Volume 18, Number 4, December 1999


EDITORIAL

In Memory of Kevin Hegarty
JOE MATTHEWS and ROBERT W. WHITE

FEATURE ARTICLES

Getting Out of the HTML Business: The Database-Driven Web Site Solution
KRISTIN ANTELMAN
 
Computer-Based Graphics Tools for the Graphically Challenged
DAVID H. CARLSON
 
Visualization of Metadata
DONALD BEAGLE

COMMUNICATIONS

Electronic One-Stop Shopping: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
BRUCE HARLEY
 
In Search of Services: Analyzing the Findability of Links on CIC University Libraries' Web Pages
BARBARA I. DEWEY

TUTORIALS

Creating and Managing Webrings: A Step-By-Step Guide
CAROL CASEY
 

FEEDBACK


INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

Info USA
 
Library Technologies, Inc.
 
MIT Press

SOFTWARE REVIEWS

Index to Volume 18 (1999)
Kieth C. Wright

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EDITORIAL

In Memory of Kevin Hegarty (p. 175)
JOE MATTHEWS AND ROBERT W. WHITE

FEATURE ARTICLES

Getting Out of the HTML Business: The Database-Driven Web Site Solution (p.176-181)
KRISTIN ANTELMAN

Library Web sites have grown in size and complexity over the last several years without a corresponding growth in the sophistication of the underlying technology. Web managers are struggling to control their sites using only the primitive tool of HTML. Under this constraint, it is hard for the library to deliver information with multiple access points and via user-defined displays. CGI (common gateway interface) scripting, the tool traditionally used to deliver dynamic content, finds limited use on most library sites due to the programming skills necessary to support it. Fortunately, there are new tools available that allow Web managers with minimal technical skills to create database-driven Web sites and, at the same time, streamline the Web management process within their organization.

Editor's note: The full text of this article is available at http://www.lita.org/ital/1804_antelman.html.

Kristin Antelman (kaa@ahsl.arizona.edu) is Head, Systems and Networking, at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Library.


Computer-Based Graphics Tools for the Graphically Challenged (p.182-191)
DAVID H. CARLSON

Desktop computers are essential tools of librarians and library managers. However, use of these powerful and versatile tools focuses on a few key desktop personal productivity applications, especially word processing. Over the last few years, an important new and developing application is that of "business graphics." New computer-based graphics software tools, as well as graphics-based enhancements of more familiar applications, enable persons without graphics skills or expertise to make highly effective use of graphics in memos, presentations, and reports. An overview of these capabilities is presented. Current graphics software packages are examined in the areas of drawing and illustration, business, presentations, spreadsheets, and word processing. The article concludes with recommendations about the effective use of business graphics in libraries.

David H. Carlson (dcarlson@bridgew.edu) is Director of Libraries, Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Visualization of Metadata (p. 192-199)
DONALD BEAGLE

Visualization research has transformed the operating system environment of Web browsers and OPACs, but has not yet changed the way we manipulate content. The potential for visualization of metadata and metadata-based surrogates is discussed, including a command interface for metadata viewing, site mapping and data aggregation tools, dynamic derivation of surrogates, and a reintroduction of transient hypergraphs from the tradition of cocitation networking. Digital library research into query-specific instantiation through agents accessing a central metadata repository is also discussed in the context of potential synergies between querying, browsing, and group information sharing.

Editor's note: The full text of this article is available at http://www.lita.org/ital/1804_beagle.html.

Donald Beagle (drbeagle@att.net) is Associate Director of Library Services and Head of the Information Commons, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

COMMUNICATIONS

Electronic One-Stop Shopping: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (p. 200-209)
BRUCE HARLEY

One-stop shopping has been the operational theme for electronic information services offered by the San Diego State University Library since 1994. During this time, through partnering, the library's electronic information systems have evolved significantly. The evolution of these systems has had profound effects on library operations and services. This article explores not just the good, but the bad and the ugly of the library's one-stop shopping approach to the delivery of electronic information.

Bruce Harley (harley@mail.sdsu.edu) is Associate Librarian, Government Publications and Maps Division, Malcolm A. Love Library, San Diego State University.


In Search of Services: Analyzing the Findability of Links on CIC University Libraries' Web Pages (p. 210-213)
BARBARA I. DEWEY

This article examines Web-based services from the thirteen member libraries of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). Information was gathered from a survey of member libraries and from an analysis of each Web site. Particular attention was given to the placement and "findability" of service links on the sites. Successes and problems are summarized with suggestions for further individual and CIC-wide Web development focusing on services.

Barbara I. Dewey (barbara-dewey@ uiowa.edu) is Director, Information and Research Services, at the University of Iowa Libraries.


TUTORIALS

Creating and Managing Webrings: A Step-By-Step Guide (p. 214-224)
CAROL CASEY

As a means of collecting Web sites on a single topic into separate navigable universes on the Internet, Webrings are not only an alternative to a list of links, but to keyword search engines. Because of this, Webrings can be developed to enhance a library collection or support an educational curriculum. Unfortunately, the loosely structured instructions WebRing provides for establishing and managing Webrings makes the process more detailed and complicated than it really is. This article describes how to set-up and manage Webrings by clarifying these suggestions and suggests methods of streamlining the procedure.

Editor's note: The full text of this article is available at http://www.lita.org/ital/1804_casey.html.


Carol Casey (casey@mindancer.com) is Head of the Catalog Department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

FEEDBACK (p.225-227)

The two items that appear here constitute an exchange of ideas relating to two communications published in recent issues of ITAL. The original article prompting this exchange was published by Joan Cherry in volume 17, number 3 (Sepember 1998, available at www.lita.org/ital/1703_cherry.html). In volume 18, number 2 (June 1999, available at www.lita.org/ital/1802_crawford.html), we carried a response to Cherry written by Walt Crawford. That brings us to the two items here: a critique of Crawford's piece by Martha Yee, followed by a reply from Crawford.

Response to "Webcats and Checklists: Some Cautionary Notes"
MARTHA YEE

Editor's note: Full text of this item available at http://www.lita.org/ital/1804_yee.html.

Response to Martha Yee
WALT CRAWFORD

Editor's note: Full text of this item available at http://www.lita.org/ital/1804_crawford.html.


SOFTWARE REVIEWS - Bibliography Managers (p. 228-232)

Editor's Note: Full text of software reviews available at http://www.lita.org/ital/1804_software.html.

EndNote 3 (ISI ResearchSoft)
Reviewed by S. CLAPP, User Services, Bibliomation, Inc., Stratford, Connecticut.

ProCite 4 (ISI ResearchSoft)
Reviewed by J. CLAPP (j_clapp@hotmail.com), Reference Librarian, Enfield Public Library, Connecticut.

Reference Manager 9 (ISI ResearchSoft)
Reviewed by JENNIFER GOODSON (jennifergoodson@ouhsc.edu), Head of Access Services and Associate Professor, Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

 

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