The Public Librarian’s Guide to the Internet: Author queries

Note: page numbers in brackets relate to the number within the chapter.

Introduction: SO

  1. Introduction. The focus of the book seems to be on free information, but I don’t believe that this is implicitly stated anywhere. A good place for such a statement would be p2, para 3, the para which describes the resources part of the book.
Insert the following into p2, para 3

‘Practically all the information resources referred to in this book are available for free. Commercial databases typically remain a charged for service but resources like recent back issues of newspapers, the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica and an increasing number of previously expensive government papers are now available for free online. The Internet extends the range of resources the public library can offer its users both physically and financially!’

Chapter 1: What is the Internet and how can it help you and your library?: AM

  1. p1 (Chapter 1, p1). The second sentence includes an estimate of the number of the UK population with access to the Internet by late 1999. Can this be updated?

The latest data on "How many online?" (referenced in the text) for the UK is for January 2000 with an estimated 26.56% of the population. There is another report in NUA Internet Surveys for April 2000 stating that in a Europe-wide survey 33% of those surveyed in the UK had used the Internet within the preceding 14 days.

I think the intended audience will recognise that there is always a delay in statistics appearing. If you are concerned about it appearing dated we could skip it completely.

  1. p3 (Chapter 1, p3). Ideally it would be nice to have some introductory text before the address for the ISOC, to introduce it, the IETF and the IWF.

Insert "Other organisations which play a role influencing the way the Internet develops include:"

Then amend the following by inserting "which" as noted:
The Internet Society [URL] *which* is a....
The IETF [URL] *which* is the...
The IWF [URL] *which* is the....

  1. Same page, bottom. Should something be added about the MS lawsuit?

My personal feeling is no. There may well be further lawsuits which would
affect anything we say in the text at this point in time.

  1. p7 (Chapter 1, p7). I can’t find the note marker for note 1. Should it be at the end of the annotation to How Many Online? If so, does it really add to what is already in the text?

This was a footnote to the statement about "an estimated 21.15% of the total population of the UK having online access by late 1999" on page 1, but the formatting seems to have got lost. Obviously it can be removed if the figures are updated.

  1. p8. The mention of KnowUK is very prominent, given that the focus of the book is free services. Also, no explanation is given of what KnowUK is, either here or anywhere else in the book. If I’m wrong about the focus then I suggest a description is added here; if not, I suggest another free service is substituted.

The URL is

There is an increasing penetration of KnowUK into the public library sector, so professional staff may well be familiar with the product even if they don't have access. It just seemed appropriate to mention a subscription service that might save public library staff considerable time compared with "surfing". I cannot think of a free service which is comparable, and I would expect public library staff to recognise that subscription services (combining "free" Internet sources and charged sources) can add considerable added value.

Chapter 3: Essential communication skills on the Internet: IW

  1. Chapter 3. The section on electronic mail is rather long. Suggest the following subheading, or something similar, is added before para 2 on p18 (p2): ‘E-mail software’.
OK
  1. pp18 and 32 (Chapter 3, pp2 and 16). Which is correct: pine or Pine? If the latter, should tin on p32 be Tin?

Both with initial capital.

  1. Chapter 3. Likewise the section on discussion lists. Suggest adding the following subhead above para beginning ‘You choose to join’ on p26 (p10): ‘Joining a list’.
OK
  1. p29 (Chapter 3, p13), para 2. Suggest that lis-pub-libs be replaced by the subject of the list. Ditto on caption for Figure 3.2.

No - this is the name of the list.

  1. p31 (Chapter 3, p15), line 3. Suggest an explanation of moderation is added.
This is explained on p12 in relation to lists. Not necessary to repeat?
  1. Newsgroups section is also long. Suggest following subhead to be inserted above para beginning ‘To access newsgroups’ on p32 (p16): ‘Accessing newsgroups’. (Apologies for general dullness of all subheading suggestions!)
OK

Chapter 4: Net techniques explained: AM

  1. p42 (Chapter 4, p3), sentence 2 (‘A URL …’). I don’t believe it’s correct that a URL for a directory must end with a slash. Certainly you wouldn’t need to key the slash to get to the resource. So I would suggest that at the least it is confusing to mention slashes.

