How to become an Internet power user …
By Larry Schankman
evolving phenomenon, still in its infancy. New … or the seven habits of highly software and searching tools gain preeminence successful Internauts quickly. Keep in top form by monitoring the latest news and trends affecting the nets. Talk to computer center staff to assure that your ower. That’s what we really want from organization’s mainframe or host server utilizes P the Internet, right? We want information, the latest protocols and services. Read regu and we want it now! As librarians, we are ex larly at least one Internet magazine,1 and sub pected to share our skills with others. Ulti scribe to a current awareness discussion group mately, our goal is not just simply to provide or listserv (see sidebar). people with the information they desire, but 3. Power users network with colleagues the knowledge of how to find that information and monitor issues and news within their themselves. areas of interest. Find a listserv or usenet But most of us are not technicians. Our pri group which shares your interests. Monitor the mary concern is not with protocols, technol discussions and become active yourself. Power ogy, or keystrokes. Rather, we seek pure in users are not passive lurkers. Network with your formation, regardless of format. Naturally, we peers; it is easy, fun, and rewarding. Down must know how to find it ourselves. Following load current copies of the Directory o f Schol are some tips based on what I call the seven arly Electronic Conferences or Charles Bailey’s habits of highly successful Internet users. List o f Library-Related Lists a n d Electronic Se 1. Power users recognize that patrons rials to identify lists (see sidebar). want information, not just a physical ob 4. Power users search the Internet effi ject (i.e., book or journal). Let’s face it, most ciently with tools such as Veronica, Archie, libraries don’t have everything. The Internet Aliweb, and WAIS. Don’t let the silly termi provides (connected) librarians with equal ac nology intimidate you. One minute with cess to public-domain information and data. Veronica, Archie, or one of the equivalents in Regardless of how we feel personally about World Wide Web (e.g., Aliweb, WWW Worm, computers and the so-called virtual library, our or Web Crawler) can save hours of manual patrons need us to provide them with timely searching. Most gophers offer Veronica search information. Librarians are trained in the ing of files and directories throughout the In practicalities of retrieving, organizing, and pre ternet somewhere within their menu structure. senting information to effectively resolve a Archie searches mostly files in ftp archives.2 patron’s need for knowledge or personal em Several of the better gophers place these fea powerment. A positive attitude towards this ture conveniently on the opening screen.3 power helps us both individually and as a pro If you don’t see the actual word Veronica‚ fession. you can find it among such menu items as All 2. Power users comprehend techno the Gophers in the World, Search All of babble and know all the latest trends in Gopherspace‚ or Other Gopher and Informa Internet access. Today’s Internet is an ever- tion Servers. After you select the Veronica option,
Larry Schankman is reference librarian at Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania; e-mail: [email protected]
718/C&RL News you might have to specify a particular host quire special connections or a Local Area Net (there are only a few Veronica databases world work, and some knowledge of URLs, Uni wide4). Eventually you will see a prompt at versal Resource Locators). Read one of the which you can type keywords (e.g., Haiti and many books6 or free how-to guides to be Clinton). Veronica will not only locate files, come familiar with these resources (the directories, and objects (sounds, videos, pic sidebar lists some gopher sites with collec tures), but will even connect you to the appro tions of such guides). priate site after you highlight and select one of Examine all the menu choices to gain inti the hits. Note that not all Veronica sites index macy with the directory structure and informa all resources, and many sites are often busy, so tion content. Keep a notebook with screen you may need to try several sites. prints or written path directions near the refer 5. Power users distinguish themselves ence desk. Navigating the Internet is just like by their apparent ease and mastery in lo finding your way in a new town: initially you cating new resources. New gophers and web need to ask for directions and consult maps, servers pop up daily, though most mirror the but eventually you’ll know your way around same master sites. Some power users memo instinctively, short cuts and all. The following rize dozens of Internet addresses and glide are my favorite gophers in order of preference: along the keyboard effortlessly. That’s power. • honor.uc.wlu.edu 1020 [must include the But this is not a test, we can use a cheat sheet. number] Dozens of books, lists of lists, and directories5 • vienna.hh.lib.umich.edu exist (see the sidebar). Compile your own list • gopher.cic.net (see especially the Re to suit your needs and keep it near the refer source Discovery Tools directory) ence desk. • nysernet.org 6. Power users are not intimidated by • gopher.uidaho.edu. th‹ quantity and diversity of information sources. At first find just one good, uncompli If your organization does not have gopher cated site, preferably a gopher since they’re capability telnet to one of several “public” go easy to use and require only a basic Internet phers (ask your support technicians to explain hookup (graphical programs like Mosaic re your options). When prompted for a login, most
The main menu of Washington and Lee University’s “Honor” gopher.
