Science Net PHYSICS is online!

[Wayne Daniels]

(Pardon any duplication.)

PHYSICS, the first of eight subject gateways in the Toronto Public Library's Science Net, is now available at this address:

http://sciencenet.tpl.toronto.on.ca

Science Net brings together K-12 education resources and classifies them by Dewey, creating what are, in effect, virtual library shelves. Intended as a time-saving alternative to the search engine, Science Net enables browsing for useful resources much as you might do in a conventional library. 

There are over 650 links in the PHYSICS gateway, arranged by the Dewey subdivisions (somewhat adapted) for that subject. These are further grouped by target audience: teachers, K-6, and 7-12. 

The collection contains materials in English and French and Science Net itself is available in both languages.

There is an "A-Z" index that will eventually contain all the Dewey headings used for all eight subjects. Main access, recommended for the present, is via the "Subject" choice. (Once again, only PHYSICS is so far available.) Here you will find a selection of general physics sites, with 7-12 as the default offering. Choose whichever of the three audiences is appropriate. To explore the subdivisions just use the drop down menu. You can return to the first page by pointing to the word Physics (in blue letters) at the top of each page.

We've been testing the software and we believe some initial wrinkles have been ironed out. A newer, faster version has just been mounted. However, if you do get any problems, please let us know about it via the e-mail form that's available at the site. 

Let us know what you think of the site, and please pass on any sites we've missed for inclusion at a later date.

CHEMISTRY will open up next, around the end of January. Then the rest will follow at fairly regular intervals: BIOLOGY, BOTANY, ZOOLOGY, GEOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY, and ASTRONOMY. It's hoped that all will be available by the end of 1999.

Hope you find us useful!

Wayne Daniels
Project Coordinator
Science Net / Réseau sciences
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street
M4W 2G8

(416) 393-7037
wdaniels at gwmail.mtrl.toronto.on.ca