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presented at LLA Conference, Baton Rouge, LA 3/17/99 moniking@hotmail.com afonseca@pelican.state.lib.la.us |
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Many libraries have learned that with the acquisition of new online resources comes the challenge of re-orienting patrons to use the library effectively. Most patrons are enamored with the Internet and the seemingly huge wealth of information it provides. But the tremendous growth the Internet has seen in the last several years has brought out mis-information as well. As the number of sites has risen, so has the use of the Internet as a place to locate current news. Guess which Internet site had the most hits in 1998? France98.com, the official web site of the World Cup soccer tournament. 1.14 billion hits in a month. 73 million hits in one day. 10.3 million hits in one hour. (Information Week, Oct 12, 1998) In fact as recently as 1994, there were only 2 commercial websites and only 3000 websites total.(Penton Research) By July 1998, there were well over 4 million registered web sites with projections for the year 2002 ranging from 200 to 300 million.(Internet Valley web article) What's to assume from all this growth, that more and more people turn to the Internet as their first source for information.
Today our objectives are to learn how to incorporate relevant, accurate, and authoritative Internet sites into teaching patrons the fundamentals of traditional library research. The process for effective research is largely unchanged, only the methods for accessing the information are different. "Being a librarian means thinking creatively about information... and (a)ny librarian who can't install a piece of software or troubleshoot a balky cd will find themselves on a long waiting list." Strong people skills and being a good team player is also part of the package for good presentations. Other recommendations for newly minted MLSs according to Bates include: solid grasp of information landscape and when to use an information source (learn the value of time, how to search efficiently, and how to know when to stop and try another source) Feel comfortable taking risks and serving as an agent of change are other recommendations. (Bates, Searcher, May 1998) Training the teachers (librarians) and students (patrons) is especially important because premature attempts to integrate the Internet can waste time and distract participants from content. "You don't need technology to get kids actively involved, but by God, if you use it, and use it the right way, you can make a big difference (says Magel, Illinois Technology Training Director)." (Irvin, Techniques, Sept 1998).
After conducting numerous workshops over the last three years, I realized developing a methodology for creating and presenting research was important. Frustrated with having to reinvent the wheel for every program, I decided to develop a template that not only I could use, but other staff could use as well for the purpose of training and bibiliographic instruction.
Teaching patrons about our resources using tools like the online catalog and magazine databases was important, but as information increasingly migrated to digitized formats and onto the web, incorporating Internet sites and online databases became a critical component for effective instruction. "Librarians who search the Web frequently know that current search technologies return many irrelevant hits." (Balas, Computers in Libraries, Nov. 1998) And database searching has its own requirements. When selecting a database for research patrons need to consider five components for evaluation: title and contents, type (numeric, abstract etc..), content level, dates of coverage, and availability. (Craver, School Library Journal, Nov 1998)
What is the next step? Perhaps to create a "brave new catalog" such as the one at Nashville State Tech Library. Like others who have "insourced the web" staff here have integrated web sites into the online catalog ( Veatch, American Libraries, Jan 1999) It's paramount however to never lose site of the big picture. "As advocates of literacy and learning, we can choose to connect the world of print to the world world of electrons and photons- not to build a hybrid, but to create an enhanced mileau that expands the experience of learning. It would combine the permanance of print with the immediacy of emerging information." (Skurzynski, School Library Journal, Oct 1998).T O P
Select a topic for your presentation- Small Business, Genealogy, Grant Research, Term Paper Research
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Presentation Software Screen Capture/Print Screen Utilities
Offline Browsers
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Search Engines used in Presentation Highway 61 Dog Pile Profusion Mamma Google |
Balas, Janet. "It's the little things that count." Computers in Libraries. Nov 1998.
Bates, Mary Ellen. "The newly minted MLS: what do we need to know today?" Searcher, May 1998, Vol. 6 no. 5.
Craver, Kathleen. "
Internet Search Skills for the College-Bound." School
Library Journal, Nov 1998.
Gromov, Gregory. "The Roads and Crossroads of Internet History."
Available from http://www.internetvalley.com/intvalstat.html (accessed
on Feb 17, 1999.)
Litvin, Margaret. "Navigating the Techno-classroom." Techniques, Sept. 1998. Vol. 73, no.6
Nantz, Karen and Terry Lundgren. "Lecturing with Technology." College Teaching. Spring 98 Vol. 46. no. 2. IAC-Searchbank. Expanded Academic ASAP. Online. March 5, 1999.
Skurzynski, Gloria. "Paper and Photons: the Future of Information." School Library Journal. October 1998.
Veatch, James. "Insourcing the Web" American Libraries, Jan 1999 Vol. 30, no.1.
"World Cup Record." Information Week. Oct 12, 1998. no. 704.
P O W E R P O I N T S H O W S/ T O P
To view the following presentations, click on the topic.
"Finding your Funding Resources: Grant Research at the Library"
"Genealogy Research in the Library and on the Web"
"Small Business Information at the Library"
"Effective Term Paper Research in the Library and on the Internet"
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