WebJunction (www.webjunction.org)
An “online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses – and have fun“ funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and created by a partnership of OCLC, the Colorado State Library, the Benton Foundation, Isoph, and TechSoup. A tremendous collection of documents on library technology topics and issues, links to useful web sites, discussion forums to find colleagues who have faced (and hopefully solved) the issues you are facing, course materials, and a host of other resources of interest to libraries.
Cites & Insights (cites.boisestate.edu/)
A monthly online publication which includes in-depth coverage of technology trends written by author and technology guru Walt Crawford of RLG. His observations and analyses of recent publications are a must scan!
NeatNew and ExLibris (marylaine.com/subscrib.html)
Two weekly publications emailed as one; interesting and topical Internet sites (NeatNew) and interesting commentary on library matters (ExLibris). Both are produced by Marylaine Block. While aimed at a broader library audience, there is often excellent coverage of technology-related matters.
Innovative Internet Applications in Libraries (www.wiltonlibrary.org/innovate.html)
Just as the title suggests, this site links to several examples of interesting ways to "save the time of the reader" using the Internet.
Top Tech Trends (www.lita.org/ala/lita/litaresources/toptechtrends/toptechnology.htm)
A bi-annual discussion of technology and library users by the Library and Information Technology Association's Top Technology Trends Committee (the discussions happen at the American Library Association's Midwinter and Annual Conferences).
ALA TechSource (www.techsource.ala.org/)
This site for ALA's technology publications has a blog with posts of trends and news in library technology.
It's All Good (scanblog.blogspot.com)
Personal reflections on “all things present and future that impact libraries and library users” from three staff members at OCLC. Interesting insights and thoughts with a technology focus.
The Shifted Librarian (www.theshiftedlibrarian.com)
Jenny Levine's blog, which focuses on helping librarians “shift” into understanding and using the information technologies that their patrons use.
ResourceShelf (resourceshelf.freepint.com/)
A daily updated library blog of “resources and news for information professionals.” Excellent focus on industry trends and online searching for all library types.
LibrarianInBlack (www.librarianinblack.net/)
This site is a blog written by Sara Houghton, E-Services Librarian for Marin County Free Library. It features “resources and discussions for the 'tech-librarians-by-default among us . . . “ A very useful site for postings on technological issues and trends in libraries.
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)
A collaborative online encyclopedia which includes articles on a wide range of subjects. Has excellent explanations of current technology topics.
Webopedia (webopedia.internet.com)
A searchable dictionary of computer and Internet technology terms. A very extensive source which includes a brief definition for each term along with links to related terms and Web sites that offer additional information. A number of entries also include diagrams or images.
CMP's TechWeb TechEncyclopedia (www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/)
A similar source to the Webopedia. Includes lengthy definitions of terms and links to related concepts.
WhatIs.com (whatis.com)
"Definitions for thousands of the most current IT-related words" and discussions of IT topics.
ODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science (lu.com/odlis)
An up-to-date dictionary of terms relating to library and information science which includes a number of entries relating to technology (compiled by Joan M. Reitz).
CNET Help.com (help.com/)
A collection of guides, documents, and discussions on various information technologies. Offers a variety of methods to find the advice or solutions you need.
Knowledge Hound (www.knowledgehound.com)
A directory of how-to information sites on a variety of subjects. The "Science and Technology" section has a number of subtopic areas that list useful guides for computers. the Internet, software, and more.
Dave's Guides (www.css.msu.edu/PC-Guide/)
The author of the site, Dave Krauss of Michigan State University, has put together a number of helpful guides and documents on buying various types of computers and then upgrading and troubleshooting them.
About.com Computing & Technology (about.com/compute)
This section of the About.com site includes collections of articles and links to additional web sites on various technology topics.
CNET (www.cnet.com)
This site includes lots of technology information, product reviews, how-to documents, and advice. It is the place to start when you are planning to buy computers or other technology items.
ZDNet (www.zdnet.com)
A very similar site to the one above, but another excellent source for product reviews and buying guides.
IDG.net (www.idg.net/)
This publisher site has a lot of technology news, but also brings together stories on technology developments and information on various types of products. The site allows keyword searches of online articles and documents from various IDG publications (Computerworld, Macworld, Infoworld, Techworld, etc.). There is also a technology topic index of recent news stories and links to the individual periodicals' sites.
