By Donna Woodka, woodka@arpa.net
| While the tools for using the Internet, such as e-mail
readers, Web browsers, and search engines are vastly simpler to learn than any other
computer interface seen to date, it can still be fairly difficult to find and organize the
information gleaned from the Internet in a truly useful fashion. Fortunately, there are
those who are developing reference services and other such tools, and life may soon become
even easier on the Internet. Help Web For a very nicely done intro on getting started on the Web, this is a fun and interesting site. Cute graphics are combined with easy-to-follow instructions on using e-mail, browsing the Web, search engines, Usenet newsgroups and mailing lists, and even using File Transfer Protocol. LibrarySpot LibrarySpot is a virtual library resource center for educators and students, librarians and their patrons, families, businesses and just about anyone exploring the Web for valuable research information. LibrarySpot was designed to break through the information overload of the Web to bring the best library and reference sites together with insightful editorial in one convenient, user-friendly spot. LibrarySpot is published by StartSpot Mediaworks Inc. in Evanston, Ill. My Virtual Reference Desk The librarians (or, perhaps children of librarians) are the ones who will end up organizing the Internet for us. You may have heard of Matt Drudge and the Drudge Report, but his father Bob Drudge provides an even more valuable service—a wonderful virtual reference desk. MVRD has three goals: 1) fast access, 2) intuitive and easy navigation and 3) comprehensive content, rationally indexed. It succeeds beautifully. the Best Information on the Net This is listed as a "Librarian’s Guide to the Best Information on the Net," but this site is valuable to anyone doing research on the Internet. The site was created by Marylaine Block, associate director for public services, at the O’Keefe Library of St. Ambrose University. Block knew next to nothing about computers when she started this site. It is a great example of what can be done! San Diego Public Library Search Page This page contains in-depth subject guides, World Wide Web search tools and community information network (free-net) directories from a variety of sources. UCSD Library Reference Shelf This is the virtual reference shelf of the UCSD library, with links to all kinds of reference information. NeoPlanet For those people who still find the whole idea of the Web confusing and the amount of information intimidating, NeoPlanet may help. Created by the designers of the Bigfoot Internet people directory, NeoPlanet is basically a friendly front door to the Web. NeoPlanet is a free downloadable applet that currently runs on Internet Explorer 4.0 only. You can set up your own NeoPlanet channels and subsections, or use the default ones. Tell the site your ZIP code and it will add a channel full of sites that relate to your hometown or state. NeoPlanet is still in beta testing, but is available to download from the Web site, and future versions may be available through local ISPs or customized for corporate licensing. Hopefully more companies will develop easy to use Internet guides and tools for searching and organizing the Web. But these ought to get you started! --------------------------------------- |