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The World Wide Web: A New Medium for Professional Communications
Eric H. Schnell, M.L.S.
Introduction
The introduction of the Web into libraries not only has had effects upon the services
they provide, but also upon the roles of librarians. At first, librarians were hunters and
gatherers of Internet resources, maintaining notebooks and electronic bookmarks filled
with URLs and Gopher addresses of useful reference sites. Now, librarians have
become active developers and participants in Web projects. They create hypertext
documents using HTML, organize and compose Web sites based on their knowledge of
patrons' habits' and informational needs, and create CGI scripts, which requires
knowledge or understanding of programming languages. The same skills and methods
used for extending patron services can also be applied to facilitate communications
within the library profession.
The intent of this paper is to provide an overview of techniques which librarians can
use to apply the World Wide Web as a communication medium. The concept of
establishing an electronic work space, or Webspace, is first introduced. The paper
then outlines how librarians can use the Web to design and deliver live presentations
and electronic exhibits. It goes on to discuss how Web communication techniques can
be applied to participation in professional service activities. Finally, this paper
discusses the role of the Web in publication and scholarly research in the library
profession.
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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.
Page URL: http://bones.med.ohio-state.edu/eric/papers/irsq/intro.html