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Approved-By:  Diane Kovacs <DKOVACS@KENTVM.KENT.EDU>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.libref-l
Date:         Tue, 26 Jan 1993 09:52:43 EDT
From:         bmark%mcis.messiah.edu@Kentvm.Kent.edu
Subject:      Ref. librarians + the Internet
Comments: To: libref-l@kentvm.kent.edu

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I've found the discussion about finding time, fear of, etc.,
learning to use the Internet interesting and very relevant to many
of us who are newly networked.  For those feeling "out of it" I
have a few suggestions which have helped me (both personally and
as BI coordinator).  Note: I am a fellow struggler, not an expert.

1) If you have a computer lab anywhere on your campus which is
   Internet accessible, make an appointment for yourself or with
   a colleague (just as you make an appointment for anything else
   which *must* be done).  We have found that to attempt to learn
   while in the library can be frustrating due to interruptions.
   Once secluded, see 2)

2) *If you're totally lacking a conceptual framework about what
    in the world "it" all means, I suggest Jean Polly's "Surfing
    the Internet: An Introduction," WILSON LIBRARY BULLETIN, June
    '92, pp. 38-42+  It's concise, easy to understand, and helped
    me "get the picture."
   *A colleague and I have made great use of Internet Hunt *results*,
    especially the most recent ones which give great step-by-step
    directions.  (I posted on another list the fact that our
    computer science faculty were so thrilled to see the hunt
    results that they incorporated some of the questions with
    answers into their January-term Intro. to Computer Science
    class, "because it gives the students a place to start."
    If you have no idea what is out there, this is a good place
    for timid souls to begin.  Take a colleague along for courage :-)

3) Our small 19-member library consortium's Instruction Committee
   has had one meeting (last year--a panel discussion giving intro.
   to the Internet, describing basics, and from one of our more
   advanced members, how they use for ref.) and an upcoming
   workshop which will include: hands-on session of traveling
   around the Internet; how to teach the same; and panel discussion
   including computer services staff and librarians.

4) Before all of our librarians got on lists, and since all of them
   as liaisons do BI & Ref, I forwarded them interesting (to me!)
   messages which I judged to be of interest to them for awhile.
   Now all of them are on lists of one sort of another.  Our
   Computing Services has made the List of Lists easily accessible
   on our campus network.  As active liaisons we also forward
   relevant messages (since library lists often such wonderfully
   discipline-relevant messages on them).

5) I have much, much more to learn and am making an appointment
   for myself for spring break to spend more uninterrupted time
   doing just that.  Thanks to all of those so far ahead of us
   novices for showing the way (esp. all those people who provide
   the great answers [and questions] to the Internet Hunt).

Once you force yourself to sit down and actually do it (you
non-techies) it's really not so very intimidating.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU