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Internet Librarian International 2003 Conference 25 – 27 March 2003 • NEC, Birmingham, UK Co-located with TLS, Total Library Solutions Exhibition, 26 & 27 March 2003 General Conference — Tuesday, 25 March
The Future of
Search Technology John M. Lervik, CEO & Co-Founder, Fast Search & Transfer, Oslo, Norway Look into the future of
the Internet, search-and-retrieval technology, and the world of electronic
information with John Lervik, an Internet visionary and successful entrepreneur.
John Lervik founded Fast Search & Transfer, one of the best known
Web search engine companies, in Oslo, Norway, in 1997 with a vision
for offering fast and efficient search and real-time filtering technology
solutions. AllTheWeb is Fast’s well-known public search engine, and
Fast search technology also powers search solutions at some of the world’s
best-known companies and ISPs, including Freeserve.com, Reuters, IBM,
and Reed Elsevier. Web search engines have changed the way librarians
and information professionals do their jobs. A recent informal survey
showed that search engines, not traditional online services, are the
starting point of choice for most librarians. In this thought-provoking
keynote, John Lervik offers a tantalising glimpse of new developments
in the world of Web search technology. Coffee Break
Moderator: Marydee Ojala, Editor, ONLINE Session A101 —
Getting Better Search Results
Alison Stacey,
Cambridge Regional College, UK
Search engines
are widely used to find information on the Internet, but it’s no secret
that many searches aren’t as effective as they should be. Technical misconceptions,
inappropriate search term choices, and inaccurate spellings contribute
to poor search results. Drawing on results of a recent study, Alison Stacey
identifies some problem areas in search engine usage, suggests strategies
to improve searches, and offers objective measures to assess individual
searches. Looking at how to get good searches from a different perspective,
Phil Bradley stresses not only search strategies, but how to evaluate results.
Session A102 —
Expanding Your Research Toolkit
Mary Ellen Bates, Bates Information Services, USA Every researcher
has a set of favorite tools. Good searchers know that each tool needs to
be used in the right way for the right search. As the saying goes, if all
you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Internet researchers
have many tools at hand, but sometimes they miss the best choice.
And sometimes the right tool isn’t really an Internet tool at all. The
basics of research—finding answers—can be overlooked if you focus solely
on tools and technology.
Lunch Break
Session A103 —
Finding Books and News on the Web
Paul Nieuwenhuysen,
Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Today the Internet
offers many options for finding books and news. How to discover books on
a particular subject or by a particular author? How to find a complete
bibliographic description? Should you look at bookseller databases, national
bibliographies, or shopbots? Paul Nieuwenhuysen’s analysis will help you
answer these book-sourcing questions. Newspapers, particularly obscure
regional ones or those from countries other than your own, present a different
set of challenges. And electronic news archives may vary greatly from their
print counterparts, depending on how they’re digitised. Learn from Peter
Chapman how to spot these differences and how to effectively tap into the
gold mine of news on the Web.
Session A104 —
Google Busting for Fun and Profit
Chris Sherman,
SearchWise, USA
The most popular
search engine on the planet is Google. There’s no argument that it
has a large database, provides search support for a variety of formats,
and returns sometimes surprisingly relevant results. But Google is not
the only search engine in the world. There are many others; some are highly
specialised, some are general. Chris Sherman and Gary Price, authors of
The
Invisible Web, explore strengths and weaknesses of the “other” search
engines, offering practical suggestions about when to choose a Google alternative.
Session A105 —
Google Busting for Fun and Profit (Continued)
Chris Sherman,
SearchWise, USA
Meet new friends and join your international colleagues to discuss topics of interest and brainstorm on solutions to common problems. These casual networking discussion groups will convene at the close of the formal Tuesday conference program. Enjoy a drink, great networking, and stimulating discussions on a range of topics, including: Adding Digital
Resources to Your Library
Changing Roles
for Info Pros
Information Literacy
Web Design &
Technology
Web Searching
Moderators: Darlene Fichter, University of Saskatchewan, Canada & Frank Cervone, Northwestern University, USA Session B101 —
Search-Friendly Web Design
Sandy Schlosser, New Media Project Manager, Consumer Reports Magazine, USA Can everyone find
your site? If it is not showing up among the top 30 results in major search
engines, you may have the best site in the world, but you’re not reaching
your target audience. This session explores ways to tweak your site design
to increase your visibility within major search engines. Learn the critical
importance of keyword selection, metatags, link text, and other Web design
elements that may affect search engine ranking, as well as the importance
of reciprocal linking.
Session B102 —
Web Site Quality & Longevity
QA for Web Sites
Surviving the End of Your
Web Project
Does your site
play well with others? Can you maintain it after initial launch excitement
is over? Does it age well? Will it last? Learn how quality assurance procedures
affect Web site designs. Become aware of the importance of standards in
developing interoperable digital library services—and understand some of
the difficulties in their implementation. However, even the most well-designed
site doesn’t guarantee continued usefulness. Ensuring the content of a
Web resource remains up-to-date is a crucial, but often overlooked, necessity.
Find out how to create a content-rich Web site that requires minimum attention
once it is completed.
Lunch Break
Session B103 —
Tools for Web Designers
Optimizing
Web Sites for Search Engines Vlink: An OpenURL Resolver
It's not enough
just to design a great site and hope searchers will beat a path to your
virtual door. It's crucial to apply search engine optimization (SEO)
techniques to assure that your content has a fighting chance of being found.