With earlier browser versions it was regarded as good practice to include it. However, I have no strong feelings about removing it.

  1. p44 (Chapter 4, p5), last line. Would the illustration be more useful with some sort of bubble help to each of the menus? I’m not sure whether as it is it really adds anything: is it perhaps a hangover from the Student guide? Most people have surely seen browsers now, if only on TV.

The illustrations were only intended to be illustrative. I think annotating them will only date-stamp the particular browser versions we used. If they add nothing to the text, then perhaps we should remove them?

  1. p52 (Chapter 4, p13), para 3. Would firewall make a useful addition to the glossary? Also, I suggest a short explanation of a proxy server is added.

Certainly firewall could go into the glossary. I suggest: "Firewall: a machine with special security precautions which is used to prevent unauthorised external access to sensitive information held by an organisation".

"Proxy servers provide a cache (see above) of items available on remote
servers.

Chapter 5: Searching for information: IW

  1. p64 (Chapter 5, p3), para 2. I don’t understand the relevance of the last clause (‘so a software service would allow selection of operating system’).

Change to 'a software collection would have a field for the operating system
for each software package'

  1. p74 (Chapter 5, p13), para 3. I don’t feel the final clause of the first sentence (‘that is, you send …’) really follows on.

Change to:
'Some of the lists using the Listserv mailing program have set up Web-based searchable databases of messages, while others merely provide a batch search of the archives - that is, you send a message with your search requirement and receive an e-mail response with the results. The search facilities available should be made clear when you join a list.

The Web archive databases can be searched together at

  1. Table 5.1 (pp78ff of MS). I suggest that for the ‘fields’ and ‘adjacency’ rows it would be clearer just to have yes or no in each column.

No - the information included is important.

Chapter 8: Children’s resources: SO

  1. p109 (Chapter 8, p1). Should there be a section on physical education? It’s included in the mini contents, but no section exists in the actual text.

Remove PE from mini contents p.109 (Chapter 8, p1)

  1. p123 (Chapter 8, p15), first entry. Is Primeminister really one word?

Agreed – Prime Minister two words – capitalisation also required in paragraph 1, p2 of this section.

  1. Same page. The maths section is low on comments. Could you possibly come up with any more?

Add following text after Maths sub-heading:

There are many educational and fun Maths websites available. They cover all age ranges and all needs. Typically, like many educational resources, they have been developed for an American audience.

Add following under each relevant link.

Megamaths

A BBC developed site which is aimed at 7-10 year olds. It offers help with practising and testing timetables knowledge.

Maths file

This is aimed at Key Stage Three pupils and explores the relevant areas of the Maths section of the National Curriculum.

Megamath

This aims to bring unusual and important maths ideas into schools. It tries to make accessible and understandable the maths problems facing mathematicians today.

Microworlds

This provides maths projects online – a Webplayer plug-in is required.

Archimedes

Information here about the most famous mathematician of them all.

Brainwave

Provides ten mathematical puzzles – how well will you do?

Chapter 9: Community information: SC

  1. p136 (Chapter 9, p4), Gateway to Community Information entry. ‘All sites have been selected according to a selection criteria’. Could you please either add some of the criteria or reword to make less tautologous, eg ‘All sites have been according to strict selection criteria’.

Replace: ‘All sites have been selected according to a selection criteria.’, with

‘All sites included have been accessed for quality and relevance.’

Chapter 10: Consumer information: SO

  1. p140 (Chapter 10, p3). Which is correct: Which Online or Which Net?
Should be Which? Online
  1. p149 (Chapter 10, 12). Which is correct: Bizrate or BizRate.com?
Should be BizRate.com

Chapter 13: Health: SC

  1. p178 (Chapter 13, p8), MedicineNet entry. Don’t understand last sentence.

