the internet public library using the internet public library: jennifer lau-bond user services

http://www.ipl.orgThe Internet Public Library

Using the Internet Public Library: http://www.ipl.org/

Jennifer Lau-Bond

User Services Coordinator

[email protected]


IPL History• Begun in 1995 at the School of

Information and Library Science (now School of Information)

• Started by a group of students and professors

• Designed as an educational experiment that has now continued for 10 years


What Is the IPL?

1. A website (http://www.ipl.org/) containing:

• Collections of nearly 45,000 links• E-mail reference service

2. An educational and research laboratory for librarians

– Majority of work is student-driven


http://www.ipl.org/


Collections at the IPL• Link to free online sites

• All links selected and reviewed by library science graduate students—must meet our collection policies

• Sites indexed and abstracted

• Subject collections as well as special features and exhibits


Collections: Subject Collections

Links organized by headings; browse down to further sub-

headings

http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/


Collections: Subject Collections

Examples:• “Social Customs, Traditions, & Folklore”

(under Social Sciences)http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/

soc70.00.00/

• “Sports” (under Entertainment & Leisure)http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/

ent80.00.00/


Collections: Ready Reference

Links to a variety of free reference tools such as dictionaries,

encyclopedias, maps,

biographical sources, and other sites.

http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/ref00.00.00


Collections: Ready Reference

Examples:• “yourDictionary.com” (under Dictionaries)http://www.yourdictionary.com/

• “The Inflation Calculator” (under Calculation & Conversion Tools)

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

• “Celebration of Women Writers” (under Biographies—Authors)

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/


Collections: Newspapers

Links to online newspapers from around the world. Includes papers in English and

other languages.

http://www.ipl.org/div/news/Under “Reading Room”


Collections: NewspapersExamples:

• “Michigan” (under United States)

http://www.ipl.org/div/news/browse/US.7007520/

• “Pakistan” (under Asia)

http://www.ipl.org/div/news/browse/PK/


Collections: TeenSpace

Separate section of the IPL for

teens. Includes learning

materials as well as

interesting and entertaining

sites.

http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/


Collections: TeenSpaceExamples:• “A+ Research and Writing”http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/aplus/

• “Money & Work” categoryhttp://www.ipl.org/div/teen/browse/mw0000/

• “Teen Writing” category (under “Reading & Writing”)

http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/browse/rw8000/


Collections: POTUS

Special collection about the

Presidents of the United

States, including facts

and links to other online materials.

http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/

Under “Special Collections”


Collections: POTUS

Examples:• “George Washington”

http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/gwashington.html

• “Dwight D. Eisenhower”

http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/ddeisenhower.html


Collections: Exhibits

Original online exhibits that include text, pictures, and

sound.

http://www.ipl.org/div/exhibit/

Under “Special Collections”


Collections: ExhibitsExamples:• “Music History 102”http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/

• “Pueblo Pottery”http://www.ipl.org/div/pottery/

• “Lighthouses: A Photographic Journey”http://www.ipl.org/div/light/


Collections: Blogs

Links to informative,

educational, or well-made

blogs, organized by

subject

http://www.ipl.org/div/blogs/Under “Special Collections”


Collections: BlogsExamples:• Bloglineshttp://www.bloglines.com/

• Weblogg-edhttp://www.weblogg-ed.com/

• Science Bloghttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/index.php


Collections: Pathfinders

Subject-specific guides that

offer research suggestions and point to free online,

subscription, and print sources.

http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/

Under “Searching Tools”


Collections: PathfindersExamples:• “Finding Statistics”http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/48530

• “Literary Criticism”http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/48496

• “New York City History: Primary Sources Online and Elsewhere”

http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/48514


Reference at the IPL• Service is free to all—questions from around the world

and people of all ages

• Questions answered by trained library students and professional volunteers

• Use free sites and sometimes refer to print or subscription sources (local resources when possible)

• Questions submitted on web forms for adults (http://www.ipl.org/div/askus/) and kids under 13 (http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/ask/refform.html)


Adult Reference Form: http://www.ipl.org/div/askus/


Teacher Questions1. Teachers refer students to the IPL reference service

for help (though we can’t help entire classes at once)

Actual Question: What's the easiest and quickest way to grow a crystal. the teacher said we could find information anywhere including the internet including the IPL. (from 9th grade student)

To see the response, visit:http://www3.ipl.org:2000/backroom/refvols/questions.html


Teacher Questions2. Teachers submit questions on behalf of a class to

gather general research suggestions/sources

Actual Question: Please tell as much about Lois Lowry, the author of The Giver as possible. I am teaching an eighth grade class and want to give my students sources they can use to learn about her.

To see the response, visit:http://www3.ipl.org:2000/backroom/refvols/questions.html


Teacher Questions3. Teachers ask their own work-related questions for

background research, lesson plan help, professional development, etc.

Actual Question: I am looking for sources for a research topic for my professional development class. I am researching "second language acquisition using computers" or "teaching ESL classes using computers vs. teaching ESL classes without computers" any sources - articles, books, etc. that you could provide for me would be helpful. I'm a teacher. Thanks.

To see the response visit:http://www3.ipl.org:2000/backroom/refvols/questions.html


Asking a Reference Question• We can’t accept medical or legal

questions or questions that need a response immediately (usually best to allow at least 3 days)

• Fill out question form completely

• Let us know if you’re a teacher (and at what level)


Have a reference question? Submit it using our online form:

http://www.ipl.org/div/askus/

Have more questions about what the IPL can do for you? Contact Jennifer

Lau-Bond, User Services Coordinator, at [email protected]

the internet public library using the internet public library: jennifer lau-bond user services

Documents