**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/
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