[10844] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
A librarian's fantasy of the Internet
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Al Mullen)
Fri Nov 22 20:37:30 1996
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 12:13:48 -0600 (CST)
From: Al Mullen <al@incolsa.palni.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I have been doing a lot of training in the area of using Internet for
reference, collection development with Internet, as well as use of the web
in general, and it has occurred to me that a resource that would serve some
needs of libraries would be a search engine site that only indexes documents
/ sites that meet minimum criteria, such as contains:
author
title
institution
date of publication
date of last modification
and perhaps others, but at least these. In conjunction with a coordinated
effort in the academic and professional library community, this could
contribute to the development of a searchable "database" of validated
resources.
Beyond this, identifying a means (like HTML standards) that "force"
incorporation of these elements would serve to extend this approach beyond
our niches with the goal of developing universal usage. Still further,
archiving documents and assigning classification numbers at LC (not using
Dewey or
LC, but simply a unique number, such as the LCCN) utilizing site collection
software to capture and update submitted resources, a brief forms-based
application process for web publishers and site managers, and massive
storage/indexing capacity on the part of LC,
would begin to serve the purpose of a "library of record" for documents and
resources that merit preservation for future access, since the Net will
probably never meet this need substantially on it's own devices.
"Retrospective" resources could be integrated into the resource if there
were sufficient cause to accept their validity, i.e. federal government
information.
Just a thought. Of course, my opinions are my own and don't necessarily
reflect those of the institution that I work for.
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Al Mullen, Library Technology Consultant for INCOLSA
al@incolsa.palni.edu
(800) 733-1899 (in-state)
(317) 298-6570 (phone)
(317) 328-2380 (fax)
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