Home / Bookshelf / Searching

Title:

Using the Internet as a Reference Tool

Review:

The Internet has been used as a valuable reference tool for many years now, yet it has its limitations - particularly in the vast and ever growing quantity of information, and the questionable quality of some sites on the web. Even if we have learnt to instinctively sort the wheat from the chaff, can we effectively share these skills with others? 'Using the Internet as a Reference Tool' is based one of Sauers' training courses for the Bibliographic Center for Research in the USA. It is a practical self-help guide to effectively exploiting the Internet for Librarians and Information Professionals.

Sauers begins by assessing the impact of the Internet on reference services, both in information seeking and in the access to services by users through email. He encourages us to take a step back and look at how to use the Internet like a print collection and organise for ourselves it in a way that it can be exploited to its full potential in the reference setting. The reader is taken through this process step-by-step.

In comparing Print and Internet resources Sauers does at time labour his point, and risk stating the obvious. The chapter on evaluating Internet resources, however is particularly relevant for Librarians with a teaching role - it can be astounding how students will not see the signs that point to a website's dubious authority. He provides some useful links to use when teaching evaluation skills, including , the site warning about the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide (scientists among Freepint readers will know that the substance in question is nothing more alarming than H2O).

Sauers offers advice on creating a ready reference strategy, encouraging the reader to create a web page of reference sources. The need for practical links pages to make things easier for library staff is often overlooked. Often the best links are hidden away on one Librarian's bookmarks instead of being shared with others. A guide to search engines and directories follows, with guidance on when to use each. Sauers tests his readers with some complex reference questions, to illustrate his point, but thankfully, answers and advice are provided.

Despite publication by the Library Association in the United Kingdom this is undeniably a North American book. The tips and links will be of interest to Information Professionals wherever they work, but would benefit from the inclusion of more European and Worldwide examples. Yet another book on the Internet, yes, but this one is written by an experienced trainer, and contains practical advice, which I will put into practice in my library. I will keep it close at hand on my bookshelf.

Free Pint Reviewer:

Emma J. Thompson BA Hons Dip.Inf.,is a graduate in Hispanic Studies and professional librarian. She has worked in fee-based and public information services, and in academic libraries, and now manages a multi-media languages library at The University of Plymouth. She can be contacted at .

Related Free Pint Links:

• Related Internet searching book reviews on the Free Pint Bookshelf