[302] in Information Retrieval
Re: DISCUSSION TOPIC: What is the online equivalent to the MEH?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Rae Jean Wiggins)
Wed Apr 17 12:56:37 1996
To: elibdev@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Wed, 17 Apr 1996 10:56:03 EDT."
<9604171456.AA19101@thin-ice.MIT.EDU>
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 12:55:45 EDT
From: Rae Jean Wiggins <raewig@MIT.EDU>
I see grammar checkers or calculators as utilities/programs/software
(whatever) which *perform tasks* usually done by humans. Whereas
a handbook, style guide, mathematical table, and so forth serve
as reference tools for humans, who then go and perform the task.
I don't see why libraries would get into purchasing these kinds
of software for users any more than they would get into purchasing
word processing software, graphics software, presentation software,
spreadsheet software, and so forth.
The purpose of a handbook, style guide, or table is to serve as
a resource which helps people to learn and incorporate knowledge.
This is much more consistent with the mission of libraries than
providing software which performs the tasks *for* people. Even
if a grammar checker has something like a pop-up window feature
which states the reason for an error, it is easy for the user to
ignore that information by clicking on the window to make it to
away.
Making the handbook or style guide available in electronic format,
is another matter. I completely support these kinds of searchable
reference materials which aid users in their look-ups, finding all
the references to a particular issue, being accessible from remote
locations, and so forth.
Rae Jean
>
>To: elibdev@MIT.EDU
>Subject: DISCUSSION TOPIC: What is the online equivalent to the MEH?
>Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 10:56:03 EDT
>From: Tom Owens <owens@MIT.EDU>
>Content-Length: 851
>
>Libraries have traditionally stocked reference tools such as the
>Modern English Usage Handbook, Style Guides, Lists of Mathematical
>Tables, Dictionaries, etc. On the other hand, Libraries have never
>suggested that if you bring your term paper in, they'll edit it for
>grammar.
>
>I'd like this list's thoughts on what the electronic cognate of such
>reference tools might be. Should Libraries only concern themselves
>with online versions of, say, the _Modern English Handbook_ or would
>it be correct for online libraries to _also_ offer grammar checkers.
>Would the online cognate of a handbook of math tables be a calculator
>program? Are grammar checkers and calculators not reference tools at
>all but services more properly left for IS folk?
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>--
>Tom Owens
>MIT Library Systems Office
>owens@mit.edu
>617-253-1618 voice 617-253-8894 fax
-----------
Rae Jean Wiggins * Reference Librarian * MIT Libraries * (617) 253-0787 *
raewig@mit.edu (Internet) * (617) 253-0642 (Fax)
