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LIBRARIES IN DIGITAL AGE * * * INTERUNIVERSITY CENTREDUBROVNIK, May 2000
Providing content on the Internet
Dr. Sanda Erdelez
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
University of Texas at Austin
serdelez@gslis.utexas.edu
The overview
• Libraries on the Web
• Library users and the Web content
• Types of content on the Web
• Ensuring the quality of the content
• The future
The explosion of the Web
• Web sites growth: from 1.6 mil in 1997 to almost 5 mil in 1999
• 211% change from 1997 to 1999
• 55% of Web sites are in the US (down from 59% in 1998)
• 80% of Web sites are in English (down from 84% in 1998)
How many libraries are on the Web?
• Over 4,500 libraries listed in lib-web-cats
• Over 3,000 libraries from over 90 countries listed in LibWeb
• In the US, over 500 public libraries
• In Europe, well over 1000 public libraries in some 30 countries, Finland leads with 247 libraries (EC, 1999)
Why provide content on the Web?
• To provide service to users.
• To show others what you have.
• Because everyone else is there.
Who are the library users?
• Traditional vs. new ways of looking at users
• Users you “know” and users you don’t
• User you may “see” in person and users you will never see
What is important to know about the users?
• Their needs and interests
• The level of their information and information technology literacy
• Their access capabilities
User accessibility issues
• Libraries and the digital divide• Accessibility to those with special needs
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines by W3C
- ADA compliance rules- Bobby site, Bobby on NSK
• Language as an accessibility issue- 80% of Web sites are in English
What type of content to provide on the Web
• Online public access catalogs
• Commercial indexes and databases
• Unique elements of library collection
• Other local resources and services
• Links to content on the Internet
OPACs on the Web- old way - via telnet or tn3270 connection
- new way - via graphical user interface on the Web
- advantages of a Web-based catalog: - does not require installation of additional
software- hyperlink connection to resources, subject
headings and the Internet- easy-to-use, familiar interface
OPACs on the Web - Examples
• Single site catalogs:Coeur d’ Alene Public Library, Idaho, USA - Athena
St. Charles Publib Library, Illinois, USA - DRA
• Co-operative projects:BIBSYS - shared library system for all Norwegian
University Libraries
CROLIST - Croatian Library Network
Innovative Interfaces - Millenium
Commercial indexes, journals, ebooks
• Selection of resources
• Licensing issues
• Dial-in access v. web-based
• Indexes v. full text articles and books
• Examples:– NYPL database access– Netlibrary (www.netlibrary.com)
Unique elements of library collection
• Content that only you can provide
• To digitize or not -- that is the question
• Multimedia projects
• Examples:– University of Texas - Austin map collection– The Karpeles Library manuscript collection– Truman Presidential Library
Other local resources and services
• Extensions of traditional library services– checked book status and renewals– updates on new acquisitions
• Community resources and services– job hunting– relocation– voting
Issues in deciding about selecting the content for the Web
• Technical support and staff resources
• Time in conversion and development
• Is it a unique contribution? (nice to have or must have?).
• Maintaining quality
Quality of ContentReengineering criteria that are used to
promote information literacy on the Web• Establishing authority• Accuracy• Objectivity• Currency• CoverageAdapted from Alexander, J. E. & Tate, M. A.Web Wisdom,
Web Wisdom (1999)
Authority
• The institutional authority of libraries
• Authority of locally created content v. content provided by others
• Give credit to local content creators and inform users about their credentials
• Inform users what content is provided by external sources and about their authority (e.g., annotate links to external Web sites)
Accuracy
• Provide clues for verification of accuracy, e.g., list of sources used
• Provide references for external verification in print or electronic format
• Ensure frequent updates for time sensitive information (hours of operation, fees, policies)
Objectivity
• Be careful for any evidence of bias in the information presented in both locally and externally created content
• Clearly identify advertising so it can be differentiated from the information content
Currency
• Indicate when information was produced and updated
• Provide Time stamps on individual pages and page segments (if needed)
• Provide visual indication of what is new on the main home page
Coverage
• Put yourself in the shoes of your users:– Does the page contain information that is
pertinent to your user’s needs? – How can this information be used?
• What information and services may be missing?
• Keep open, proactive dialog with users for feedback and suggestions
What good is wonderful content…
...when no one can get to it?• access speeds
• server speed
...when no one knows about it?• marketing library web presence to users and the
profession
• registering with search engines
• keeping track of who links to your site
The future...
• From libraries on the Web to Library portals...
• How will libraries complement other Web-based resources -- public and commercial?
• How will libraries’ virtual form complement their physical form?
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