I beg to disagree with Andrew. The librarian's job (or one of them) is to
organise quality information so that people can find it easily and at the
right time. Never more important than now, with so much richness on the
Web. And we can easily compete with organisations like Yahoo - just try to
find language dictionaries there!
Regards
Helen
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Lewis [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 July 2003 11:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
Dear List
I wasn't thinking that the idea from Resource was to in effect do a new
librarian based directory. There are so many out there DMOZ, Google, Yahoo,
that it would be pointless as we could never compete. The local versions
are enough.
I thought the idea was that the grant would be used to establish a common
electronic resource to include things like online newspapers, and hopefully
commission some new content not available due to small size of local budgets
We have XreferPlus, Oxford Online available from home and hope to add our
Infotrac newspapers, but something like a national database of non-english
daily newspapers might be something to be paid for at a national level due
to economy of scale
I'm sure others have ideas for other content available to make available
electronically, but find it isn't actually there to buy.
Andrew Lewis
e-Services Officer
Library and Information Services
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
01628 796 592
mailto:[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Day Robert [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 July 2003 09:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
Just as an aside on this topic (gateways to the internet) I recently set up
some logging on our PN machines. We have 8 top level headings for content
including our own Internet Gateway - see the page here
(http://netwn1.camcnty.gov.uk/pnpublic/index.htm - you will get javascript
errors but ignore them - bear in mind it is graphics heavy for 2 reasons 1)
broadband to each library 2) consistency with our shell replacement
program)Every click through from this page (which is the default page after
agreeing to our terms and conditions of use) is logged to see what options
are popular. Google search is so far ahead (something like 20* the hit rate
of its closest rival) of the other options that it could be argued that our
internet users do not want to be guided by librarians ideas of a quality
site - they know what they are looking for and go to Google to get it. Note
I am not making that claim but someone else looking at the figures might
well do so. The logging does not pick up addresses entered directly into the
address bar so there may well be even more people going off on their own
way.
Robert Day
ICT Manager
Cambridgeshire Libraries
-----Original Message-----
From: Goddard, Chris (LIFELONG LEARNING)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 July 2003 09:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
Mark wrote:
> Something along the lines of the excellent American website www.lii.org ?
Which is paid for by the Institute of Museum and Library Services - "a
federal grant-making agency that promotes leadership, innovation, and a
lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's museums and libraries."
Sounds familiar...
Chris
--
Chris Goddard
Resources & Information Manager
Plymouth Library Services
Tel/fax: (01752) 305900
Visit us on the Web:
www.plymouthlibraries.info
The views expressed in this message are personal and must not be considered
to be the official views of Plymouth City Council
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