I quite agree about the value of networking a variety of e-information resources. I was just making the point that I feel it is important to trial such resources critically. I have had a number of responses that agree with me about the American bias in Britannica. As I see it, the problem is that there does not appear to be a good on-line encyclopaedia available at present (unless someone out there knows of one?).
Previous experience at the University of Herts showed the Oxford Reference On-line was an invaluable resource. It is regularly updated , encompassing a wide selection of "classic" reference books, well indexed and with a user friendly interface. The site is well designed, with well integrated cross-searching facilities. I would personally prefer to use this for homework club support I similarly found Know UK and KnowPeople(now sadly withdrawn by the publisher) to be good. I would also highly recommend the Times Digital Archive which I feel provides support for a wide variety of subject disciplines and age groups. Infotrac Custom Newspapers proved good, but it is a pity that, like others of its type, it does not include pictorial content.
Regards, Gill
-----Original Message-----
From: Derrick Fernandes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 12:26 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Britannia online
At Hillingdon we have had strong endorsement from staff using Britannnica online before we signed up. It was the positive experience of trialling with our Homework Clubs that also influenced us.
On the very same web page that Gill Polding mentioned that had the entry for "Churchill, Winston American author of historical novels of wide popularity" there are also numerous fuller entries and hyperlinks for the other more famous Winston.
We have been subscribing to a range of electronic services, all of which are freely accessible within our libraries and remotely to library members:
- Xreferplus
- KnowUK
- Infotrac newspaper databases
- Ency. Britannica Online
- Safari Technical books (420 e-Books covering ICT and management) to be launched on Monday 26th Jan)
Such resources complement other sources of information. The ability to network e-Information/e-Book services to over 300 staff and public PCs and also offer them remotely on a 24/7 basis is a very strong selling point. So is the searching functionality.
With strong marketing and training we aim to increase the current public usage of such services - 22% (Hillingdon PN User Survey, Nov 2003).
cheers
Derrick
ICT Development Manager
Hillingdon Libraries Arts and Information Service
Central Library, Uxbridge
High Street UB8 1HD
Tel: 01895 250701
Fax: 01895 811164
Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>We did the trial, and it seemed good enough
>
>However, we decided we already had its range covered with some of our
>existing e-stock (which includes World Book Online, XreferPlus and Oxford
>Online, which cover similar ground)
>
>It was felt better to continue to build up the awareness of existing
>products, rather than spread customer usage more thinly over more of the
>same
>
>To be honest it probably comes down to timing. If Brittania had been out a
>few years ago, it might well be one we use
>
>Andrew Lewis
>e-Services Officer
>Library and Information Services
>Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
>01628 796 592
>[log in to unmask]
>www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries
>
> -----Original Message-----
>From: Francis Lee [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 21 January 2004 18:11
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Britannia online
>
>Has any body got any thoughts about the Britannia online as I am just giving
>it a trial run alongside the xrefer service.Or have you any suggestions of
>like services that you could recommend?
>Thanks
> Lee Francis
>
>
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