Replace description of MedicineNet with:

“A US site designed to provide in-depth medical information. Written by medical professionals for consumers. A comprehensive site that includes medical news, feature articles, information on diseases and conditions, a medical dictionary and a guide to common over-the-counter remedies.”

Chapter 14: Home computing and the Internet: SO

  1. Chapter 14 needs an introduction.

Insert following at start of chapter 14

Unsurprisingly there is a wide range of information about the Internet itself and home computing available online. As long as you can get connected you’ll be able to find someone or something to help make your computer existence more satisfying.

  1. p187 (Chapter 14, p8), para 1. I suggest the sentence beginning ‘The main benefit of these’ be expanded by adding something like: ‘irrespective of what ISP the computer is linked to’.
Agreed
  1. Same page, bottom. Is ‘Computers in general’ a heading or something to do with What Is? If the former I suggest it is redundant.
This sub-section was meant to cover help on computers in general – it is a separate sub-section in the same way the previous one on e-mail. Perhaps it should be renamed Technical Help.

Chapter 15: Illustrations: SO

  1. p191 (Chapter 15, p2), para 1. Given the comment about picture agencies in this para, would it be better to delete the separate section on the topic and incorporate the entries here?

Agreed.

  1. p193 (Chapter 15, p4). Does the comment beginning ‘If a fan page’ belong to the address above or below it. If to the one above, I suggest it would be clearer to move it above the address.
Change sentence ‘The examples given below etc’ to
The first example below shows the type of material likely to be found on these pages. If a fan page still doesn’t provide the image you need commercial sports picture libraries, like The Sports Archive, may be able to help.
  1. p194 (Chapter 15, p5), line 1. Should the penultimate part of the address be a single underscore character?

URL is

(There are actually three underscores between Animals and Nature – an excellent example of a bad URL).

  1. p195 (Chapter 5, p6), line 6. Should quicktime be Quicktime, ie is it a software?

Should be Quicktime.

Chapter 16: Learning and education: SC

  1. p199 (Chapter 16, p1). The general section is rather long. Could it perhaps be divided into official and non-official?
  2. pp207 and 208 (Chapter 16, pp9 and 10). The BL catalogue, COPAC and the 24 hour museum seem a little out of place in the directories section. Should they be moved to general or given a section of their own?

Yes, the BL catalogue, COPAC and the 24-hour museum could all be moved to the ‘information and general resources’ section, but it will make this section even longer. I’m not sure it enhances the chapter if you further divide it into ‘official’ (I assume you mean .gov.uk sites?) and ‘non official’ information (especially as there are some ‘official’ sites listed in other sections anyway). Instead, could you perhaps pull out The Times Educational Supplement and The Times Higher Education Supplement and put them in a ‘News and current awareness’ section? And maybe add an extra entry:

Guardian Education

Articles from the Guardian’s weekly education supplement are enhanced with sections for parents, schools, colleges, HE and TEFL. Also includes features about using the Internet in the classroom, listings of recommended resources and children’s book reviews.

  1. p208 (Chapter 16, p10), last line. By ‘Y24’ do you mean ‘the section Y24’?

Yes, I mean ‘the Y24 section’.

Chapter 17: Literature: SO

  1. p211 (Chapter 17, p3). I suggest some explanation of Publishers’ Catalogues home pages would be useful.

Insert

This is a web directory of publishers websites around the world – it is comprehensive but not intuitive to use.

Chapter 18: Reference: SO

  1. p220 (chapter 18, p3). Presumably the entire text of Britannica is not available free? If not, please reword accordingly.

No the entire Encyclopaedia is available for free online.

Chapter 20: Travel: SC

  1. p249 (Chapter 20, p3). The section on travel writing is long. Could it perhaps be divided into UK and international? The latter would still be long, but I can’t think of any other potential divisions.

Yes, dividing the ‘Travel writing’ section into UK and International will be fine.

Chapter 21: Professional use: SC

  1. p259 (Chapter 21, p1). The section on library organizations is very long. Could it be divided in some way, perhaps into national, local and international?

