Announcing CyberStacks(sm)

[Boyd R. Collins]

This is a very interesting, if traditional attempt to organize Web
resources.  The word "traditional" here is not meant in any perjorative
sense.  In fact, it's quite compelling to see how our traditional philosophy
of classification can be so helpful in organizing this completely different
medium, as nascent as this current effort is.  However, in the light of
OCLC's current efforts in this direction, we need to ask what value is this
type of effort really adding to these resources.  A description of the
resources is provided, but no attempt at evaluation in the sense of a review
is made.  It would seem that we are relying on the sound judgement of a
trained librarian to make correct judgements concerning the value and
utility of the sources included and in all cases I've examined this
judgement seems present.  He has also done a good job of defining his criteria.

>      Announcing CyberStacks(sm), A Demonstration Prototype
>       Virtual Science and Technology Reference Collection
>
>     While there have been noteworthy efforts to facilitate the
>efficient identification of relevant Internet and World Wide Web
>(WWW) information and data sources in the fields of science and
>technology, users continue to be confronted with the cumbersome
>task of effectively identifying, selecting, evaluating and using
>Internet Reference resources that best meet their information
>needs. To address this situation, I have created CyberStacks(sm)
>- a browsable classified and categorized selected collection with
>an appropriate level of specificity and description that I
>believe offers the value-added structure and organization which
>can facilitate the identification and use of selected Internet
>and WWW resources in these, and other, subject areas.
>
>     The URL for CyberStacks(sm) is
>
>           <http://www.public.iastate.edu/~gerrymck/>
>
>     As a short-term goal, I plan to identify and incorporate
>selected resources that may be categorized within the Science (Q)
>outline of the Library of Congress classification scheme, the
>system that I have adopted for the CyberStacks(sm) service. I
>would greatly appreciate receiving the title, URL and a _brief_
>description of other Reference resources that may be classified
>in this group, as well as similar information for resources that
>cover other science and technology disciplines.
>
>     Within the CyberStacks(sm) main homepage, I have hypertexted
>a 'virtual paper' where I have critiqued other efforts and
>documented the theories, philosophies and observations which I
>believe support the organizational approach adopted by
>CyberStacks(sm).
>
>     As I am greatly interested in refining the development of
>CyberStacks(sm) in this stage of its development, I ask that my
>colleagues critically review the overall scheme as well as any
>the other issues that this approach raises. I would also greatly
>appreciate comments on the working 'virtual paper' found
>throughout the base homepage.
>
>     I believe that the CyberStacks(sm) database has the
>potential of serving many clientele within many organizations. To
>realize its potential, the service will require the cooperation
>and collaboration of a variety of subject specialists from these
>organizations, who have the expertise and knowledge of Internet
>resources in the broad and specific subject areas covered by
>CyberStacks(sm). I strongly encourage individuals and
>organizations to participate in the development of
>CyberStacks(sm) and describe the levels of participation from
>within its homepage.
>
>     As CyberStacks(sm) is a prototype demonstration project,
>it would be premature to point to the service at this time. It is
>my hope that with the appropriate level of support, a fully
>functioning service can be established by July 1, 1996.
>
>Gerry McKiernan
>Coordinator, Science and Technology Section
>Reference and Instructional Services
>Iowa State University
>152 Parks
>Ames IA 50011
>
>gerrymck at iastate.edu
>
>                              "The Future is Now"
>
>
>
>
>


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Boyd R. Collins, Automation Manager, The Libraries
Mansfield University                        
Mansfield PA 16933                
(717) 662-4668                      
(717) 662-4993 FAX                
bcollins at epix.net
home page: http://www.mnsfld.edu/depts/lib/index.html