Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 19:19:03 +0000
From: Patrick Durusau <pdurusau@emory.edu>
Subject: Web as a Reference Tool
Greetings,
There is a very good study of the Web as a reference tool for librarians
in the current issue of Public Libraries (Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 30-39,
January/February 1999). In "The Web as a Reference Tool: Comparison with
Traditional Sources" Joseph James and Charles R. McClure examine the use
of the Web to answer "quick fact reference questions." The preliminary
result of this study indicate that the Web can offer the same level of
accuracy and timeliness as more traditional resources.
Of particular interest to humanists will be the authors' suggestion that
libraries consider new models of library consortia to "maintain access to
a core and advanced set of freely available, high quality, reference Web
sites." (p. 37) Perhaps library consortia will play a role as gatekeepers
for academic publishing on the Web.
Patrick
Patrick Durusau
Information Technology
Scholars Press
pdurusau@emory.edu
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