Library Technology Guides (www.librarytechnology.org)
"The Library Technology Guides website aims to provide comprehensive and objective information related to the field of library automation." The site is an excellent source of library systems-related reports, articles, and trends. It includes a directory of library system vendors.
Librarians Online Warehouse (www.libsonline.com)
A searchable directory of over one thousand companies which sell library products. The companies can be browsed by products and services.
Library Resource Guide (www.libraryresource.com)
An annually updated directory of library services and suppliers compiled by Information Today, Inc.
The Librarian's Yellow Pages (librariansyellowpages.com)
A comprehensive listing of library vendors which may be browsed by type of product or service or searched by keyword.
Planning and Building Libraries (www.slais.ubc.ca/resources/architecture/)
A collection of links to vendors and projects relating to the construction and equipping of libraries.
Individual vendors can also be found through Google (www.google.com) or other search engines.
Web4Lib (Subscription information and archives at: lists.webjunction.org/web4lib)
A very active discussion group that focuses on Web-related technologies in libraries but regularly discusses other issues including public workstation setup, scanning, and search engine developments, to name but a few regular topics.
LM_NET (Subscription information and archives: www.eduref.org/lm_net/)
While this list focuses on school librarians and school library issues, many of the discussions have a strong technology focus (particularly electronic resources and educational technology). A highly active group.
LibWireless (Subscription information and archives: people.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/wireless/libwireless.html)
"The purpose of this group is to discuss libraries and all types of wireless technologies. This includes but is not limited to wireless LANs in libraries, accessing library resources via wireless devices, and related issues such as WLANs, wireless bookmobiles, etc."
DIG_REF (Subscription information and archives: www.vrd.org/Dig_Ref/dig_ref.shtml)
A thrice-weekly free e-mail that contains summaries of a variety of news stories covering trends and developments in information technology. A nice way to stay in touch with technology happenings beyond the library world.
There are many other library-related electronic discussion groups, including a large number devoted to specific technologies or products. A good resource for finding others is Library-Oriented Lists and Electronic Serials (www.wrlc.org/liblists/). You can also try a search in Google Groups (groups.google.com) to locate other library discussion groups that may be indexed there.
LISNews (lisnews.com/)
A blog of library-related news happenings that includes discussions which grow out of the individual postings. You can sign up for email updates of new postings.
Current Cites (lists.webjunction.org/currentcites/)
A free monthly e-mail which contains annotations of information technology articles and other items written by a team of librarians and library staff. An easy way to scan the professional literature for technology-related publications.
Free Pint (www.freepint.com)
A free newsletter that covers electronic information sources and searching techniques. It is mailed out every two weeks. While Free Pint started with a focus on business research, many of the sources are of general interest to those interested in Internet searching. As well, a number of technologies (e.g., handheld computers) are discussed that may be of interest to a more general audience.
Edupage (Subscription information and archives: listserv.educause.edu/archives/edupage.html)
A thrice-weekly free e-mail that contains summaries of a variety of news stories covering trends and developments in information technology. A nice way to stay in touch with technology happenings beyond the library world.
Computers in Libraries. Information Today, Inc. 10 issues per year. $99.95 (US). Web site: www.infotoday.com/cilmag/ (sample full-text articles are available). Feature articles on applications of computer technologies in libraries and reviews of technology products. Has a very practical focus.
Information Technology and Libraries. Library and Information Technology Association. Quarterly. $55 (US) (included with LITA membership). Web site: www.lita.org/ala/lita/litapublications/ital/italinformation.htm (table of contents and abstracts are available).
Feature articles on applications of information technology in libraries.
Library Hi-Tech. Emerald Group Publishing. Quarterly. $349 (US). Web site: www.emeraldinsight.com/info/journals/lht/lht.htm (sample full-text articles are available).
Feature articles on emerging technologies in libraries. A bit more research-oriented than Computers in Libraries, but the publication includes a variety of practical case studies as well.
Library Technology Reports. American Library Association. Bimonthly. $325 (US). Web site: www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/ (selected issues are available in full-text).
Extensive reviews, studies, and testing of various examples of library technology items, from integrated library systems to security products.
Online. Information Today, Inc. Bimonthly. $115 (US). Web site: www.infotoday.com/online/ (sample full-text articles are available).
Articles, reviews, and product information on databases and other electronic library resources. Also includes coverage of more general library technology issues, such as e-books.
TER: Technology Electronic Reviews. Library and Information Technology Association. Irregular. Free. Web site: www.lita.org/ter (full-text available)
This free e-publication provides “reviews of and pointers to a variety of print and electronic resources about information technology.”