December 1994 / 719 Guides to cyberspace
Guides to download • List o f Lists Resources. Available for brows In addition to the growing number of books ing or searching via gopher at cwis.usc.edu in and articles about the Internet, several guides directory = Other Gophers and Information are available for searching and downloading Resources/Gopher-Jewels/Internet and Com over the Net itself. The following gopher sites puter Related Resources/Lists of Lists Resources. are very useful since they provide ready access • Netstuff an d Bestgo4 Lists. Available via to many of the better resources in one place: ftp at ftp.clark.net in directory = /pub/lschank; • gopher.cni.org (directory = Coalition FTP download compressed WordPerfect version Archives/Publicly Available Documents/Guides (use the binary command) with extension .zip to Network Use) or older ASCII version with extension .asc. • gopher.internic.net (several great choices Another way to get a list of lists via e-mail is in directory = InterNIC Information Services) to send the following message to any listserv • gopher.uidaho.edu (directory = Com host: list global‚ or more precisely, list global/ puter and InternetDocumentation) ‹keyw ord›. For example, the message “list glo • library3.library.carleton.ca (directory = bal/geography” to [email protected] Electronic Resources/Internet Guides) yields a list of several discussion groups con • refmac.kent.edu (directory = Internet cerned with geography. Training and Information). Useful listservs Lists of lists To subscribe to most listservs, leave the sub Among the many guides that will help you ject line blank and send as a message: sub become a power user are the following lists of scribe ‹list name› ‹your first name› ‹your last lists. Again, Veronica will help you find spe name›. Example: subscribe govdoc-1 jane doe. cific information. Note: Save the subscription verification let • Charles B ailey ’s List o f Library-Related ter for future reference; it explains how to post Lists a n d Electronic Serials. Available above or messages, unsubscribe from the list, search, etc. also via telnet (login = mlink) at vienna.hh. • gopher-jewels: announces new gophers lib.umich.edu in directory = Libraries and Li and services. Send one-word message of “sub brarianship. scribe” (no name) to: gopherjewelslist- • Directory o f Scholarly Electronic Confer [email protected]; searchable via gopher ences (includes listservs, news groups, elec at cwis.usc.edu in directory = Other Gophers tronic journals, etc.). Available via e-mail at and Information Resources/Gopher-Jewels. [email protected] with message: get • net-happenings: current awareness ser acadlist file n f=mail, where n = vice consisting of posts mostly from other lists; 1 (Education and Library and Information announces new Internet tools and sites, con Science) ferences, and services for educators. Warning: 2 (Humanities: part one) generates large number of daily postings. Sub 3 (Humanities: file two) scribe to: [email protected]. 4 (Social Science) • newnir-1: announces new Internet re 5 (Biological Sciences) sources; provides good current awareness with 6 (Physical Sciences) a manageable number of messages; gopher 7 (Business, Economics, Publishing and archive at govan.cent.gla.ac.uk in directory = News) Software and Mail Archives/University of 8 (Computer Science) Glasgow Mail Archives. Subscribe as e-mail to: 9 (Social, Cultural, and Political Aspects of [email protected]. Computing; Academic Computing Sup • scout-report: weekly announcements of port). new Internet resources and services; search It is also searchable online by keyword or able gopher archive at is.internic.net in direc subject via gopher at refmac.kent.edu (choose tory = InterNIC Information Services/Scout Re from main menu) and many other sites, or ftp port. Subscribe as e-mail to: majordomo@ from ksuvxa.kent.edu in directory = library is.internic.net.
