Evaluation of TwentySix Virtual State Libraries

1
Evaluation of Twenty-Six Virtual State Libraries

• Amber Collins
• LIS 693
• July 22, 2002

2
Libraries on the Web

• University of California Berkeley has compiled
  a list of state virtual libraries at
  http//sunsite.berkeley.edu/Libweb/usa-state.html

• Each of these virtual libraries offers online
  access to various collections
• Often these include the Public Library Catalog,
  Government Links, and sometimes Academic School
  Library Catalogs, as well as links to various
  websites they deem useful.

3
Evaluated Libraries

• Access Colorado Library and Information Network
• Alabama Public Library Service
• Alaska State Library Service
• Arizona Department of Library Archives and Public
  Records
• California State Library
• Connecticut State Library
• Delaware Division of Libraries
• Florida Division of Library Services

4
Evaluated Libraries

• Georgia Public Library Services
• Idaho State Library
• Illinois State Library
• Indiana State Library
• Kansas State Library
• Kentucky Department for Libraries Archives
• Library of Michigan
• Library of Virginia
• Maine State Library

5
Evaluated Libraries

• Massachusetts Library Information Network
• Mississippi Library Commission
• Missouri State Library
• Montana State Library
• Nebraska Library Commission
• Nevada State Library Archives
• New Hampshire State Library
• New Jersey State Library
• Hawaii Virtual Library
• -- Not linked to Sunsite directory
• -- http//netlibrary.net/Hawaii.html

6
Criteria for Top 3 Virtual Libraries for Schools

• Ease of Navigation
• Clearly designated Kids section
• Easy to understand the categories
• Included useful links for homework research as
  well as fun links
• Links were not broken

7
Top 3 Virtual Librariesfor Schools

• Access Colorado Library Information Network
  http//www.aclin.org/
• 6 easy buttons to choose from including Kids,
  Parents, Teachers
• Categories are easily understood
• Can search by title, category, or keyword

8
Top 3 Virtual Librariesfor Schools

• Georgia Public Library Service --
  http//www.gpls.public.lib.ga.us/
• PINES catalog Public Library Catalog
• Just for Kids section
• Lots of graphics
• Easily divided into categories which then link to
  actual call numbers book records
• The records located are NOT restricted to
  childrens books

9
Top 3 Virtual Librariesfor Schools

• Delaware The Digital Library of the First State
  http//www.lib.de.us/
• DelaWeb Links
• Kids, Education Government sections
• Includes links for Homework Help, Sports,
  Entertainment, Clubs, and Preschool Activities

10
Other Honorable Mentions

• Great tools for Librarians
• California State Library -- http//www.library.ca.
  gov/
• Kentucky Department of Libraries Archives --
  http//www.kdla.state.ky.us/
• Library of Virginia -- http//www.lva.lib.va.us/
• Teacher Resources
• Kansas State Library -- http//skyways.lib.ks.us/k
  ansas/KSL/
• Student Teacher Resources through the
  BlueSkyways Link
• Fun Kids Pages/Links
• Library of Michigan -- Michigan Electronic
  Library -- http//www.libofmich.lib.mi.us/
• Not as well organized as some but fairly easy to
  understand
• Arizona State Library, Archives, Public Records
  ABOUT ARIZONA for KIDS http//www.dlapr.lib.az
  .us/
• Fairly extensive links with explanations of
  categories

11
Questions?