"Creating Cyber Libraries: An Instructional Guide for School Library Media Specialists" by Kathleen W. Craver

This guide outlines the steps library media specialists can take to create a cyber library, provide content and policies for use, and maintain it for maximum efficiency.

As prices of traditional library materials increase, and space to house them shrinks, savvy school library media specialists are creating cyber libraries, or school libraries on the Internet. These libraries offer students and their parents 24-hour access and are invaluable for providing up-to-date information in a way traditional materials cannot.

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
1—CYBER LIBRARY GUIDELINES
Mission Statement
Cyber Library Specific Goals
Cyber Library Users
Proposing a Cyber Library
Garnering Administrative Support
Planning the Approach
Single School Team Approach: Advantages
Consortial Approach: Advantages
Building a Team
Technical Needs
Free Cyber Library Option: Advantages and Disadvantages
Cyber Library Hosted Option: Advantages and Disadvantages
Cyber Library On-Campus Option: Advantages and Disadvantages
Technical Design Options
Budgeting for a Cyber Library
Cyber Library Deadlines and Beta Testing
Cyber Library Contents
Cyber Library Content Categories
Free Web Sites
Internally Developed Content
Internally Developed Interactive Services
Private Services/Electronic Resources Library
Cyber Library Design and Style Guidelines
Contents Organize the Information
Searching for a Physical Design and Navigation Routes
Building a Cyber Library Template
Cyber Library Artistic Guidelines
1—CYBER LIBRARY GUIDELINES (continued)
Cyber Library Finishing Details
Recommended Internet Sites
Mission Statement and Specific Goals
Technical Needs
Cyber Library Contents
Cyber Library Design
Cyber Library Artistic Guidelines
References
2—CYBER LIBRARY POLICIES
The Need for Policies
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Ease of Use
Internet Use
Internet Collection Development
A Single Team or Consortial Approach
Separate or Integrated Policies
Flexibility and Boilerplate
Assessing Programs and Services
Types of Policies
Library Web Development Policy
Web Template Policy
Internet Use Policy
Internet Collection Development Policy
Cyber Library Web Privacy Policy
Copyright Policy
Recommended Internet Sites
Web Template Policy
Internet Use Policies
Internet Collection Development Policy
Privacy Issues
Copyright
Copyright Policy
References
3—CONSTRUCTING WEB LIBRARIES
Web Library Benefits
Web Library Disadvantages
Overcoming the Disadvantages
Subject Scope Guidelines
Web Library Construction: Single Team versus Consortial Approach
Web Library Decisions: Adapt or Adopt
Web Library Browsing Hierarchies
Subject Hierarchies Guidelines
Web Library Content Descriptions
Web Library Size
Web Library Access Points
Search Engines
Search Engine Benefits
Search Engine Caveats
Web Library Wish List
Web Library Collection Mining: Print Resources
Recommended Internet Sites
Outstanding Subject Hierarchy and Collection Mining Sites
Internet Review Sites
References
4—USING PORTALS
What Is a Portal?
The Purpose of Portals
Types of Portals
Portal Advantages and Disadvantages
Portal Pricing Arrangements
Portal Selection Criteria
Free Education Portals
Free and Subscription Education Portals
Library Portals
Recommended Internet Sites
Portals
References
5—ACQUIRING FEE-BASED CYBER LIBRARIES
First-Generation Cyber Libraries
Second-Generation Cyber Libraries
Third-Generation Cyber Libraries
Rationale for Fee-Based Cyber Libraries
Fee-Based Cyber Libraries: Benefits
Fee-Based Cyber Libraries: Issues and Concerns
Fee-Based Cyber Library Selection Criteria
Future Fee-Based Cyber Library Developments
Recommended Internet Sites
References
6—ESTABLISHING REMOTE ACCESS TO SUBSCRIPTION RESOURCES
Expanding Access to Subscription Resources
Licensing Arrangements
Technical Concerns
User Authentication
School-Based Authentication Approach
Consortial and Multischool Authentication Approach
Authentication Choices
IP Address Verification
IP Address Verification Limitations
Proxy Servers
Proxy Server Limitations
User-Account Authentication
User-Account Limitations
Security Issues
Recommended Internet Sites
References
7—CREATING CYBER READING ROOMS
What Is a Cyber Reading Room?
The Purpose of a Cyber Reading Room
Cyber Reading Room Opportunity
Experience Economy
Experience Economy Divisions
Cyber Reading Room Content Questions
Cyber Reading Room Size and Scope
Suggestions for Educational Experiences
Suggestions for Entertainment Experiences
Suggestions for Escapist Experiences
Suggestions for Esthetic Experiences
Recommended Internet Sites
References
8—PROVIDING CYBER LIBRARY INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
Internet Instructional Challenges
Student Information-Seeking Behavior
Web-Based Instructional Advantages
Web-Accessible Instructional Limitations
Web-Based Instructional Criteria
Cyber Library Instructional Services
Orientation/Tour
Workshops for Faculty or Parents
Quick Tips
Personal Services
Reference Assistance
Subject Guides/Pathfinders
Tutorials
Designing Tutorials
Tutorial Coverage
Materials for Classes
Webquests
Web Rings
Recommended Internet Sites
Materials for Classes
Information Literacy
Reference Services
Subject Guides/Pathfinders
Tutorials
Webquests
References
9—MANAGING AND EVALUATING CYBER LIBRARIES9
Maintenance Needs
Stage-One Cyber Libraries
Stage-Two Cyber Libraries
Stage-Three Cyber Libraries
Striking a Balance
Technical Internal Maintenance Issues
Technical External Maintenance Issues
Educational Maintenance Issues
Financial Maintenance Issues
Professional Maintenance Issues
Cyber Library Evaluation
Cyber Library Design Evaluation
Cyber Library Automated Usability Tools
Cyber Library Personalized Usability Tools
Usability Questions
Cyber Library Evaluation Caveats
Recommended Internet Sites
Maintenance-Related Sites
Evaluation Sites
References
10—PROMOTING CYBER LIBRARIES
The Need for Promotion
Promotional Barriers
Developing a Promotion Plan
Promotion Issues
Promotion Team Members
Promotional Tools
Twilight or Daylight
Recommended Internet Sites
Announcement Sites
Promotional Ideas Sites
References
BIBLIOGRAPHY
LINKS CITATION LIST
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR


About the Author
Kathleen W. Craver, Ph.D., is Head Librarian at the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. Dr. Craver is the author of School Library Media Centers in the 21st Century (Greenwood, 1994), Teaching Electronic Literacy (Greenwood, 1997), and Using Internet Primary Sources to Teach Critical Thinking Skills in History (Greenwood, 1999), which won the 2000 American Association of History and Computing Book Prize.