Online Research

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"If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed." -- Chinese Proverb

An Introduction to Online Libraries

Here's a puzzle you'll have to use some lateral thinking to solve:

You're at the library leafing through Milton's Paradise Lost when you suddenly get really hungry. Without a moment's hesitation you tear open a monster-size bag of potato chips and start munching away. Wait -- don't you care how much noise each crunch makes? This is a library after all. Then your cell phone rings -- it's your best friend. No problem, you can talk, eat chips, and read at the same time. So, any minute you can expect a patrolling librarian to give you the "hush" treatment. Right?

Wrong. Exactly what kind of a library is this anyway? Give up? The answer is: it's an online library! Vast numbers of students and others interested in research are turning to online libraries -- and it's not just because you can talk as loud as you want or eat at your desk.

Did You Know?
You can find law libraries and medical libraries online. Even music libraries. A site like libraryspot.com can help you locate these specialized libraries.

Online libraries are more conveniently located than their brick-and-mortar cousins, and their doors are always open -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And what can you expect to find at an online library? Plenty of what you used to be able to find on one of the hundreds of shelves, including:

Where Do You Begin? All libraries are not created equal. This is as true in cyberspace as it is in the three-dimensional world. Some online libraries are simply Web sites giving a brick-and-mortar library a presence on the Internet. Other online libraries may contain specialized information, but little else. Some carry lots of e-texts, some do not -- and so on and so on with other comparable texts.

What if you're not sure what type of library you want to visit on the Internet? Or you'd like a better idea of what's available library-wise on the Net? A good place to start is an online portal like http://www.libraryspot.com. Think of this as a menu of different online libraries that are available to you on the Internet.

Next we'll take a look at some of the heavy hitters in online libraries.

Some of the Largest Online Libraries

These online libraries are behemoths and they're adding more dust-free digital shelves all the time. Bookmark these sites -- they may be the only online libraries you'll ever need.

The Library of Congress Online

The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is generally considered the largest library in the world, so you would expect its Internet presence to be impressive -- and you would be right. You can reach the Library of Congress on the Web at: http://lcWeb.loc.gov.

What you'll find there

When you log onto the Library of Congress you will see this screen:

Here's a list of some of the categories as they appear on the home page and what you can access under each category:

When you visit the Library of Congress' home page, be sure to check out the "About Our Site" section for even more highlights and tips on how to navigate the site.

The Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE

Here's another online library you won't want to miss. You'll find it on the Web at http://sunsite.berkeley.edu. Among the highlights of this digital library are:

The Internet Public Library

One of the easiest to use of the online libraries, this library was created exclusively for the World Wide Web. In other words, it has no bricks-and-mortar parent. You can log on to the Internet Public Library at http://www.ipl.org.

Once there you'll welcome the simplicity of the site's design, which makes it easy for you to access the information you're looking for. These are the categories you'll find listed under "Collections" at the home page:

Now that you've taken a virtual peek through the windows of some of the largest online libraries, why not take a virtual walk inside? Are you ready? We're about to take a tour of The Internet Public Library where we'll examine some of its Collections categories in greater detail.

A Tour of an Online Library

FYI
The Internet Public Library has received countless awards from such publications as the LA Times, USA Today and PC Magazine, among others.

If you want to feel more at home in the college library, it's a good idea to go there and walk around inside. If you want to feel more at home in an online library such as the Internet Public Library, all you have to do is take a virtual tour. 

The Tour Begins

You'll start your tour of the Internet Public Library by logging on to http://www.ipl.org.

Now let's walk around a bit, virtually speaking, and visit some of the categories under Collections:

The Reference Department at The Internet Public Library

Click on the reference category and you'll arrive at the following page:

What Can You Do Once You're There

Let's say, for example, that you want to look up some information about computers. You can do this in three easy steps

  1. From the reference page, click on "Computers & Internet".
  2. You'll arrive at the Computers & Internet Reference page. This page is full of dozens of links to computer-related resources from around the Internet. A short synopsis of what you'll find at each link is conveniently provided as well.
  3. Scroll down the page until you find an appropriate link and click on it. Now you are free to research the site you linked to. If you don't find what you want there, you can always hit the back button on your browser and select another link.

