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The World Wide Web: A New Medium for Professional Communications
Eric H. Schnell, M.L.S.

Discussion

There is little doubt that the use of the Internet has changed the manner in which librarians communicate. Library professionals in geographically-diverse locations communicate on a daily basis using electronic mail, LISTSERVS, and USENET newsgroups. World Wide Web technology not only has given libraries a new tool for developing electronic services, but also has provided librarians with another communications tool. Unlike all previous Internet communication tools, the Web allows librarians to become independent publishers of the very resources which are changing how information and knowledge is distributed. It provides librarians with an opportunity to investigate and develop new techniques for teaching, research, publication, and participation in professional service activities.

The Web has great potential as a medium to develop multimedia presentations, resources, and exhibits. However, librarians involved in such projects will require to learn new skills. Librarians with non-print skills, such as traditional media librarians, would seem to have an inside track in being responsible for developing such resources. If the library profession intends on being involved in developing multimedia Web resources then library schools need to provide students with opportunities not only learn Web document creation but traditional non-print skills as well. Even though such skills can be learned on the job, library science graduates with experience with media production and editing, graphical layout and design, and knowledge of the different media formats will be better prepared to take on such projects.

Newer Web software innovations such as CoolTalk and PowWow will also impact on future communication techniques. These programs, and future generations of multimedia software, have the potential to allow a patron to contact a live librarian from a workstation with a soundcard. The librarian could then assist the patron using an electronic whiteboard or by taking over control of the patron's Web browser to navigate them to a specific resource. The ability for libraries to provide services based on these technologies will also require a reliance on microcomputer specialists or librarians with media-based technical skills.

Finally, providing librarian Webspace is important in supporting the process of learning to use the Web as a communications tool. Perhaps more important is the need for librarians to be given work time to experiment with the tools used to create Web resources. It is all too common for librarians to be given the responsibility for managing and maintaining a Web site in addition to all their other responsibilities. If the profession wishes to develop librarians well-versed in Web technology, it is essential that libraries reallocate time and reorganize work tasks to include Web activities. The experience gained by providing librarians this opportunity not only can facilitate library Web development, but also can help to build the skills and experience needed to extend the use of the technology to all areas of librarianship, including professional communications.

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The text of this article is published by The Haworth Press, Inc. (10 Alice Street, Binghamton, New York 13905-1580) in IRSQ: Internet Reference Services Quarterly (The Journal of Innovative Information Practice, Technologies, and Resources) Vol. 1, Issue 4 (1996), Lyn Elizabeth Martin, Editor-in-Chief.

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