Internet Books for Learners and Trainers

Internet Books for Learners and Trainers

Keywords Internet, Learning, Training

Internet Books for Learners and Trainers

Library Solutions Press, Berkeley, California (www.library-solutions.com)

This review looks at eight books published by Library Solutions Press. All are concerned with learning and teaching the Internet. The specific titles [ISBN prefix: 1-882208] are:

1. 1.

   Jaffe, L.D., Introducing the Internet PLUS, 2nd ed. [-08-0].

2. 2.

   Peete, G.R., Business, Government and Law on the Internet, 2nd ed.[-24-2].

3. 3.

   Clement, G.P., Science and Technology on the Internet [-12-9].

4. 4.

   Junion-Metz, G., K-12 Resources on the Internet, 2nd ed. [-22-6].

5. 5.

   Tennant, R., et al., Practical HTML: A Self-paced Tutorial [-19-6].

6. 6.

   Jaffe, L.D., All about Internet Mail [-20-X].

7. 7.

   Gould, C., Searching Smart on the World Wide Web [28-5].

8. 8.

   Tennant, R. et al., Crossing the Internet Threshold, 2nd ed. [-07-2].

With the exception of the last book listed, all the titles form part of the company's Internet workshop series, now well established. Most of the volumes come with one or more disks of practice exercises, bookmark lists, overhead slides or other supporting material for the trainer or trainee.

The books are largely based on actual tutorials carried out by staff of the Library Solutions Institute, which has been offering training programmes worldwide since 1991. The texts are kept up to date by issuing small print runs with frequent revisions and with updates via the WWW. Some of the authors can also be contacted directly via the Internet.

Most of the books are available in two editions: a learner's edition and a PLUS edition which contains additional material for trainers (the PLUS editions were sent for review). The PLUS editions provide a model training tool complete with lecture script, handouts and exercises that can be adapted as required.

At a time when the Internet has become such a part of all our lives, and where the pace of development never slackens, it is reassuring to know that series such as this one are available to the library and information worker, whether as student or as trainer. Given that there is still a great need to train ourselves and our users in effective use of the Internet, the "plug-and-go" lecture and workshop sessions are especially useful for the hard-pressed information librarian, whose job is so often to guide and instruct.

The generic titles in the series are a good start for anyone wanting to gain confidence in using the Internet. The text is in plain English, and the exercises are clear and effective in their application. There are comprehensive glossaries of key Internet terms and practical advice on such subjects as how to get connected and "netiquette". The same is true of the specific titles on HTML, e-mail and searching the web. The HTML text is a very effective way of teaching yourself how to create web pages: I found it very helpful. Similarly, Jaffe's book on e-mail covered all the essentials, as well as giving useful descriptions of key e-mail systems.

Looked at in the context of the series as a whole, the subject-specific titles seemed repetitive, with much of the text covering generic rather than subject-specific issues and topics. However, if used in "stand-alone" mode, then the general introductions do make sense as a way of setting the context for the subject-specific content. The K-12 book will be particularly useful for school and college librarians. The business, government and law text seemed particularly comprehensive, while I was impressed by the way in which the author of the science text meshed generic descriptions of Internet facilities with subject-specific content.

The additional material (bookmarks, overhead slides, lecturer's texts and tips, etc.) will also pay careful study, especially if one is a hard-pressed needing to develop web links, a course, handout or other similar material. There is much that can be used here, with only minimal adaptation.

In sum, the publishers should be congratulated on producing such a practical series, so clearly based on real-life experience of library trainers. It is to be hoped that the series can continue and that the Internet links with the authors and series producers can continue to be developed. Highly recommended, especially for the generic material which the series contains and the publishers' intention to keep themselves, the profession and library users up to date at a time when we must all keep abreast of developments in this key area of activity.

Dr David BakerPro-Vice-Chancellor,University of East Anglia, Norwich, England