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15/03/2005
Libraries and Internet
I've had four days of fun work. My lib'n comes back tomorrow. Damn. But who want to talk about her?
I hear all the time from library staff and others that the reason libraries are having difficult times is because of the internet. People either think the internet has everything anyone could ever need or they think people think that. As a result people either don't need or don't think they need libraries. For library staff who think the internet is to blame I would recommend they stop being afraid of technology and explore the possibilities. You will also get a much clearer view of the limitations and be able to give informed opinions.
Anyone who uses the net as an integral part of their daily work will know that it adds dimensions to our ability to provide information. It's true there are a percentage of people who are power searchers and probably don't need us for net based information, but most of the people I see have no idea of the possibilities. And for a library coping with poverty it is a source of free information. Can't afford a subscription database? There are so many free databases on the net. There's even Google Scholar. Can't afford interlibrary loans? Sometimes the articles will be free full text. If not sometimes you can look up catalogues to find a library subscribing to a particular journal that the reader can travel easily to. Can't afford journal subscriptions? Check out your subject area amongst the free online journals and concentrate on using them.
In the last few months I have found a geological reports database, a free online journal about dam technology, an engineering articles database and almost 20 articles that were full text online separate from the mags they were published in.
So why are libraries having such a hard time? Later. Tired of typing now.
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