An Introduction to the Internet

Service Ideas

Searching Finding

Enhanced OPACs

Including plot synopses, author biographies, reviews, links to similar books, related information sources, cover shots, etc. An enhanced OPAC, accessible from outside the library building, would enable those who are unable to get to the library, e.g. the housebound, to make more informed book selection choices.

• The Amazon Internet bookshop is an example of this 'enhanced OPAC'.
• It is possible to reserve books via the library's web catalogue at Suffolk libraries.

Reader profiles

Profiles of people's reading patterns can be established and push technologies can be employed to email suggestions of titles and/or authors to customers.

• An example of this is the Amazon service.

Subject Gateways

Subject gateways are provide a collection of quality assured resources.

• SOSIG is an example of a gateway to resources on social sciences.

Literature promotion

Online book discussion groups.

• Wired for Books is such a discussion forum.

Interviews (including live online interviews by email or video conferencing) with authors.

• Barnes and Noble organise online events.
• Interviews with authors can be found on the Authors Speak site.

Interactive activities based on a work or character, particularly for children.

• Treasure Island is a site that UKOLN has developed.

Learning online. E.g. online creative writing, literature appreciation classes. New ways of reading and writing, i.e. non-linear, hypertext offers readers multiple choices, different beginnings, middles and ends.

• Writers Block is an example of a creative writing site.

Readers book reviews published on the library web site.

• Richmond-upon-Thames publish readers reviews on their Beyond the Net site.

Development of literacy skills. Online services may encourage non-readers to read and those with little IT skills to develop them.

• The National Year of Reading web site provides educational resources.

Co-operative promotions with other libraries and organisations online.

• Lit-Net offers a range of literature services It is a managed by West Midlands Regional Library System and Birmingham Libraries with funding from West Midlands Arts. It is also part of EARL.

Access to multi-cultural resources held in other locations.

• The Chinese Library Subscription Service provides access to their catalogue (and some community language resources).

Resources for library staff.

• Net Notions for Libraries provides examples of ways of exploiting networking in libraries.