kind of information exist outside of the Patent Office. Web sites included in the general information section either bring together and organize a large number of patent information resources or provide easy to understand explanations of patent law.     

Health and Medical Resources

SUMMARY

The sites reviewed in this article represent only a small fraction of the consumer health information sites available on the Web and are intended to be a starting point for locating authoritative, reliable health information. The first part of this article focuses on evaluation, since this is an important component of using information, particularly information located on the Internet. The second part of the paper reviews consumer-related Web sites arranged by categories:Comprehensive Sites; Directories/Portals;Government Sites; Association Sites; Drug Information; Alternative Medicine; Nutrition and Food Safety; and Other Health Issues.     

Controversial Issues

Abstract

Health professionals and members of the public are often interested in locating exercise information on the World Wide Web (the Web). There is a large amount of information available on the Web; however, the challenge for all people is to identify the high quality information that can be depended upon. Much of the quality exercise information on the Web is hidden within sites of reputable organizations concerned with exercise and health. This article examines several categories of commonly needed exercise related information. For each category, a few high quality sources of exercise information are listed. Combined, these Web sites provide an excellent and extensive body of knowledge for a person who is not experienced with exercise and wants to get started learning, or for a person with a moderate level of experience and knowledge who wants to learn more.     

A Guide to Online Map and Mapping Resources

SUMMARY

Quality online maps and mapping resources, while indispensable to library users, can be challenging to locate. The range of available map types continues to expand and includes road maps, historical collections, political and physical atlases as well as maps and images of the moon and certain planets. Interactive mapping sites continue to grow and provide unique opportunities for users to interact with socioeconomic, historic, and physical data while creating unique and personalized maps. This article serves to highlight the best online resources for both map image collections and interactive mapping sites found on the Internet today.     

Barron's Online (barrons.com)

ABSTRACT

In this article Jenkins and Beall, librarians at Auburn University, have identified free Web sites for providing answers to business reference questions most frequently asked in academic libraries. The authors determined these questions by polling other business librarians, researching the topic on the Internet and in business literature, and drawing upon their business reference backgrounds. Web sites were selected by searching the Internet extensively, querying other business librarians and business faculty, combing numerous business academic library Web pages, and experience by the authors in answering business reference questions via the Web. The researchers sought answers and noted productive sites for each question. Jenkins and Beall expect this article will help other librarians determine the most useful Internet sites for answering business reference questions. They also hope this research will provide guidelines for librarians in developing solid lists of essential Web sites for business researchers.     

The E-Journal Evolution

Abstract

There are a wide variety of Web-based periodicals available free of charge, including e-zines and scholarly journals. This column describes several useful Web sites that provide access to and indexing for online journals in the behavioral and social sciences.     

Topics and Features of Academic Medical Library Tutorials

ABSTRACT

In a 2007 study, librarians at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library examined freely available online tutorials on academic medical library Web sites. The team identified tutorial topics, determined common design features, and assessed elements of active learning in library-created tutorials; the team also generated a list of third-party tutorials to which medical libraries link. This article updates the earlier study, describing changes and trends in tutorial content and design on medical libraries' Web sites; the project team plans to continue to track trends in tutorial development by repeating this study annually.     

Marketing and Advertising

Abstract

The Web is one of the best starting points for marketing and advertising information. The author covers Web sites for top publications as well as sites from academic institutions and professional associations.     

Real Estate

Abstract

The Web is an important tool for those interested in real estate and is a key tool for locating properties or researching loans. The author includes coverage of government Web sites for housing and loan information, as well as to major real estate directories.     

Using RSS Feeds to Alert Users to Electronic Resources

SUMMARY

RSS technology is growing in popularity among libraries as a way to distribute, or syndicate, information about new electronic resources and Web content to users. “Really Simple Syndication” is an effective communication tool for libraries because it supplies the user with to up-to-date links and announcements on the library Web site after only one initial setup function. RSS does not require the user to make frequent visits to the library Web site for updated information; rather, it gathers content from any Web sites designated by the user, and delivers news to the users in an aggregated format. The benefits of RSS are that the software to setup the service is often free for downloading and many users are already familiar with the application. The “orange button” now present on so many commercial Web sites ranging from news sites to blogs is gaining a presence on library Web sites.     

Internet Reference Sources in Education

Summary

With so many Internet sites devoted to education for educators, administrators, and librarians, it can be a daunting experience trying to find needed resources. There are special sites devoted to teachers, children, and parents. The government provides free access to database searching, statistics, and full-text publications. State and local levels of government also host valuable data and reports. More and more journals are appearing online in full-text format escalating user expectation to assume all journals will be available via the Internet. Tapping into higher education and academic library sites connects to content rich links. While this is not an exhaustive listing of educational Web sites, it leads to a myriad of valuable resources.     

Searching of Our Surroundings

SUMMARY

There is a proliferation of Internet sites covering environmental themes. Many of these sites provide reference information in varying degrees. This article highlights environmental Web sites that provide a wide range of pertinent reference sources to a diverse audience. More than 50 highly selective Web sites are included in this paper. Some of these Web sites provide access to library catalogs, full-text articles, and other online resources. The Web sites in this article are in five categories: portals, government sites, special issues, general sites, and databases.     

Biology Sites on the World Wide Web

Abstract

Access to biological information on the World Wide Web continues to grow at a rapid pace. Many resources that previously required a trip to the library are now accessible from the desktop PC. Three major categories of biology Web sites are explored: those with citation information, those functioning as clearinghouses or directories to other Web sites, and those that present biological information in innovative ways. The suggested Web sites are some of the best and may serve as models for future Web development. Many useful citation Web sites are fee-based and are likely to continue as such for the near future; MEDLINE and AGRICOLA are important exceptions. Many significant clearinghouse and information Web sites are not fee-based and allow innovative ways of finding and sharing information. The state of research information on the WWW is not developed enough for the researcher to forego using paper sources.     

Meeting Reference Responsibilities Through Library Web Sites

Summary

Among the many ways the World Wide Web has changed libraries are the additional tools gained by librarians and library users for answering reference questions. In addition to the growing number of licensed resources providing the full text of articles from newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and reference works are the millions of free Web sites offering an incredible variety of information about everything. Locating the most useful of these sites and organizing them into categories on library Web sites can be enormously beneficial both to patrons and libraries. After deciding to make their sites reference portals, librarians must make a number of important decisions.     

Searching for a New Way to Reach Patrons: A Search Engine Optimization Pilot Project at Binghamton University Libraries

ABSTRACT

Search engine use is one of the most popular online activities. According to a recent OCLC report, nearly all students start their electronic research using a search engine instead of the library Web site. Instead of viewing search engines as competition, however, librarians at Binghamton University Libraries decided to employ search engine optimization strategies to make their Web site more visible on the search engine result pages. Although search engine optimization is used frequently by commercial Web sites, few libraries have attempted to optimize their own sites. This article describes Binghamton University's experiences in developing and implementing an optimization pilot project. The research presented in this article has importance for libraries who may be considering an optimization project for their own sites.