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Title:
The Librarian's Internet Survival Guide: Strategies for the High-Tech Reference Desk
Review:
Originally written as instalments for McDermott's monthly "Internet
Express" column in Searcher magazine, this book is divided into two
parts: "Ready Reference on the Web: Resources for Patrons" and "The
Librarian as Information Technician: Working with the Medium and the
Machines".
Part One explains search engines, online news and reference sites,
free full-text resources, and teaches readers how to use the Web to
find people, health and medical information, financial information,
and how to go "cyber-shopping". Part Two informs readers about using
Web-based electronic mail, teaching others how to use the Internet,
troubleshooting computer problems, creating and maintaining Web pages,
and making the Web accessible to people with disabilities.
The author draws on her experience as Reference Librarian and Systems
Manager at the San Marino Public Library in California. Before earning
her library degree from UCLA, she was a research editor for Salem
Press.
The majority of each chapter is an annotated 'webliography', with the
title, URL and brief description of each website. Probably to appear
friendly and approachable to novice Web users, McDermott's writing
style is so positive that it's almost perky but she did make me laugh
when observing that librarians have become bartenders because "prying
fixated patrons off the Internet after only one hour is like cutting
off alcoholics after a couple of drinks".
Screenshots of various websites (three for each of the 15 chapters)
illustrate the book. Internet newbies will appreciate the handwritten
annotations on some screenshots that help explain how to set up web-
based e-mail account, send your first email message, clear your
browser cache, and delete browser cookies.
For someone who hasn't had time to become an Internet expert, this
book is a good introduction, but even experienced surfers will learn
useful information about some new Websites. While the URLs are still
fresh, my colleagues and I will be reading it during slow nights at
the Reference Desk.
Related websites
McDermott's book is a collection of her monthly columns for Searcher:
the Magazine for Database Professionals, published by Information
Today Inc. Some full-text articles, but not all of McDermott's
columns, are available online for each issue
<http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/>.
Download PowerPoint slides for Irene McDermott's lecture at the
Library of Congress, Washington, DC and view a 90-minute Real Player
cybercast of the October 25, 2002 event
<http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/lectures/mcdermott.html>.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Bekke Aaron is a doctoral student in educational technology at Purdue
University and works at their Undergraduate Library Reference Desk.
Surfing the 'Net since 1994, she has taught computer classes and
workshops for Purdue students and K-12 teachers.
Related Free Pint Links:
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