Learn the basics of SEO from Chris Sherman and understand the clearly-delineated
differences between legitimate, ethical techniques and the shady tactics
used by spammers to trick the engines. Similarly, links are part
of the magic of the Internet. Get an inside look at how Vlink, a
link-servier based on OpenURL works to guide users to relevant information
sources using context-sensitive linking, based on experience at the Vrije
Universiteit Brussel.
Session B104 —
Strategies for Designing Accessible Web Sites
Carol Carter,
Web Design Consultant, Jamaica, West Indies
Can everyone access
your site, even if they are visually or otherwise physically challenged?
It is becoming essential for Web designers and developers to create sites
for the changing demography of Internet users, such as persons with disabilities
and seniors. Designing accessible Web sites allows users to obtain and
use Web content globally. It also gives users the flexibility to present
and interact with Web pages according to their needs and preferences. Discover
the main benefits of Web accessibility and learn Carol Carter’s five strategies
for designing effective Web sites accessible by everyone. Jenny Craven
shares findings from the Non-Visual Access to the Digital Library project
(NoVA), which explored user behaviour in digital environments with particular
reference to people who are blind or visually impaired.
Session B105 —
Web Site Accessibility: Too Difficult to Implement?
Neil Witt,
Plymouth University, UK
It is often difficult
to raise concern about Web site accessibility without appearing to be
“politically incorrect.” In this provocative panel discussion, Lawrie
Phipps of the TechDis service argues that Web site accessibility can,
and should, be implemented. Brian Kelly, UKOLN, counters that although
accessibility is desirable, organisations cannot sign a blank cheque
for ensuring widespread accessibility, and that there is a need for
more open debate on what can and what can’t be achieved. David Sloan,
University of Dundee, suggests that one should not address the accessibility
of a Web site without also addressing its usability. Learn about some
of the realities needing to be faced to ensure Web sites comply with
accessibility guidelines and hear which approaches are being taken within
the UK higher education community.
Meet new friends and join your international colleagues to discuss topics of interest and brainstorm on solutions to common problems. These casual networking discussion groups will convene at the close of the formal Tuesday conference program. Enjoy a drink, great networking, and stimulating discussions on a range of topics, including: Adding Digital
Resources to Your Library
Changing Roles
for Info Pros
Information Literacy
Web Design &
Technology
Web Searching
Moderator: Mary Peterson, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia Session C101 —
The Collaboration of Cultures
Susan Yoder, Director, Integrated Information Services, Research Libraries Group, USA For researchers
around the world, accessing primary sources of cultural heritage is an
emerging area of importance. No matter what the language or culture, such
materials are often unique and difficult (or impossible) to access or view
directly. Susan Yoder describes RLG’s efforts to bring together a critical
mass of highly disparate sources of digitised material from a wide array
of contributors, whose needs, desires, and obligations varied widely, both
with respect to the content and to the populations they served. From Susan’s
hard-won experience, you’ll learn how to pinpoint issues that often become
problematic in cultural heritage projects, and how to find solutions.
Session C102 —
The Power of Resource-Sharing
RDN Subject Portals Project
Archives Hub
Imagine combining
the resources of more than 60 British educational and research organisations—or
providing descriptive access to thousands of British archives collections.
Collaborative resource-sharing and the enabling technology of the Internet
have turned these projects into realities. The Subject Portals Project
is developing portal services for 5 of the RDN subject gateway sites. These
will include a powerful cross-search tool covering over 50 data resources,
a streamlined authentication process, and user profiling. The project's
aim is to provide seamless access to high-quality information resources
tailored to particular subject areas. A British national Archive Network
is not yet a reality, but various pieces are falling into place. Get inspired
by these collaborative projects, and come away with an understanding of
the power of resource-sharing on any scale.
Lunch Break
Session C103 —
Libraries as Catalysts for Cultural Development
Scottish Cultural Portal
The COINE Project
The People’s Network
The language or
culture may vary, but the Internet has enabled libraries to become catalysts
for cultural development. A cultural portal in Scotland, a local heritage
digitisation effort, and a public library’s effort to go 24/7 are innovative
but doable ideas that can be replicated in countries around the world.
Hear about the policies and practical know-how—as well as the pitfalls—that
went into the development and implementation of these projects. Ask questions
and get nuts-and-bolts information and advice from these experienced project
leaders.
Session C104 —
The Global Internet
Irina Trushina,
Senior Researcher, National Library of Russia, Russia
Distance learning?
Library ethic codes? Technical difficulties? Sound familiar? Whatever the
country, no matter the language, Internet librarians around the world share
common interests and concerns. Join these international librarians and
find out how their interests intersect with yours, learn what they are
doing to solve problems, and hear about their projects, hopes, and dreams.
Session C105 —
The Next Generation: Internet Services & Projects for Children
Ask Olivia
A Guide for Writing Exercises
Internet Use in Taiwanese
Schools
Today’s children are the
Internet generation. Internet-based projects for children offer a glimpse
of the developing potential as this generation comes of age in a fully
electronic, networked world. The writing exercise guide done by the
Copenhagen Central Library and the Ask Olivia answering service for
children, developed by three cooperating Danish libraries and Danmarks
Radio, are two exciting examples. And Feng-Hsiung (Danny) Hou’s research
on the relationship between Internet use and organisational characteristics
of Taiwanese school libraries offers lessons learned that may be applicable
in other settings.
Meet new friends and join your international colleagues to discuss topics of interest and brainstorm on solutions to common problems. These casual networking discussion groups will convene at the close of the formal Tuesday conference program. Enjoy a drink, great networking, and stimulating discussions on a range of topics, including: Adding Digital
Resources to Your Library
Changing Roles
for Info Pros
Information Literacy
Web Design &
Technology
Web Searching
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