Remember, you can also access many of the virtual reference tools  through the reference center at The Internet Public Library. Browse a little and you'll find dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other handy reference tools.

On to the Exhibit Hall

The Internet Public Library also houses countless digital exhibits. Starting at the home page, follow these easy steps to view an exhibit:

  1. Click on "Exhibits"
  2. You'll arrive at the IPL Exhibit Hall
  3. Choose one of the three exhibits: Current, Featured, or Permanent.
  4. Find an exhibit that interests you and click on it to view text and images.

The Periodicals Room

You can read magazines and newspapers at the Internet Public Library too, and you never have to worry about the pages turning yellow. You'll find links to thousands of newspapers, organized by country, and thousands of magazines you can browse by subject or title.

Read a Magazine While You're There

To find a magazine, simply follow these steps:

  1. Click on "Magazines and Serials" on the homepage.
  2. You'll be brought to the Online Serials page. Here you can browse magazines by subject or title.
  3. Click on the magazine you want and read it online.

Or a newspaper

To find a newspaper at the Internet Public Library, follow these steps:

  1. Select "Newspapers" on the home page. You'll arrive at the Online Newspapers page.
  2. From there simply click on the state, or country (if outside the U.S.) of your choice and you will have access to countless online newspapers. 

There you have it. You've just taken a tour of an online library. But what about books? Didn't see those on your tour? Don't worry -- in the next section you'll learn how to access online books at the Internet Public Library and other places on the Net.

Checking Out a Book Online

Tired of lugging around that tattered copy of War and Peace? If you can't decide what's worse, the musty odor of its yellowed pages or the fact that it weighs three tons, you might be ready for an online book. Online books, also known as online texts or e-texts, are simply digital versions of their hardcover and paperback counterparts.

Where Do You Find E-Texts?

You can find e-texts at many of the larger online libraries. Two libraries with especially good online book collections are The Internet Public Library and The Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE. To save you time, the following links will take you directly to these online book collections:

How Do You Access an E-Text?

Say you finally decided to chuck that copy of War and Peace that's been attached to you like a ball and chain. Now how do you access the online version? Just follow these easy steps:

  1. First, access an online book archive like the one at The Internet Public Library. Link directly at http://www.ipl.org/reading/books/ to save time if you're just looking for books.
  2. You will arrive at the Online Texts Collection page. In the search entry box at the bottom of the page, type in "War and Peace" and hit "submit query."
  3. Find the title from the five search results displayed and click on it.
  4. You're there. Click on Chapter 1 and begin reading.

Other Places on the Net to Find Online Books

Here are some other places on the World Wide Web worth checking out if you're looking for e-texts:

Worth Checking Out

These are not libraries per se, but each one is a repository for free online books.

You'll get some e-texts free of charge at these sites, and you'll have the opportunity to purchase e-texts of current bestsellers or other books not in the public domain. These are definitely worth a look:

Okay, you've seen some online libraries -- even taken a tour of one -- and you know plenty of places on the Internet where you can find online books. But what if, during your Web research, you need the services of a librarian? Can you find a librarian online too?

Getting Assistance from an Online Librarian

Do you remember the scene in It's a Wonderful Life when Jimmy Stewart tried desperately to get Donna Reed to listen to him? You'll recall that in that scene, she was an older woman who had just closed up the library. Remember the cool reception Jimmy Stewart received from her. Too bad he couldn't have just e-mailed her. But then, she wasn't an online librarian.

Keep in Mind
Make sure you keep your email short and to the point when posting a question to an online librarian. This will increase the chances that it will be answered in a timely fashion.

Today, many online libraries accept e-mails that are answered by online librarians.

Some Places You'll Find Online Librarians

An Online Library, of Course

At The Internet Public Library, for example, you can get assistance from an online librarian by clicking Ask A Question at The IPL Reference Center. You'll fill out a form online with your question and e-mail it to the address provided. You'll receive your response by e-mail usually in a matter of days.

Ask ERIC Web Site

The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) provides assistance on how to formulate search strategies if you are have trouble formulating search strategies for their databases. To ask questions you would access the AskERIC website and click on the [Question & Answer Service] link.