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.     

Web Mirror Sites

SUMMARY

Libraries can play a key role in ensuring permanent access to primary legal information, both domestic and international. Web mirror sites present a particularly efficient and cost-effective way to collect, disseminate, preserve, and ensure accessibility to information far into the future. Through partnerships with the issuing governments and organizations, databases of official information can be loaded on a local server, updated directly from the issuing site, and captured at regular intervals to get a snapshot of the status of legal instruments as of a certain date. The result is similar to adding the various editions of a print book. The Cornell Law Library has recently made freely available two Web mirror sites for researchers and the public. These are the ILO (International Labour Organization) and the ICJ (International Court of Justice) mirror sites. The Law Library is archiving these sites every six months, thereby providing access to previous versions of a treaty article, or other information that was superseded, or amended. The many additional advantages of creating these partnerships with domestic and international institutions are discussed, as well as the process used to create the mirror sites, and maintaining them. The article ends with a proposal for collaboration among libraries to create the research library of the future. The preservation of digital law is a critical issue because information is disappearing. Libraries have a role to play because it is part of their fundamental mission to preserve information for future researchers.     

中国证券类网站研究

论述了证券网站的特点, 中国证券网站的发展简史, 中国证券网站的种类, 以及证券网站的未来发展动向。     

Labor and Collective Bargaining Web Sites

Abstract

This chapter outlines key resources in the labor and collective bargaining fields. The author covers Web directories, Web sites of the U.S. government and international organizations, unions, academic institutions, professional organizations, and interest groups.     

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.     

链接分析用于学术网站评价存在的问题及解决办法

Web链接分析是网站评价时广泛采取的一种方法。但是,网络链接受到多种因素的影响,单纯利用链接测度评价网站的可靠性受到质疑。本文系统地分析了影响链接分析的诸因素,并探讨了消除或减少误差的方法。     

Pakistani University Library Web Sites: Features,Contents, and Maintenance Issues

ABSTRACT

This study explores the current status and features of Pakistan's academic library Web sites. A checklist describing features and content was prepared based on a review of the literature related to academic libraries’ Web sites. Then, all 85 library Web sites of Pakistani universities and degree-awarding institutions recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan were surveyed and analyzed using the checklist. Interviews with library professionals were conducted to learn more about the problems and issues with building and maintaining library Web sites. Results indicate that Pakistani academic library Web sites have effective features such as contrasting color schemes, easily readable text, minimal use of horizontal scrolling, and English-language text. Staff information, OPACs, and navigation features are also widely found on the Web sites. Features found less frequently include the use of Web 2.0 technologies, Web site aid tools, information about library buildings, and general library information. By offering information about the status of Pakistani academic library Web sites, the study can serve as a foundation for discussion between libraries and other parts of the university, as well as a benchmark for evaluating the progress of academic library Web sites in Pakistan     

网络环境下图书馆人力资源的开发与管理

图书馆面对网络环境下巨大的信息资源,关键是要拥有一支过硬的人才队伍。本文从图书馆人力资源开发与管理角度,提出了必须加快对高科技信息资源及网上资源的开发与管理,使图书馆较好地利用互联网系统发挥更大的作用.更好地承担起为社会服务的职能。     

图书馆人力资源开发中的辩证观

分析图书馆人力资源开发中的种种行为，强调把德才兼备作为用人的主要标准。参考文献3。     

Operations Management/Operations Research Web Sites

Abstract

This chapter covers the field of operations management/ operations research. The authors provide in-depth reviews of prominent sites, including those of professional organizations and academic institutions.     

Academic Library Web Sites and Distance Education

Abstract

This study focuses on college and university library services provided to distance education students and a content analysis of library Web sites. The Web sites chosen were categorized by the amount of distance education the institution offered to students. Results indicated that the size of the institution had the strongest correlation to library services offered to distance education students (Spearman's rho of .618), not the degree to which distance education is provided (rho of .076). This study suggests that just because an institution offers distance learning courses does not necessarily mean that its library offers a full range of Web services to meet distance learner needs, and it brings into question whether some institutions have been too quick to provide distance education services without properly addressing student library needs.     

Law Library Faculty Services Web Sites: Effectively Communicating Services Provided for Faculty

This article contains the results of an empirical analysis and review of 199 American Bar Association-accredited law school library Web pages to identify the law library services for faculty that are advertised or promoted on law library Web sites. The analysis ranked the Web sites based on how thoroughly a law library communicates, or promotes on its Web site, the services it offers to faculty. The analysis also identified the percentage of law libraries advertising specific services for faculty, such as those related to library staffing, publishing support, teaching support, and research services. Suggestions are included for the promotion of the law library to faculty, including services some libraries are uniquely offering.     

