Publishing on the Web: creating a local reference tool
| Date | 01 March 1999 |
| Pages | 63-74 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378839910267235 |
| Published date | 01 March 1999 |
| Author | Deborah R. Hollis,Margaret M. Jobe |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
63
Introduction
The commercialization of information, the growth
of a powerful private information sector engaged
in its purchase and sale, has become a dominant
feature of the US economy (Schiller and Schiller,
1986, p. 306).
Electronic publishing is extremely hot, with more
traditional publishers embracing the electronic
world every day (Matthews, 1995, p. 34).
However, considerable confusion and even mild
panic reign over areas such as distribution meth-
ods, access and pricing policies, copyright issues,
and the evolving roles and responsibilities of
authors, publishers, and traditional libraries
(Matthews, 1995, p. 34).
These quotes from the current literature suggest
that the information sector (and librarians) are
in disarray. However, libraries and librarians are
at the crest of the Internet wave – creating
Internet indexes, electronic text collections and
value-added reference products. This article
describes a combination of circumstances, both
planned and serendipitous, which led to the
creation of an electronic statistical abstract for
the State of Colorado. While some of the experi-
ences are unique, other libraries can use this
model to create an electronic reference product
for their local communities.
The Internet has grown, and has become
easier-to-use and more diverse. Until 1994,
commerce (sales and advertising) was banned
from the Internet (Coyle, 1998). Governments,
educational institutions, and the military were
the primary users of the network. The text-
based Internet was unattractive and difficult to
use. Use was restricted to a knowledgeable (and
brave) few. Web technology and graphical
browsers have eliminated many of the barriers
of complexity. With the introduction of com-
merce, the Internet matured from a potential
means of information delivery to an economic
force. Commerce helped expand the pool of
users and demonstrate the viability of wide-
spread adoption of the technology.
The US government has been a leader in
providing government information in electronic
format. GPO Access[2] and the Census
Bureau[3] were early leaders in providing feder-
al information on the Internet. State govern-
ments, however, proceeded more cautiously.
Although the technology had reached a level
where it was viable, necessary and sustainable,
Publishing on the Web:
creating a local
reference tool
Deborah R. Hollis and
Margaret M. Jobe
The authors
Deborah R. Hollis is Government Publications Librarian for
State and Foreign Documents, University Libraries, Boulder,
Colorado, USA.
E-mail: Deborah.Hollis@colorado.edu
Margaret M. Jobe is Government Publications Librarian for
International Documents, University Libraries, Boulder,
Colorado, USA.
E-mail: Margaret.Jobe@colorado.edu
Keywords
Academic libraries, Electronic publishing, Library services,
Reference services, Statistics
Abstract
With the aid of seed money from a federal grant, librarians at
the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU Boulder) developed
an online statistical abstract called
Colorado by the Numbers
(
CBN
)[1]. The last print version of the
Colorado Statistical
Abstract
was published in 1987.
CBN
provides updated socio-
economic data about the state and its counties on the Web.
Librarians have gone beyond the acquisition and mainte-
nance of traditional printed information sources to producing
tailor-made resources that meet the information needs of
their local community. The CBN design and management
model is discussed.
Library Hi Tech
Volume 17 · Number 1 · 1999 · pp. 63–74
© MCB University Press · ISSN 0737-8831
To continue reading
Request your trial