There are substantial implications for developing a reference collection to serve many different groups. The following section discusses our efforts to build an electronic reference collection on tree fruit to serve a diverse clientele. Goals Three of AgNIC s goals are particularly pertinent to providing reference information. Collection Development for the Site Traditional collection development is the basis for online collection development. The tools have changed, but the concepts remain the same.
Librarians add value to resources by locating, evaluating, and providing access.
Examples are Internet Reviews in College and Research Libraries News, Databases in Reference and User Services Quarterly, and Choice, which integrates print and electronic media. Consequently, our librarians search for and evaluate sites. The selector must look at these issues in addition to the usual evaluation of authority, timeliness, reliability, usability, depth, breadth, etc. Institutional policies can guide decisions. Searching for virtual resources requires thinking globally.