Yes, please divide ‘Library organisations’ into ‘UK’ and ‘Non-UK’ sections.

  1. p267 (Chapter 21, p9), line 9. By ‘free access to a journal article’ do you mean ‘free access to any journal article’?

Replace with:

‘… allows free access to one library-related article from the latest edition of one the journals published by MCB.’

  1. p274 (Chapter 21, p16), last line. Please add explanation for PubliCA.

Probably best to remove this sentence completely as The Citizen's Gateways’ is not a regular feature any more (PubliCA has reached the end of its period of EC funded activity).

  1. p279 (Chapter 21, p21). Section on Career development is a little long. I suggest that the subheading ‘Training’ be added after para 1 and then ‘Job-hunting’ before the LIBEX entry on the next page.

Yes, fine to add subheadings as suggested.

Chapter 22: Producing web pages: SO

  1. Chapter 22. The introduction needs to be looked at again to make it relevant to this chapter only (currently covers 23 as well). At the very least the bullet list and sentence before it should be deleted. Likewise an intro for 23 needs to be written.

Suggest deleting the current introduction for chapter 22 and making the paragraph for the next section ‘Basic Public Library Website skills’ the introduction for this chapter. Add at the end of this paragraph the following sentence

‘This chapter explores the issues involved with developing public library websites, the basic skills needed, the principles of good design and the range of tools available for developing these sites’.

Introduction for chapter 23 is as follows:

The Internet allows the public librarian to both access information and services online and also to make their own services and information available online. Such online services will make available library resources and services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Library services will no longer be tied to the opening ours of the library building. This chapter is intended to be an introduction to the issues involved with developing such online public library services. It aims to provide ideas and food for thought – it does not intend to be definitive. There is no one way of developing online local public library services – the level, range and purpose of these services will depend on the aims of each individual library.

  1. p295 (Chapter 22, p13). Disabled Accessibility needs a comment.

A useful discussion of how to ensure your web pages are accessible by Jakob Nielson.

Chapter 23: Developing online public library services: SO

  1. p299 (Chapter 23, p1), last bullet point. You say that tracking usage is a benefit, but it isn’t mentioned again in the chapter. Or perhaps it should be discussed in the previous chapter?

delete this bullet point.

  1. p307 (Chapter 23, p9), bottom. (Es)senses of place needs a comment.

This is an example of an online exhibition developed by Cambridgeshire Library Service for the 1997 National Library Week.

  1. p312 (Chapter 23, p14, para 3. Should the final word (‘form’) be deleted? If not, what should it be?

Replace this sentence with the following:

The digitisation of text based documentation like directories, papers and parish record is equally important.

  1. p313 (Chapter 23, p15), para 2 (‘Whenever any digitization’). Would it be a good idea to include a reference to the National Preservation Office, whom I believe have been working on standards?

Yep – Include following sentence:

Useful work on developing standards on this topic is currently being undertaken by the National Preservation Office.

National Preservation Office

Chapter 24: Service issues: SO

  1. p322 (Chapter 24, p4), line 13. ‘Suffolk Library Service state that ‘bah, blah’. Presumably something is missing here.

Replace ‘blah, blah’ etc with the following:

‘We want to promote and inspire learning through access to the information and educational resources of the world wide web, free at the point of use in all our service points.’

Glossary: SC

  1. p346 (Glossary, p8), Netscape. Is it really still the most common graphical browser? Is this not MIE now?

Replace: ‘the most common graphical browser…’ with ‘a widely used graphical browser…’.

  1. p347 (Glossary, p9), OPAC. Don’t understand ‘contrived’.

Perhaps: ‘A contrived name for a computerized library catalogue’ with replace with ‘an acronym common used to describe a computerized library catalogue.

NB

Looking back through the text again, I see that there are a number of places where we haven’t been consistent in, for example, quoting URLs (some end with a ‘/’, whilst others leave this off). We did not have time to get the entire text proof-read before we submitted it. Have you done this or should we arrange for it to be done?