Online Reference Assistance for Youth Just a Click Away
Veronica L. C. Stevenson-Moudamane
There’s no escaping it (although I tried). Librarians who work primarily with young patrons must eventually consult the myriad of online resources in order to effectively assist patrons with their varies information needs. The digital reference evolution that has assaulted adult services librarians is all to quickly impacting the way in which youth services librarians address “traditional” reference concerns. Young patrons are, by cultural design, much more technologically savvy than their counterparts fifteen years ago; subsequently, their homework assignements and research needs have become much more sphisticated and require an exceptional amount of online use. In some cases, online resources might be the librarian’s only means for accessing the needed information.
The sheer numbers of available online resources and search engines should make the task of developing one’s online searching skills a little easier. Many companies and organizations (both national and international) have invested a great deal of time into the development of searchable sites designed to assist patrons of all ages in locating their desired information. However, searches that at first appear to be simple can sometimes be quite tedious and, ultimately, ineffective. Some sites that may prove useable for an adult can be challenging for a juvenile. Overall, the entire process can be overly taxing on young patrons, particularly if they are not familiar with “Webology” (Web terminology). Hence, librarians must be prepared to confront the increasing demands for more contemporary digital reference service, and they must be willing to serve as learned cyber mediators for young patrons (and their caregivers) to lead them to tested Web sites and search engines designed to embrace the developing skills of juveniles.
Evaluating Web Sites
A wealth of information is available online, and the task of wading through the “cybersea” of digital resources may seem insurmountable. However, librarians should begin by arming themselves with basic operating knowledge and the terminology of the most essential distinctions in cyber searching. Knowing how to evaluate Web sites—recognizing which sites are search engines and which sites are considered Web guides—and familiarizing yourself with the most popular digital resources for patrons is a good way to get started.
Although a great deal of useful information can be retrieved from the Internet, librarians must be careful to access only those sites that contain unbiased and accurate information. Oftentimes, the site address itself or the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) can assist by indicatin its domain assignment, i.e., .com, .edu, .org, etc. For example, the suffix .edu implies that an educational facility either owns or has created the Web site. However, since the guidelines for assigning domains have been relaxed (as evidenced by the number of domain assignments of public libraries), the suffix can no longer be viewed as an absolute guarantee of credibility.
Multnomah County(Ore) Library System’s online tutorial on evaluating Web sites provides a comprehensive introduction for both librarians and school-aged students. This well-documented site covers a range of critical Webology points, such as how to determine when the site was created and last updated and how to determine if the information is credible.
The Association for Library Service to Children’s Children and Technology Committee has compiled a Web criteria selection site that does an excellent job of providing librarians and kids with helpful tips on how to determine a Web site’s author and purpose and how to assess the site’s “strength of character.”
Another high quality online resource is the Scout Report SignPost. This site (a project of the computer sciences department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison) contains reviews of more than nine thousand Internet sites. The sites are reviewed by librarians and technicians and subsequently “catalogued and organized for efficient browsing and searching.” This is an excellent Web source to consult when determining if an Internet site is credible.
Web Directories and Search Engines
Acces to high-quality Internet search engines and Web guides that are safe and contain reliable information will soon become a librarian’s best friend while surfing cyberspace—both are excellent to consult for different types of searches, so it is important to understand how each tool works.
KidsClick!, created by the Ramapo Catskill Library System (N.Y.), is an excellent search directory designed for kids by librarians. The site (which includes the innovative Worlds of Web Searching) is attractive, colorful, and provides elementary school-aged patrons with intriguing ways in which to learn valuable searching skills. junior “cyber” searchers not only are able to conduct three types of searches, but also are provided with detailed assistance on how to conduct a search and how to access the results. KidsClick! browsers can conduct a search by alphabetical letter, by point-and-click (or pictorial), or by word entry. KidsClick! conatins more than 5,500 content-approved sites that successfully meet the needs of elementary-aged patrons on a variety of levels. For more advanced searchers who are confident with the spelling of their desired subject and who wish to forego the “guided search” method, the search by word method will be a favorite choice. For those patrons who require gentle guidance for subject-based searches, the icon or alphabet prompt methods are preferable.
