The public librarian's guide to the internet.

The public librarian's guide to the internet by Sally Criddle, Alison McNab, Sarah Ormes and Ian Winship. London, Library Association Publishing 2000 249pp 19.95 [pounds sterling] ISBN 1856043282

This guide discusses the benefits of library services being offered via the internet and provides explanations of the basic concepts underpinning it. It also lists and describes a variety of sources that will enhance exploration of the internet, and outlines the steps involved in creating a successful public library web site.

The public librarian's guide to the internet is not a technical manual though it does offer simple explanations of technical terms throughout and there is a short but useful glossary at the end. It provides basic guidance and a framework for capitalising on the internet, the speed of change associated with which is a challenge to even the most diligent continuing professional development devotees. Not only do we need to continually update our software skills, but we also need to continually update our web page links and presentation. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures indicate that in February 2000 half of the households in Australia (3.5 million households) had a home computer and 28 per cent (1.9 million households) had the internet at home. The expectations of the public are high, and librarians need to rise to the challenge.

The book has three sections. The first explains in simple terms what the internet is and describes the basic elements, including email, discussion lists, newsgroups and the web. Chapter one deals with access details and selecting an internet service provider. However the information is UK specific and mostly not applicable to other countries. Chapter four on net techniques includes an extremely helpful list of common error messages and what they mean -- Error 404, server timed out, connection refused by host -- all guaranteed to cause stress in the new user. Section one also provides an overview of basic searching and browsing techniques and tools. Chapter five explores searching concepts and search tools and emphasises the importance of users reading the help files and not relying on a single search engine. The authors recommend that users try the advanced search options and they provide a useful table which summarises web search tool features. The table includes most of the major search tools though it does omit Google. It would have been useful to include references to some websites that discuss search engine features, statistics and reviews such as the Search engine watch (http://www.searchenginewatch.com) and Greg Notess' site (http://www.notess.com). There is an excellent list of subject directories and gateways in chapter six. These sites will be useful for anyone looking for quality web resources.

Section two lists quality resources that might be incorporated into a public library web site. It consists of 15 chapters, each one coveting a different subject area eg business and finance, children, community, health, literature, government, consumer, family and local history, home computing and internet.resources, reference. The suggested sites are predominantly from the UK, but include some international links, and serve as a checklist of essential items for any public library website. For example, in the business and finance resources the recommendations come under headings such as news and current affairs, associations and company information, directories, business advice and resources, personal finance, employment and training. Finding relevant local sites for other countries would be an excellent means of honing searching skills!

Section three deals with integrating the internet into public library services and advice about setting up a web presence. The first bit of good advice here is to look at other websites before you begin work on your own site. This section is excellent for the beginner. It offers suggested core elements for a good public library site

* location and opening hours 

* access to services such as library catalogue, renewing books online, making reservations

* and events, exhibitions, latest information about library services

* policies such as acceptable use of the internet

* web guide containing relevant and useful links for community

The public librarian's guide to the internet devotes a small section to training, but the importance of equipping staff with adequate skills so they can confidently promote the use of the internet is such an important issue that it warrants a separate chapter. It would be useful to see a checklist of skills required and suggested means of attaining these skills. There is no shortage of websites for those people who are prepared to teach themselves and eLib <www.ukoln.ac.uk/ services/elib/> in the UK has been instrumental in developing online tutorials and training resources. In the experience of the reviewer, the skills of the library staff have a direct impact on the success of a website and the enthusiasm generated in its users. Too often, however, library staff are expected to pick up skills by osmosis, and insufficient time and resources are allocated to building their expertise and confidence.

The final chapter highlights the likely future developments and the pervasiveness of the internet in all our lives. Government, commercial and media organisations are all integrating online resources into their services and the initiatives described here are similar worldwide with interoperability and sustainability likely to be the keys to success.

This book will benefit any librarian who is new to the internet because it provides practical advice and a simple overview of what the internet offers. Although the focus is on public libraries and the suggested sites are mostly not relevant to academic or special libraries, the guide does demystify the interact. The authors successfully demonstrate that the scope for developing a good website is enormous. They cover the basic elements of a library website through to the idea of extending beyond the simple provision of an online catalogue by value adding with reader profiles and suggested books similar to the amazon.com model.

A minor criticism is the omission of chapter numbers printed at the top of pages. The authors refer to other chapters throughout, and it was a source of frustration to have to go back to the table of contents to find the right page, rather than flicking to the chapter. There is also a small amount of repetition between the lists of recommended sites and other chapters. For example, there is a comprehensive section on children's resources but a selection of these resources are also listed in the chapter on developing online public library services.

Content rich online services are becoming essential for all sorts of businesses and services, and libraries must embrace the internet and extend access to services from the desktop. This book succeeds in demonstrating that the internet can be used to expand and complement a library's print collection and provision of services. The public librarian's guide to the internet is highly recommended reading for any librarian wishing to become familiar with the internet.

Katrina Keith Coordinator, Online Environment University of South Australia Library katrina.keith @unisa.edu.au