引文用于评价学术网站的可靠性及可行性研究

针对网络学术资源内容涉及面广、形式多样且分布现象复杂,传统的同行评议方法及一些定性评价指标难以付诸实践的现状,提出一个新的评价学术网站功能的量化指标--网站被文献引用数,并通过实证分析及理论阐述论证该指标用于学术网站评价的可靠性及可行性。     

Services for Graduate Students: A Review of Academic Library Web Sites

A library's Web site is well recognized as the gateway to the library for the vast majority of users. Choosing the most user-friendly Web architecture to reflect the many services libraries offer is a complex process, and librarians are still experimenting to find what works best for their users. As part of a redesign of the Oregon State University Libraries’ Web site, entry points for specific user groups were created. One of these user groups was graduate students. The purpose of this study was to explore the ways other academic libraries design their Web sites for particular user groups, specifically graduate students, in order to determine how the Oregon State University Libraries Web site compared to peer institutions. This study analyzed 112 Association of Research Libraries’ Web sites and 26 Oregon academic libraries’ Web sites to determine the availability of resources and services specifically promoted to graduate students. Since graduate students may view the library Web site through the lens of new student, researcher, or instructor, Web sites were also examined to see if sites were created with any or all of these roles in mind. Nearly a quarter of Association of Research Libraries' Web sites that were examined contained a link on the homepage for graduate students, and another 20 percent provided graduate-student information at a lower level in their site hierarchy. A majority of sites had events, subject guides, or course guides for graduate students. Information for graduate students was typically framed in the context of graduate students as researchers. Ideas and examples are given for ways to improve Web site design to better serve this user group. In order to provide improved services to these students, future studies will explore what graduate students need from academic libraries and the ways these students conduct themselves in their various roles of researchers, instructors, and new students.     

网络资源命名及用户命名行为的分析

网络资源是指通过互联网传播共享、以文件目录为主要存储组织结构的内容,如书、讲义、音乐等.每个资源的内容具有完整独立性.它们是数字图书馆、教学资源库、专业内容库藏的重要组成.网络资源的一大特点是命名模式不规范,给检索利用带来极大不便.本文以2003～2006年间搜集的61万文件构成的16 284个网络资源为对象,用统计的方法考察网络资源命名特点及其中体现的用户命名习惯.包括资源及其内部子目录、文件的名字长度分布,字符类型熵、常用符号、高频片段模式、语义类型等,并分析无序命名中蕴含的用户命名习惯.本文的意义一方面有助于从混乱命名中净化和提取对检索查询有用的信息,另一方面有助于揭示网络用户参与海量网络资源共享的行为习惯.     

An Analysis of Children's Web Pages in Public Library Web Sites in Japan

A progenitor article for this work can be found in Public Library Quarterly 27, no. 4. This study is the first to report on the types of contents in children's web pages and the characteristics of Web-OPACs for children in public library websites in Japan. This study reveals that children's web pages, in general, place more emphasis on providing guidance on library services and on the use of information resources for reference services, rather than on helping children with regular learning or providing research assistance to adults on children's services. Other findings are reported as well.     

Work of the Web Weavers: Web Development in Academic Libraries

Although the library's Web site has become a standard tool for seeking information and conducting research in academic institutions, there are a variety of ways libraries approach the often challenging—and sometimes daunting—process of Web site development and maintenance. Three librarians at Western Michigan University explored issues related to this topic by conducting a Web-based survey, which was sent to two librarians—Web services and reference/public services—at 149 academic institutions. Survey findings are discussed, including references to Web departments and committees, priority setting, Web authoring, soliciting input, outsourcing, content management systems, redesigns, and user involvement. The participants’ insights regarding the greatest challenges and what seems to be working or not working well are also outlined, in addition to the authors’ suggestions for future research in this area.     

大学图书馆人力资源管理探讨

文章通过对比分析中美大学图书馆人力资源管理的现状,提出了创新我国大学图书馆人力资源管理的新理念、新举措.参考文献6.     

RDF(资源描述框架)--Web数据集成的元数据解决方案

元数据的使用可以大大提高信息系统检索和管理的效率,W3C提出的RDF则解决了在Web数据集成中使用元数据的问题.本文逐一介绍RDF的基本含义,RDF在Web上实现元数据描述及交换的机制,RDF的特点及RDF在若干Web新技术中的应用.最后以RDF在DLI2的子项目InterLib中的应用为例,详细说明RDF的应用方案.     

省级公共图书馆网站地方文化资源建设分析

论文在对我国省级公共图书馆网站地方文化资源建设情况进行调查的基础上,分析了公共图书馆地方文化资源建设的现状,并针对存在的问题提出了一些建议。