American Libraries. American Library Association. Monthly (except for combined June-July issue). Institutional subscription: $60 (US) (included with ALA membership). Web site: www.ala.org/alonline/ (news stories and some columns (including the two mentioned below) are available in full-text).
Magazine for ALA members which includes excellent "Internet Librarian" and "Technically Speaking" columns along with occasional technology-related feature articles.
Information Outlook. Special Libraries Assocation. Monthly. $125 (US) (included with SLA membership). Web site: www.sla.org/content/Shop/Information/ (tables of contents for each issue are available).
A publication for SLA members which includes the technology column "Information Tech" as well as occasional technology-related articles.
Library Journal. Reed Business Information. 20 issues annually. $141 (US). Web site: www.libraryjournal.com/ (news stories and some columns are available in full-text).
This periodical includes articles on various library topics, but it is also noted for its reviews of books and media items. In addition to special articles on technology topics, it includes a number of technology-related columns: "Installations", "Industry News", and "E-Views and Reviews."
School Library Journal. Reed Business Information. Monthly. $124 (US). Web site: www.schoollibraryjournal.com/ (full-text news stories and sample articles are available).
A publication for school librarians which includes regular technology-oriented articles and product reviews.
In addition to the titles mentioned above, there are two excellent resources for finding technology information published in other library-related periodicals. The periodical index Library Literature and Information Science (H. W. Wilson Company; more information available at www.hwwilson.com/Databases/liblit.htm) is the gold standard in its coverage of the library and information science field. The Informed Librarian Online (www.informedlibrarian.com) is a unique resource for scanning the monthly output of some 275 library and information-related periodicals. The free version of the service provides a monthly email update to new issues with links to selected items. A premium service (an annual subscription is $29 for individuals and various institutional rates are available) provides full access to the tables of contents for the periodicals and adds access to a selection of full-text articles, a searchable archive of past issues, and a search interface to all linked periodical issues.
There are far too many to list here, but there are a number of good periodicals out there that may well help with a particular technology information need. They range from computing periodicals such as Macworld (www.macworld.com/) or PC Magazine (www.pcmag.com/) to broader technology titles such as Better Buys for Business (www.betterbuys.com) or T.H.E. Journal: Technological Horizons in Education (www.thejournal.com). These periodicals and others can be reached using a general periodical index (whatever you have access to) to find product reviews or information on a wide variety of technologies.
There is no comprehensive, national or international directory of library continuing education or professional development events. Some state organizations provide calendars for individual states or selected regions. Check with your state library or local or regional library organizations for assistance in finding a calendar of local events. The following resources can help you find events offered by national and international library organizations.
Yahoo! Listing of Library and Information Science Organizations (dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/Library_and_Information_Science/Organizations/)
The Yahoo! search directory's listing of various international, national, state, and local library and information science organizations. Look at the web sites of these organizations to see what conferences or professional development opportunities they are offering.
American Library Association Events (www.ala.org/events/)
A site listing conferences and meetings sponsored by ALA and its divisions (arranged by division or by date). American Libraries also has an online listing of its monthly “Datebook” (www.ala.org/ala/alonline/datebook/datebook.htm) which lists the future activities of various organizations.
Calendar of SLA Events (www.sla.org/calendar/)
A calendar of professional development opportunities offered by the Special Libraries Association and its chapters (it also has an advanced search interface).
While attending a program on a given technology or even visiting a vendor at a conference can be quite useful, there is nothing quite like seeing a technology at work in a library. Aside from just being neighborly and being aware of other libraries in your area, it pays to know who to visit to see new technologies at work. Here are some methods for tracking down local or regional libraries:
The World Wide Web Library Directory (www.webpan.com/msauers/libdir/)
An international directory of over 8800 libraries located in over 130 countries. Libraries may be browsed by country or searched by keyword.
American Library Directory (www.americanlibrarydirectory.com)
This source is an invaluable resource to locating libraries in the United States and Canada. The print version of the directory may be found in many libraries' reference collections. The online version offers a free registration option that allows users to search the directory and find library addresses.
National Center for Education Statistics: Search for Public Libraries (nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/librarysearch/)
An advanced search tool for locating public libraries in the U.S. and its territories.
Library of Congress: State Library Web Listing (www.loc.gov/global/library/statelib.html)
This page offers an alphabetical list of links to state library web sites. Most state libraries maintain directories of libraries in their state which can be searched by location or ZIP code.
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