Cataloging the Internet

[Derek Smith]

>If this thinking is correct, libraries and libraries should be focusing on
>beefing up the selection process for web pages in the "space" nearby their
>patron communities much in the same way they select for their local community
>information.  Part of the effort will be to characterize what that "space" is
>as well as what is meant by "nearby" since geographic distance is less valid
>as metric.  (Yes, AG, there really is no longer a "there".)
>
>--David Ritchie
>--Naperville, IL USA
>--R124C41 at AOL.COM

        This is definitely a good point. Individual libraries should focus
on selecting URLs that are appropriate for their own users. Trying to
catalog "everything" doesn't seem to be the way to go. I think the problem
should be approached as a collection development issue, not only as a
cataloging issue. Find sites that are interesting and useful to your users
and catalog these. Remember the old 80-20 rule of thumb? Why catalog all
these sites if no one is going to use them?


Derek Smith (dsmith at seraph1.sewanee.edu)
Reference Librarian
duPont Library
University of the South
Sewanee, Tennessee, USA
37383-1000
TEL:(615) 598-1660
FAX:(615) 598-1702
<http://www.sewanee.edu/dupontlibrary/
libstaff/dsmith/home.html>