Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Library collection development has changed dramatically in the past decade. The widespread use of new technology and the publication of information on and through the Internet and the World Wide Web means that librarians must begin to develop Web-based information collections. Here is a unique guide which will be invaluable for librarians building electronic libraries. Each chapter addresses collecting, evaluating, and selecting Web-based information resources in selected subject areas: business, employment, social science, health, medicine, bioscience, law, physical science, technology, education, current awareness, reader's advisory, and Web-based resources for print and other collection activities. Each chapter offers guidelines for writing an electronic library collection development plan for the subject area, reliable sources of reviews for Web-based resources, case studies of actual e-library collection development projects, and a suggested core collection. The author's companion Web site offers ready-made, annotated, constantly maintained links to sites in the core collections. Password registration information is included with the book.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• List of Tables and Figures (p. vii)
• Table of E-library Builder Stories (p. ix)
• Foreword (p. xi)
• Preface (p. xiii)
• Acknowledgments (p. xvii)
• Introduction (p. xix)
• E-library Builder Story (p. xxi)
• Print or Electronic Works Cited in the Introduction (p. xxii)
• Websites Cited in the Introduction (p. xxii)
• Chapter 1 Developing an Electronic Library Collection on the Web (p. 1)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• Review of Recent Internet Resource Collection Development Literature (p. 3)
• Preliminary Planning for the Web-based E-library (p. 6)
• Developing a Collection Plan for the Web-based E-Library (p. 9)
• Identifying and Collecting Internet Resources (p. 12)
• Information Evaluation Criteria and Practical Application of Information Evaluation Criteria to Internet Information (p. 16)
• Selection Criteria for Internet Resources (p. 27)
• Some General Considerations for Constructing, Organizing, and Maintaining the Web-based E-library (p. 31)
• Print and Electronic Publications Cited or Consulted in Chapter One (p. 32)
• Websites Cited in Chapter One (p. 33)
• Chapter 2 Collecting Web-based Core Ready-reference Resources (p. 35)
• The Core Internet Ready-reference Collection (p. 35)
• E-library Builder Stories (p. 42)
• Print and Electronic Publications Cited or Consulted in Chapter Two (p. 48)
• Websites Cited in Chapter Two (p. 48)
• Webliographies Included with Chapter Two (p. 49)
• Chapter 3 Collecting Web-based Business and Jobs and Employment Information Resources (p. 71)
• Business and Jobs and Employment Internet Resource Collection and Evaluation (p. 71)
• The Internet Business Information Resource Collection Plan (p. 74)
• Identifying and Collecting Internet Business Information Resources (p. 76)
• Evaluating Internet Business Information Resources (p. 78)
• Selecting a Core Internet Business Ready-reference Collection (p. 80)
• Business Core Internet Ready-reference Collection (p. 83)
• The Internet Jobs and Employment Information Resource Collection Plan (p. 86)
• Identifying and Collecting Internet Jobs and Employment Information Resources (p. 87)
• Evaluating Internet Jobs and Employment Information Resources (p. 88)
• Selecting a Core Internet Jobs and Employment Ready-reference Collection (p. 88)
• Jobs and Employment Core Internet Ready-reference Collection (p. 89)
• E-library Builder Stories (p. 91)
• Print and Electronic Publications Cited or Consulted in Chapter Three (p. 97)
• Webliographies Included with Chapter Three (p. 97)
• Chapter 4 Collecting Web-based Health and Medicine Information Resources (p. 103)
• Health and Medicine Internet Resource Collection and Evaluation (p. 103)
• The Internet Health and Medicine Information Resource Collection Plan (p. 104)
• Identifying and Collecting Internet Health and Medicine Information Resources (p. 105)
• Evaluating Internet Health and Medicine Information Resources (p. 107)
• Selecting a Core Internet Health and Medicine Ready-reference Collection (p. 110)
• Health and Medicine Core Internet Ready-reference Collection (p. 113)
• E-library Builder Story (p. 114)
• Print and Electronic Publications Cited or Consulted in Chapter Four (p. 119)
• Webliographies Included with Chapter Four (p. 119)
• Chapter 5 Collecting Web-based Legal Information Resources (p. 125)
• Legal Internet Resource Collection and Evaluation (p. 125)
• The Internet Legal Information Resource Collection Plan (p. 126)
