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**Apologies for cross posting** PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 24th November 1998 EARL, the Consortium for Public Library Networking 1998 EARL Best On The Web Award Winners http://www.earl.org.uk/earlweb/awards98r.html EARL, the Consortium for Public Library Networking, is pleased to announce the winners and runners-up of its 1998 Best On The Web Awards for the best UK Public Library Web pages. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate the best of what UK public libraries are doing on the World Wide Web. Awards are made in four categories to reflect the features that make a library site informative, interesting, useful and a pleasure to visit. By highlighting the best, EARL hopes to establish a benchmark for other public libraries to strive for. Many of the winners and runners-up are leading the process of information networking in their localities and councils. Nationally that is a role that the public library service not only can, but has a duty to aspire to. In the last year the Library and Information Commission (LIC) has published its seminal report New Library: The People's Network and, more recently Building the New Library Network, outlining its recommendations about how the networking of public libraries should take shape. These websites are among the more visible signs that the commitment to networking has already been made by many public library authorities. EARL itself, in collaboration with UKOLN, will be arranging a seminar on Running an Effective Institutional Website later in 1999. Further details of EARL's Autumn/Winter Programme can be found on the EARL website (http://www.earl.org.uk/news/events/index.html). The awards: Best Information Content HIGHLY COMMENDED (in alphabetical order) Leeds : http://www.leeds.gov.uk/library/library.htm North Lincolnshire : http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/library/ SPECIAL MENTIONS (in alphabetical order) Bradford Homework Centre : http://www.bradford.gov.uk/young/homework/fra mes.html Knowsley Local History : http://history.knowsley.gov.uk/ WINNER: Essex : http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/libraries/ A well-judged amount of detail, giving information for all types of user, including children and disabled people. Also an excellent "What's On in Essex Libraries" guide, including additions to stock. Best Interactive Features HIGHLY COMMENDED (in alphabetical order) Kingston upon Thames : http://www2.kingston.gov.uk/libs Leeds : http://www.leeds.gov.uk/library/library.htm West Lothian : http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/libraries/ WINNER: Essex : http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/libraries/ Clear invitations are given to the user for feedback, also reference enquiries by e-mail and the opportunity to contribute on-line book reviews. Best Collection of Internet Resources HIGHLY COMMENDED (in alphabetical order) Hackney : http://www.hackney.gov.uk/library/hackbil/liextern.htm South Ayrshire : http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/webguide.htm WINNER: North Lincolnshire : http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/library/ This site usefully integrates links into the appropriate section for each library services, such as children's or business. Also provides a valuable collection of fiction links. Best Design and Usability HIGHLY COMMENDED (in alphabetical order) North Lincolnshire : http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/library Nottinghamshire : http://www.nottscc.gov.uk/libraries/ WINNER: Essex : http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/libraries/ A highly visually attractive and easy to use site which also performed well with images turned off. Fuller citations can be found on the web site. THE PANEL OF JUDGES EARL would like to acknowledge the hard work of the panel of judges for the 1998 Awards. They were: Margaret Kendall Margaret Kendall is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information and Communications at MMU. Her main research interests include access to the Internet and the World Wide Web, in particular training for library staff in ICT skills. She is also a member of the EARL Community Information Task Group. Fiona O'Brien Fiona O'Brien is the Project Manager of the BBC/Library Association Libraries Project. This pilot now seeks to establish a more effective way for libraries and the BBC to work together in the future in order to support Lifelong Learning. Sarah Ormes Sarah Ormes is the Public Library Networking Research Officer at UKOLN. She is regularly columnist for Ariadne and Library Technology and co-edited The Internet, Networking and the Public Library. Sarah also wrote the first EARL/LA/UKOLN issue paper on the topic of Internet Filtering. EARL, the Consortium for Public Library Networking, was established in 1995 to develop the role of public libraries in providing library and information services over the network. It now has over 140 Partners in local authorities, and over 25 Associate Partners in government, the profession, higher education, and the commercial sector. Through collaboration, EARL aims to demonstrate and extend the ability of public libraries to deliver networked information and knowledge-based services. These are developed primarily through EARL's 8 Task Groups working on new ways to deliver shared services over the network, and also EARL's programme of workshops lined up for the first months of 1999. Notes to Editors: For more information about the Awards, please contact Chris Moore at EARL, 4th Floor, Gun Court, 70 Wapping Lane, London, E1 9RL; tel.; (0171) 702 2020; e-mail [log in to unmask] For more information about the EARL Consortium, contact Helen Baigent at the above address or by e-mail at [log in to unmask] -- Chris Moore EARL Information Officer Email: [log in to unmask] Tel: (0171) 702 2020 Fax: (0171) 702 2019 http://www.earl.org.uk/ -- Chris Moore EARL Information Officer Email: [log in to unmask] Tel: (0171) 702 2020 Fax: (0171) 702 2019 http://www.earl.org.uk/ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%