LibraryLand is maintained by Jerry Kuntz from the Ramapo Catskill Library System, with the help of Roy Tennant at the UC Berkeley Library, and is housed on the Berkeley Digital SunSITE Server. LibraryLand has recently been revamped from a long list of library‐related Web links to a neatly organized and searchable Web site linking librarians to important professional resources.
At the top of the home page sits a search box allowing Boolean searching and truncation. A sampling of main headings that can be chosen from the home page include libraries (general), library profession, reserves, government documents, conservation, document delivery, library statistics, acquisitions, support staff, young adult services, genealogy and archives. Selecting one of these headings links you to resources specific to that topic. Worth special mention are the support staff, library statistics and libraries (general) headings. Selecting the support staff heading presents a list of informational links including an introduction and history of support staff in libraries, the ALA code of ethics and intellectual freedom statements, and Internet access policies. Also provided are links to informational resources on call numbers, library schools, e‐mail lists and publications, Internet tools, employment, events, and current news in the field. There is also a “tools for the job” section discussing OCLC and processing techniques and a page with links to personal home pages of support staff across the country. The Library Statistics heading links to the LIBSTATS Web site providing information and statistics on libraries divided into local, state, and national.
The most comprehensive heading is libraries (general) which presents you with a table split into the following categories: administration, audio‐visual, automation, children’s services, circulation, collection development, electronic resources, general library issues, Internet librarianship, music/art collections, outreach, reader’s advisory, reference, serials, and technical services. Each of these categories is further divided into sections including organizations, electronic discussion groups, e‐journals, etc. These sections vary for each category. For example, under the category administration is a section called policies where you will find links to existing library policies on long‐range planning, personnel, collection development, security, patron behavior, and disaster planning.
There is a continuing education section linking to conferences, library schools, and distance learning. A personnel management section includes job placement information and sections on grants, budgeting, and fund raising. There are also writing and speaking resources with links to such items as “elements of style” by William Strunk and “common errors in English” not to mention non‐errors in English ‐ “those usages people keep telling you are wrong but which are actually standard English.” Also helpful are “14 tips for sending effective press releases,” “tips for taking minutes,” and “simplified rules of order.”
The automation category includes links to vendors, hardware/peripherals and OPAC directories. The children’s services category includes information on children’s literature awards and bibliographies, reading programs and clubs, biographical information on children’s authors and illustrators, storytelling resources including “good read alouds for toddler storytime,” “guides to story reading,” and “puppetry resources.” Also included are curriculum and home schooling resources, children’s music, and parenting resources.
The circulation category provides links to mailing directories and addressing guidelines, a universal currency converter and shipping calculator, and inter‐library loan information. The collection development category has information on pre‐published materials and book publicity as well as weeding. Also worth mention is the Internet librarianship category providing links to HTML guides and editors, library Web site directories and design resources, scripting/ programming, organizing and cataloging the Internet and image/icon resources, with links to library‐related clip art.
LibraryLand is very well organized and easy to use, providing a search box at the top of every page. I experimented using search commands and have found that simple one‐word search strategies work best. After entering a search, LibraryLand presents you with a table listing the Web sites retrieved and how many files within each of these sites contain your search terms. Since LibraryLand is so well organized, I find it much easier to click my way through the selections of the site to get to the information I want than to use the search prompt.
Other important aspects to note through surfing the site, I came up with just a couple of “dead links.” It is mainly text‐based, allowing for quick loading of information; and, in true library style, there are “see also” references under each category. LibraryLand includes lots of information presented in a clear and concise format, making it a valuable resource for librarians. It is of great value to anyone working in libraries; and I suggest that librarians and library staff bookmark the pages that are specific to their respective specialties and departments.
The creators of LibraryLand have not missed a beat with this one ‐ it seems that they thought of everything. LibraryLand is very comprehensive and is updated regularly; I routinely find new links posted. I often find Web sites that I have never seen before such as “LOST ‐ Librarians’ Online Support Team” which provides online workshops, resources and instruction and discussion for librarians and their professional development. If you are thinking about creating a Web page for the librarians and staff in your library, all that is needed is a direct link to this site to do the job. I highly recommend LibraryLand to all library professionals and personnel.