• Identifying and Collecting Internet Legal Information Resources (p. 128)
• Evaluating Internet Legal Information Resources (p. 130)
• Selecting a Core Internet Legal Ready-reference Collection (p. 131)
• Legal Core Internet Ready-reference Collection (p. 134)
• E-library Builder Story (p. 136)
• Print and Electronic Publications Cited or Consulted in Chapter Five (p. 139)
• Webliographies Included with Chapter Five (p. 139)
• Chapter 6 Collecting Web-based Biological Science, Social and Physical Sciences, and Technology Information Resources (p. 141)
• Biological Science, Social and Physical Sciences, and Technology Internet Resource Collection and Evaluation (p. 141)
• The Internet Science and Technology Information Resource Collection Plan (p. 142)
• Identifying and Collecting Internet Science and Technology Information Resources (p. 144)
• Evaluating Internet Science and Technology Information Resources (p. 146)
• Selecting a Core Internet Science and Technology Ready-reference Collection (p. 147)
• Biological Science, Social and Physical Sciences, and Technology Core Internet Ready-reference Collection (p. 149)
• E-library Builder Stories (p. 156)
• Print and Electronic Publications Cited or Consulted in Chapter Six (p. 166)
• Webliographies Included with Chapter Six (p. 166)
• Chapter 7 Collecting Web-based Education, Current Awareness, and Readers' Advisory Information Resources; Web-based Information Resources for Print; and Other Collection Activities (p. 175)
• Education, Current Awareness, and Readers' Advisory Internet Resource Collection and Evaluation (p. 175)
• The Internet Education Information Resource Collection Plan (p. 176)
• Identifying and Collecting Internet Education Information Resources (p. 178)
• Evaluating Internet Education Information Resources (p. 179)
• Selecting a Core Internet Education Ready-reference Collection (p. 179)
• Education Core Internet Ready-reference Collection (p. 181)
• The Internet Current Awareness Information Resource Collection Plan (p. 184)
• E-library Builder Stories (p. 186)
• Bringing It All Together and a Quick Guide to the E-library (p. 191)
• Print and Electronic Publications Cited or Consulted in Chapter Seven (p. 194)
• Webliographies Included with Chapter Seven (p. 195)
• Index (p. 207)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

E-books and other electronically available materials have come to the forefront of library collection development concern. The question is not whether we will collect electronic materials but how to decide what to collect. Kovacs, a well-known Internet consultant, library trainer, and author (The Cybrarian's Guide to Developing Successful Internet Programs and Services, Professional Media, LJ 5/1/97), presents criteria for developing electronic collections, including guidelines for evaluating online resources and writing electronic collection development plans. Besides presenting case studies of actual library projects, Kovacs also lists core electronic collections for ready-reference, business, jobs and employment, health and medicine, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and technology information resources. Purchasers of this volume will also have access to a companion web site with links to the sites listed. One quibble: Kovacs assumes that the electronic collection will be built on a web page separate from the library's catalog, and, while this concept is not necessarily a detriment to the information available in the book, it perpetuates the notion that online resources are not worthy of cataloging. Web-based online catalogs enable the user to link directly to electronic resources. If an item is worth collecting, it is worth the effort to catalog it. Despite this flaw, Kovacs's book is an essential purchase for all libraries.DMargaret Sylvia, St. Mary's Univ. Academic Lib., San Antonio (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Given the vast resources available on the Web, librarians need to approach it deliberately and scientifically to access the resources most relevant to the needs of users at a particular institution. Kovacs presents a two-part approach to developing a collection of Web-based resources. First, she provides help with preparing a collection plan, which is as necessary for electronic as for any other medium of resources. Then she takes five broad subject areas--such as business information, health and medical information, and legal information--and suggests a core collection of Web-based resources in each. She also devotes one chapter to developing a ready-reference collection and cites real case studies to exemplify.