Likewise, KidsWeb, Yahooligans: The Web Guide for Kids, and LycosZone for Kids offer comprehensive arrays of carefully selected resources that are easy to navigate for children in kindergarten through grade twelve. These sites are attractive and designed to capture the short attention spans of junior patrons. Subject-based indexes for homework assistance are welcome additions.
The Ask Jeeves for Kids search engine is ingeniously designed for middle school-aged (and younger) children using a “question-and-answer” navigaton method of searching. The site allows young patrons to pose their query as a question using plain, uncomplicated language. Ask Jeeves for Kids confirms the query, and then provides the searcher with an answer—not a plethora of “possible” matches that would undoubtedly be confusing and overwhelming for novice searchers. There also is an option to broaden one’s search by using AltaVista, Infoseek, Lycos, Webcrawler, Excite, and Yahooligans. The Ask Jeeves for Kids site claims to be the safest and easiest way for children to access the Internet. The parent site, Ask Jeeves, is designed similarly to Ask Jeeves for Kids and is appropriate for middle to high school-aged children.
The Internet Public Library Youth Services and Teens divisions, hosted by the School of Information Science at the University of Michigan, is truly a treasure trove of digital resources for K–12 students. Sites are carefully selected and cataloged into easy-to-navigate subjects ranging from online reference sources to virtual scientific experiments.
Encyberpedias, Almanacs, and Homework Help Sites
Online encyclopedias (or “encyberpedias”) are comprehensive, authoritative works containing articles on a wide range of subjects. Almanacs are annual (or biannual) publications that provide short, informational blurbs, lists, and charts on a variety of workshops. Today there are quite a few full-text encyclopedias and almanacs available to online searchers. Although an electronic subscription (usually fee-based) is required for some, there are a few reputable digital sources such as Encyclopedia.Com, Encyclopedia Brittanica, and Encarta Online that are absolutely free. Encarta not only provides access to more than 16,000 articles, but to an online dictionary and atlas as well.
Other useful tools for librarians are online homework help sites that provide “one-stop shopping” for patrons needing quick access to a variety of specific Web sources, The Danbury (Conn.) Library and Multnomah County Library System provide patrons with access to “homework hotlines,” noteable and award winning literature titles, and selected subject-based sites. Homework help pages are useful resources that are critical to have available for patrons to acess online, especially after library hours.
To keep up with the technological explosion, youth services librarians will need to develop and maintain their knowledge of the plethora of available online resources, in particular those that are specifically targeted for junior audiences. Home computers and various online packages are steadily becoming more affordable, allowing more and more families to access the Internet (and their library’s Web site) from home. Therefore, youth services librarians must not only concentrate on developing their professional online searching skills to employ while working one on one with a patron, but, like the city that never sleeps, must also work to develop online homework help sites to serve as the AYSL (automated youth services librarian) when the physical structure is closed.
This issue’s Internet Spotlight was written by Veronica L. C. Stevenson-Moudamane, M.S.L.S., M.A. She is Manager of Junior Services at the Danbury (Conn.) Public Library and Associate Editor for Black Issues Book Review. Stevenson-Moudamane also is a member of the ALA Children’s Book Council Joint Committee and Chair of the Reference and User Services Association’s Ad Hoc Committee on Reference Service to Children.
Web Sites
Association
for Library Services to Children
Ask Jeeves
The Ask Jeeves for Kids
The Danbury
(Conn.) Library
Encarta Online
Encyclopedia Brittanica
Encyclopedia.Com
The Internet Public Library Teen Services
Division
The Internet Public Library Youth Services
Division
KidsClick!
KidsWeb
LycosZone for Kids
Multnomah County
Library System, Portland, Ore.
Scout Report SignPost
Worlds of Web Searching
Yahoo!
Yahooligans: The Web Guide for Kids