720/C&RL News telnetable gophers expect you to type “gopher.” 2. Two of the best Archie databases via go If you are asked for a password, either the lo pher are: archie.intern ic.net and unlinfo2.unl. gin is incorrect or the site does not allow out edu 2007 (include the number). siders to dial in. Below are some of the better 3. Gophers with Veronica on the main menu public sites with “gopher” or no login required: include gopher.tamu.edu, gopher.uchicago. • consultant.micro.umn.edu edu, gopher.uidaho.edu, gopher.unr.edu, • gopher.msu.edu infolib.lib.berkeley.edu, and refmac.kent.edu; • inform.umd.edu see page 719 for a screen print from honor.uc. • sunsite.unc.edu wlu.edu 1020. • vienna.hh.lib.umich.edu (login = mlink). 4. To search Veronica directly, without navi gating menus, type in one of the following First-rate gophers contain the most useful URLs: gopher://veronica.sunet.se:2347/7; go- items on the opening screen. The main menu pher://info.psi.net:2347/7; gopher://sound of Washington and Lee University’s “Honor” garden.micro.umn.edu:8001/7. gopher is on page 719. 5. Current directories include ARL’s annual 7. Power users maintain a database of Directory o f Electronic Journals, Newsletters, subject-oriented sites and individual text/ and Academic Discussion Lists (Washington, data flies. Often you’ll need more than just an D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, Office all-purpose gopher. Power users are busy, of Scientific and Academic Publishing); Eric driven people with specific needs. The internet Braun’s The Internet Directory (New York: has a database for everyone. Fawcett Columbine, 1994); Ed Find specific material from a Some power ward T. Hardie’s Internet Mail list of lists or Internet direc ing Lists (Englewood Cliffs, tory. Maintain a directory list users memorize N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1994); and of important ftp7 and World dozens of Inter Internet World’s On Internet Wide Web sites as well. Sev 94, edited by Tony Abbott eral info-scouts have prepared net addresses (Westport, Conn.: Meckler, articles and pathfinders iden 1993). All are fairly complete, tifying Internet resources by and glide along though no one directory can subject. The University of the keyboard keep up with the constant ad Michigan maintains one of the ditions and changes. best known databases of such effortlessly. 6. Two free lists available guides in the Clearinghouse That's power. via gopher are John Maku fo r Subject-Oriented Lists.8 lowich’s Bibliography o f Intro Find an archive that main ductory Internet Books at tains texts or data in your area of interest and gopher.cni.org (path given in appendix), and learn the essential commands to search and Kevin Savetz’s Unofficial Internet Book List at retrieve files. Most importantly, anticipate likely library3.library.carleton.ca in directory = Elec reference questions and download useful ma tronic Resources/Internet Guides/Books about terial onto your local computer before ques the Internet. tions arise. Strive for a successful “live” session 7. For a good list of essential ftp-accessible by knowing your destination in advance. This documents, download internet-cmc.txt from requires preparation and practice. Searching the ftp.rpi.edu in directory = pub/communications; Internet should be no different than an online, the list is also available via gopher at many for-fee search: ill-preparedness may lead to sites, including gopher.cni.org in directory = unpleasant results. As my final advice: feel the Coalition FTP Archives/Publicly Accessible excitement of cyberspace and explore! Documents/Guides to Network Use/December, John; Computer Mediated Communications and Notes Internet Tools. 1. See especially: Internet Research (ISSN 8. Una.hh.lib.umich.edu (telnet login = “go 1066-2243); Internet World (ISSN 1064-3923); pher”) or gopher.lib.umich.edu in directory = The World Wide Web Newsletter (ISSN 1350- What’s New and Featured Resources; una’s ftp 2263); and selected coverage in library-oriented directory = /inetdirs; for a list of several re journals such as Computers in Libraries, Data sources by topic download my “Social Sciences base, and Online. and Humanities” guide. ■
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