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- Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
- Path: sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!auvm!KENTVM.KENT.EDU!ZANE_CLARK
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- Approved-By: Diane Kovacs <DKOVACS@KENTVM.KENT.EDU>
- Message-ID: <9301222359.AA00206@zimmer.csufresno.edu>
- Newsgroups: bit.listserv.libref-l
- Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 23:45:09 EDT
- Sender: Discussion of Library Reference Issues <LIBREF-L@KENTVM.BITNET>
- From: zane_clark%csufresno.edu@Kentvm.Kent.edu
- Subject: Re: Use of the Internet in reference service
- Comments: To: libref-l@kentvm.kent.edu
- In-Reply-To: <9301222330.AA11803@gaudi.csufresno.edu>; from "Larry Schankman"
- at Jan 21, 93 9:27 pm
- Lines: 59
-
- ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
- .
- >
- > However, we all know that, that's why we're on this discussion list! What
- > I would rather comment on is the negative side of the coin: staff, and
- > unfortunately, management _resentment_ towards those of us who *do* use
- > the Internet for finding those same reference needs to which they would
- > just assume, and eagerly so, decline to pursue (too obscure or too
- > inconvenient).
- >
- > Though I shouldn't generalize, I have found among many fellow librarians
- > not only an unwillingness and/or fear of emerging technologies and
- > electronic sources of information, but even, as a defense, hostility towards
- > those pesky *computer types* who perhaps pose a direct threat to their
- > sense of security, if not their livelihood.
- >
- > I've also sensed from some a belief that perusal of the net is play
- > time and not appropriate for official library time (which is why I
- > usually do my networking at home or during lunch).
- >
- > Am I paranoid, or have others experienced the same?
- >
- > Larry Schankman
- > Valdosta State College
- >
- > P.S. Sorry if I turn the discussion off track.
- >
- Unfortunately Larry, you are not alone in this seeming
- 'paranoia' concerning the use of the Internet. I wonder if it could
- be a fear of the unknown? If this is the case how can we help them to
- 'know' in order to obviate their fears? We have a similiar situation
- here, with some unwilling to let the library take the lead in
- 'teaching the internet.' Our computer services on campus are doing a
- great job in the technical area in getting the whole campus wired into
- the campus network, but they do not have the time or the desire to
- teach Internet skills. I am going to try something with the library
- faculty to see if I can get them interested in 'networking.' I have
- just downloaded and printed the 'listserv' annotated list of
- conferences. I am going to make an abbreviated index to it to
- facilitate it's use. I am also going to find appropriate e-mail
- conferences for various depaartments in the library and send them the
- information on how to subscribe, and also let them know that their are
- over 800 conferences to choose from. Maybe I can make a few converts
- this way.
-
- --
-
- Zane Clark
- Library Instruction Coordinator
- California State University Fresno
-
- zane_clark@csufresno.edu
-
- ******************************************************************
-
- "Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without
- losing your temper or your self-confidence."
- Robert Frost
- ******************************************************************
-