The Library and Information Professional's Guide to the World Wide Web

Citation

(1999), "The Library and Information Professional's Guide to the World Wide Web", The Bottom Line, Vol. 12 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.1999.17012bad.001

The Library and Information Professional's Guide to the World Wide Web

The Library and Information Professional's Guide to the World Wide WebAlan Poulter, Gwyneth Tseng and Geoff SargentLibrary Association PublishingLondon1999

Keywords: Information services, Internet, Libraries, Professionals

This is a companion volume to The Library and Information Professional's Guide to the Internet by Gwyneth Tseng, Alan Poulter and Debra Hiom also published by Library Association Publishing. This introduction to the World Wide Web assumes no previous knowledge of the Web but does assume some basic knowledge of the Internet. The book is a guide on how to structure and publish information on the World Wide Web but does not include information on how to use a Web browser or how to search the Web. It is divided into four parts ­ each part has a narrative and an annotated resource list.

Part one discusses the history of the World Wide Web, the technology of the World Wide Web (HTTP, HTML and URLs), creating Web pages (tools needed, layout, using HTML, graphics, colors, sound and video), interactive Web pages, designing Web sites, and publishing Web sites. The narrative provides definitions and brief descriptions but does not attempt to provide step by step information for someone needing to learn how to set up a Web page. The resources listed in part three guides the reader to more specific information on each subject. All resources are Web sites with URLs. However, within the narrative books are frequently cited as sources.

Part two discusses World Wide Web applications in the UK libraries and information units. The authors suggest ways that libraries can use a Web site ­ to promote their image and services, to provide information about the library, to answer user questions, to offer tutorials to users, to offer access to the library catalog and leased databases, and to link to other Internet resources selected by the Library.

Part three provides a brief narrative on the technological developments in the World Wide Web including fundamental World Wide Web techniques, CGO and server-side scripting, and client-side programming.

This volume is most useful to the librarian who wants an overview of the World Wide Web and wants to understand the vocabulary and basic concepts. The resource section provides a way to gain a more thorough knowledge of any specific subject. Most librarians will want to read more than what is available here. But it serves as its title suggests as a clear, easy-to-understand introduction.