Librarians constantly conduct searches for their customers and for themselves. However the internet and technology are constantly changing, resulting in pressure on librarians to keep up-to-date with how best to use the internet. This guide offers advice on how to use the internet and how to gain the information required most effectively. It covers for example: how to search in order to achieve the best results (strategies, what to ask and examples) and interpreting results (including examples). Importantly, not only does the book show how to use the Internet, but it also links this to perfect customer service - how to teach your customers what you know and how to properly interpret what your customers want. - Helps a librarian deliver perfect customer service with confidence - Provides practical tips and hints - Written by a highly respected and experienced practitioner

In this updated and expanded second edition of her popular guidebook, Searcher columnist Irene McDermott once again exhorts her fellow reference librarians to don their pith helmets and follow her fearlessly into the Web jungle. She presents new and improved troubleshooting tips and advice, Web resources for answering reference questions, and strategies for managing information and keeping current. In addition to helping librarians make the most of Web tools and resources, the book offers practical advice on privacy and child safety, assisting patrons with special needs, Internet training, building library Web pages, and much more

Written by a professor of computer science and a reference librarian, this guide covers basic browser usage, e-mail, and discussion groups; discusses such Internet staples as FTP and Usenet newsgroups; presents and compares numerous search engines; and includes models for acquiring, evaluating, and citing resources within the context of a research project. The emphasis of the book is on learning how to create search strategies and search expressions, how to evaluate information critically, and how to cite resources. All of these skills are presented as within the context of step-by-step activities designed to teach basic Internet research skills to the beginner and to hone the skills of the seasoned practitioner.

Find what you’re looking for with the best Internet resources for academic research in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences! Which academic resource deserves more of your budget: printed books and journals or softly glowing terminals? The answer differs depending on the subject area, the availability and reliability of Internet information in that field, and the comparative value of Internet research and traditional print media. Academic Research on the Internet: Options for Scholars and Libraries gives you the information you need to make those choices. This comprehensive book examines the usability of the Internet as a scholarly research and reference tool. Each chapter provides a snapshot of Internet information access and usability in a specific subject area, comparing it to traditional print media. In addition, each chapter includes a selected webliography of key resources-a time-saving tool for librarians on the reference desk. Experts in specific subject areas provide up-to-the-minute assessments of the usefulness of the Internet for research in their fields, including: Arts and Architecture Biology Engineering Chemistry Physics and Mathematics Music Philosophy English and American Literature History Political Science Business Education Anthropology and Sociology Health Sciences Public Administration Law Environmental Sciences Reference Academic Research on the Internet is designed to provide the facts you need about the reliability, timeliness, and availability of Internet information. With this information, you can decide on the relative value of print subscriptions, assess the degree to which the Internet alone can satisfy users’ information needs, and make intelligent choices about budget allocation.

The amount of religious and theological material available on the Internet is enormous and can be daunting. Are you finding the information you need? This valuable book will assist theological librarians, instructors, researchers, and others in making sense of the vast amounts of religious and theological information available today on the Internet. It provides a general overview of what's out there and specific examples that you can access as you read. Beginning with a thorough discussion of information technology and theological libraries, Theological Librarians and the Internet: Implications for Practice compares and contrasts the state of the field in 1990 with the situation that theological librarians face today. Then you'll learn how theological libraries are beginning to utilize Web catalogs to improve access to their unique collections and how the major gateways to these catalogs can be accessed. This unique book also provides you with predictions for the future of Web OPACs. Theological Librarians and the Internet is filled with information on: electronic journals in religious studies Web-based online catalogs in theological libraries theological distance education Christian art on the Internet homiletics and liturgy on the Internet Web site design a Web-based tutorial on Judaism Theological Librarians and the Internet will familiarize you with the creation and structure of the Wabash Center Guide to Internet Resources in Religion. It will also instruct you in using the Internet in religious studies courses and show you how to design a user-friendly Web site for your library so that all of your patrons can navigate it efficiently. No one interested in finding religious information on the Web should be without this volume!

As more users expect to use their mobile devices, librarians will want and need to develop the necessary skills to reach this growing user base. Mobile Devices: A Practical Guide for Librarians will aid libraries and librarians as they go through the process of planning, developing, implementing, marketing, and evaluating mobile services. Based on research and experience using and developing for mobile devices, this guides includes information and ideas regarding: Why mobile technologies are important for libraries Developing mobile websites and applications for specific mobile platforms such as iOS and Android using existing web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript Using mobile devices for reference, library instruction, and shelf reading Marketing strategies to make users aware of mobile services Evaluating mobile services A must-read for librarians interested in mobile technologies and services, this guide with provide librarians with practical information and examples to develop and offer mobile services in their libraries.

Web scale discovery tools index a vast number of resources in a wide variety formats and allow users to search for content in a physical collection, print and electronic journal collections, and other resources from a single search box. Search results are displayed in a manner similar to internet searches, in a relevance-ranked list with links to online content. Implementing Web-Scale Discovery Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians is a one-stop source for librarians seeking toevaluate, purchase, and implement a web-scale discovery service. The book breaks down each phase of the project into decision points and action plans which will help move the project forward in an orderly and focused manner. After reading this guide, librarians will be able to: identify the system with the best content match for their library; conduct informative product trials; negotiate for the best pricing options; andoptimize customization of the selected systems to meet local needs. Implementing Web-Scale Discovery Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians guides librarians on configuring search boxes, integrating local content sources, and making full-text easily accessible. This text presents the information in check lists, decision trees, and quotes from early adopters, and includes information on how to customize these systems to meet each library’s specific needs.

With the world becoming increasingly more dependent upon the Internet, libraries offer an essential service by providing access to this worldwide network. To help their patrons, modern librarians must have a thorough understanding of this technology. Integrating the Web into Everyday Library Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians is a comprehensive guide to a variety of aspects of Internet use and research. The book is basic, assuming only a basic understanding of computer use and Internet research. This guide begins with: a basic explanation of the mechanics of the Internet and World Wide Web, then moves on to explore the variety of ways that a user can discover online information, how information is stored online via the cloud, and how a librarian can enhance his or her library's online presence. Later chapters explain: how to use the Internet to communicate, how to help patrons research and evaluate information, and how to protect patrons and yourself from online dangers. The final chapter is devoted to helping librarians solve basic computer problems that their patrons may encounter, including troubleshooting Internet connections.

This book offers novice and experienced reference librarians an introduction to tried-and-true genealogy techniques and resources. With the help of four case studies, Simpson outlines a basic starting strategy for conducting genealogy research. Later chapters deal specifically with genealogical librarianship: how to conduct a reference interview, continuing and professional development, and basic resources every collection should have. Charts, screen shots, and examples of public documents are also included; while a series of appendices present the case studies in their entirety. Genealogy is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States, and is heavily researched in public libraries and historical repositories. Increasingly, major genealogy resources are available online at libraries through subscription databases or free on the internet. As a result, librarians face the overwhelming task of helping a large audience of genealogists cope with an ever growing flood of new resources. This book offers novice and experienced reference librarians an introduction to tried-and-true genealogy techniques and resources. With the help of four case studies, Simpson outlines a basic starting strategy for conducting genealogy research. Later chapters deal specifically with genealogical librarianship: how to conduct a reference interview, continuing and professional development, and basic resources every collection should have. Charts, screen shots, and examples of public documents are also included; while a series of appendices present the case studies in their entirety.