ARL Promotes Competition Through SPARC

ABSTRACT

This article reviews a sampling of free and proprietary college and career resources, available via the Internet. Sites reviewed provide comprehensive information on a variety of colleges and careers and address a number of related college/career guidance issues and special topics. Selected test preparation sites are also reviewed. Sites and resources included are suitable for any college and careers collection and useful to subject selectors and reference librarians.     

Reference Sources on the Internet

Abstract

Many web sites on the Internet are useful in helping answer reference questions in geography and international studies. This paper describes web sites which provide maps, gazetteers and country information. Also included are web guides which collect and organize numerous links to geographical and international sites.     

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.     

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 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.     

Making Electronic Resources Available to Patrons

Summary

As law schools build interactive web sites for teaching and administrative functions, law libraries must continue to develop useful and resource-rich web sites of electronic materials for their patrons. This article examines issues and practical considerations for implementing Internet and CD-ROM resources in a library and provides a basic review of the media available. Suggestions for building an Internet or Intranet site are included as is an explanation of how to use database-driven tools to create an integrated environment.     

Reference Sources on the Internet in United States History

Abstract

This article is a selective guide to some of the best Internet sites for obtaining reference information in the area of United States History. The categories covered include historical documents, archival directories, bibliographies, book reviews, statistics, discussion groups, biographical information, and online guides to the Internet.     

A Virtual Reference Shelf for Nursing Students and Faculty

SUMMARY

A virtual shelf for nursing that closely mirrors what previously was found on a physical reference shelf is now a reasonable goal. Advantages of doing this for nursing students and faculty in an academic setting are enumerated. Overviews of relevant vendor and publisher interfaces and models are included. The authors present a selected list of appropriate electronic reference sources that demonstrate how e-books and Internet sites can be combined to build a virtual reference shelf in this subject area.     

Health and Medicine

Abstract

The Internet provides librarians with unprecedented access to time sensitive informational resources. The time critical nature of many health and medicine reference requests makes such access important to die health practitioner, educator, researcher, and the consumer. This paper then provides an annotated listing of various Internet sites, many that are starting points for exploration of specific health subject areas. Special considerations for locating and selecting health and medicine resources are also provided.     

Acquisitions Problems in Ukrainian Libraries and New Electronic Solutions

SUMMARY

The author discusses a wide range of new developments in Ukrainian libraries that affects library acquisitions. New strategies are now required for obtaining library materials due to the inadequacy of obligatory deposit and changes in bibliographic control of new publications. Libraries are actively developing computer and Internet technologies, including websites, online catalogs, access to databases, sites linking to online resources, and collections of digitized full-text material. A number of libraries have recently begun implementing virtual reference services. A new professional journal, whose title translates as Library Forum of Ukraine, has arisen to address all aspects of librarian-ship.     

E-Mail Reference

Summary

This article begins by summarizing national findings of e-mail reference services in academic and public libraries. It next describes types of e-mail reference services as well as commonalities, differences, appearance of the question form, audience, and turnaround time for selected Colorado libraries. The article then focuses on giving a detailed overview and analysis of two years of Colorado State University's e-mail reference experiences. The number, type of question, who/where the questions come from, and to whom the questions are sent are examined. The unexpected uses of the service are identified. Lastly, broader issues to do with e-mail reference services are discussed. This article is based on a presentation given at the Internet Librarian2000 conference.     

World History Internet Resources

Abstract

The following article provides an overview of Internet resources relevant to reference work in world history. It also provides URLs to select sites representing different uses of the world wide web in presenting information for the subject of World History.     

Stevie: An aesthetic convergence

This essay examines the film “Stevie” and its integration of cinematic, literary, and theatrical form and technique. The film is viewed as an example of the emerging of forms in the performing arts.     

Going Where the Students Are

Summary

Increased student use of the Internet and declining reference desk statistics are factors encouraging academic reference librarians to look for new ways to reach patrons. Web-based customer contact center software gives librarians the tools to provide interactive, 24/7 reference service to Internet users. This article describes how the library at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona developed its live/web reference service. We discuss the factors that encouraged us to launch the service, the challenges that we encountered along the way, and examples of our experiences to date.     

100 Best Free Reference Web Sites

Summary

A listing of 100 free Web sites with brief annotations that are useful for almost all reference librarians, regardless of whether they are in an academic, public, school, or special library setting.     

Demographic Data Sources on the Internet

Abstract

Demographic data is extremely valuable for a variety of business applications, including market research, strategic planning, identifying target markets, advertising, and for use with geographic information systems. Because timely data is very important, the Internet is increasingly being used as a tool for gathering and disseminating demographic data to end-users. This paper outlines many Web sites containing demographic data. Included are sites for governmental bodies, universities, and research institutions; international sites; commercial vendors; and Web versions of journals. Many of these sites also contain links to other useful demographic information resources.     

The Philosopher's Web

Summary

The objective of this article is to examine some of the valuable philosophical resources available on the Internet, especially for librarians who need to determine what resources to provide to faculty, students, and staff. Some main uses of the Internet for philosophical research are: accessing texts, using search strategies to examine the texts, reading and writing electronic journal articles, accessing information from encyclopedias and dictionaries, browsing through paths of interlinked Web sites, searching the Internet for sources, and participating in online discussion forums. This article examines the Internet as a source of primary and secondary texts, journal literature, research databases, reference works, specialized limited area search engines, organizational information, and discussion lists. The article ends with a philosophical reflection on the transformative effect of information technology on the growth of knowledge.     

Going Local

Abstract

The United States federal government provides an increasing amount of state local environmental information via the Internet. This proliferation of information provides libraries of all types and sizes with service opportunities. An informed citizenry can contribute to the debate on environmental policy. The article identifies key sites that can be useful in providing local environmental information.     

News You Can Use: Contemporary SDI and Anticipatory Reference for Government Information

ABSTRACT

Government information is becoming available to citizens more quickly than ever before due to electronic dissemination via the Internet. Two projects that rapidly capture, organize, and publicize regionally relevant government information are examined: Government News for Montana and New Mexico News Plus. These news-based sites serve as tools for collection development and digital archiving, proactive reference, content alerting services, information literacy, promotion, and outreach. Issues to consider and suggestions for the application of these services at other libraries are discussed.