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Title:
The Librarian's Internet Survival Guide:
Strategies for the High-tech Reference Desk, 2nd Edition
Review:
As the title of "The Librarian's Internet Survival Guide: Strategies
for the High-tech Reference Desk" suggests, this book is primarily
aimed at those who unashamedly still call themselves librarians. It is
not an ultra-technical treatise, but a practical work for those trying
to serve a demanding public. Thus the emphasis is on information
sources tested by author Irene McDermott's own experience as a
reference librarian. The book has several chapters on the technical
side, but these are jargon-free and similarly rooted in working needs.
Originally published in 2002, this updated volume seamlessly
integrates discussion of developments such as weblogs and RSS. Given
the book's comprehensiveness, it is perhaps significant that McDermott
neither cites Wikipedia as a source nor discusses wikis generally.
Nonetheless, she covers an enormous amount of ground.
The chapters on ready reference range through the general (search
engines, directories, full-text and subject portals) to specific areas
such as children, health and personal finance. McDermott's website
descriptions are succinct, usually managing to suggest both their
strengths and potential drawbacks. Whilst imparting much solid
information, her style is conversational and spiced with humour.
Unlike much writing about computers, her chapter on computer
troubleshooting is, refreshingly, almost as useful for the Mac as for
the PC. Equally lucid chapters cover web-based email, disabled
internet access and making webpages.
The chapter on medical information is a highlight of the book that
displays all of its virtues. From a moving description of a close
friend's cancer diagnosis, it becomes an inspiring tale of how she was
able to assist him through her use of the web. In doing this, it
incorporates descriptions of helpful websites and a brief discussion
of how to evaluate reliability (elaborated upon in a chapter on
teaching the internet). This blend of the practical with the personal
keeps the book readable and useful.
Does the book have any downsides? Like the internet itself, it is
tilted towards the American reader, and certain websites clearly have
little relevance beyond the U.S. However, the majority McDermott
recommends will be of interest to information professionals
internationally and in various sectors. Moreover, she has been careful
to note a sprinkling from elsewhere, e.g., British sites like BUBL,
Resource Discovery Network (now Intute) and, yes, FreePint. Websites
from Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Germany are also
highlighted.
Sometimes her enthusiasm for the internet teeters on the exaggerated.
For example, the chapter on news sites doesn't really indicate the
limitations of news archives, at least in terms of free content.
However she does raise the important issue of bias, through a group of
sites that assist with 'news evaluation'. Similarly, having
introduced somewhat uncritically an array of sites on finance and
investment, she balances this with a cautionary selection entitled
Fraud Watch.
The best compliment I can pay this book is my desire to go straight
back through it and check out a whole list of sites that sound useful.
The examples I have looked at certainly suggest that McDermott is a
reliable guide through the internet jungle.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Having begun his career in academic libraries, Adrian Janes is
currently an Information Services librarian with the London Borough of
Havering. Among his influences are Danny Sullivan, Jorge Luis Borges
and the Marx Brothers.
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