Using the Internet Public Library:
http://www.ipl.org/
Jennifer Lau-Bond
User Services Coordinator
[email protected]
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
IPL History
• Begun in 1995 at the School of Information and
Library Science (now School of Information)
– Started by a class of students and professors
• In June 2006, IPL partnered with other
“Information Schools” (I-Schools) to form the IPL
Consortium
http://www.ipl.org/div/about/IPLconsortium/consortiu
mInfo.html
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
What Is the IPL?
1. A website (http://www.ipl.org/)
containing:
• Collections of nearly 45,000 links
• E-mail reference service
2. An educational and research
laboratory for librarians
– Majority of work is student-driven
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
http://www.ipl.org/
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections at the IPL
• Link to free online sites
• All links selected and reviewed by library
science graduate students—must meet our
collection policies
• Sites indexed and abstracted
• Subject collections as well as special features
and exhibits
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: Subject Collections
http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/
Links organized
by headings;
browse down
to further subheadings
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: Subject Collections
Examples:
• “Social Customs, Traditions, & Folklore”
(under Social Sciences)
http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/soc70.
00.00/
• “Sports” (under Entertainment & Leisure)
http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/ent80.0
0.00/
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: Newspapers
http://www.ipl.org/div/news/
Under “Reading Room”
Links to online
newspapers from
around the
world. Includes
papers in English
and other
languages.
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: Newspapers
Examples:
• “Michigan” (under United States)
http://www.ipl.org/div/news/browse/US.70
07520/
• “Pakistan” (under Asia)
http://www.ipl.org/div/news/browse/PK/
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: TeenSpace
http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/
Separate section of
the IPL for teens.
Includes learning
materials as well as
interesting and
entertaining sites.
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: TeenSpace
Examples:
• “A+ Research and Writing”
http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/aplus/
• “Thing of the Week”
http://www.ipl.org/div/procrast/thingoftheweek.html
• “Poetry Wiki”
http://www.ipl.org/div/teenpoet/
For questions about the Poetry Wiki, contact Mike Galloway
([email protected])
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: POTUS
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/
Under “Special Collections”
Special collection
about the
Presidents of the
United States,
including facts
and links to other
online materials.
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: POTUS
Examples:
• “George Washington”
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/gwashington.h
tml
• “Dwight D. Eisenhower”
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/ddeisenhower.
html
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: Exhibits
http://www.ipl.org/div/exhibit/
Under “Special Collections”
Original online
exhibits that include
text, pictures, and
sound.
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Collections: Exhibits
Examples:
• “Music History 102”
http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/
• “Pueblo Pottery”
http://www.ipl.org/div/pottery/
• “Lighthouses: A Photographic Journey”
http://www.ipl.org/div/light/
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Reference at the IPL
• Service is free to all—questions from around the world
and people of all ages
• Questions answered by trained library students and
professional volunteers
• Use free sites and sometimes refer to print or subscription
sources (local resources when possible)
• Questions submitted on web forms for adults
(http://www.ipl.org/div/askus/) and kids under 13
(http://www.ipl.org/div/ask/)
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Adult Reference Form:
http://www.ipl.org/div/askus/
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Teacher Questions
1.
Teachers refer students to the IPL reference service
for help (though we can’t help entire classes at
once)
Actual Question: What's the easiest and quickest way
to grow a crystal. the teacher said we could find
information anywhere including the internet including
the IPL. (from 9th grade student)
To see the response, visit:
http://www3.ipl.org:2000/backroom/refvols/questions.html
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Teacher Questions
2. Teachers submit questions on behalf of a class to
gather general research suggestions/sources
Actual Question: Please tell as much about Lois Lowry,
the author of The Giver as possible. I am teaching
an eighth grade class and want to give my students
sources they can use to learn about her.
To see the response, visit:
http://www3.ipl.org:2000/backroom/refvols/questions.html
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Teacher Questions
3. Teachers ask their own work-related questions for
background research, lesson plan help, professional
development, etc.
Actual Question: I am looking for sources for a research
topic for my professional development class. I am
researching "second language acquisition using
computers" or "teaching ESL classes using computers
vs. teaching ESL classes without computers" any
sources - articles, books, etc. that you could provide for
me would be helpful. I'm a teacher. Thanks.
To see the response visit:
http://www3.ipl.org:2000/backroom/refvols/questions.html
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Asking a Reference Question
• We can’t accept medical or legal questions or
questions that need a response immediately
(usually best to allow at least 3 days)
– Sometimes we receive more questions than we
can answer
• Fill out question form completely
• Let us know if you’re a teacher (and at what
level)
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Reviewing the Slides
These slides will be posted on IPL site at
http://www.ipl.org/div/about/teachWipl.html
Look for slides titled “Using the IPL”
Linked from IPL homepage in left navigation
bar (“Teach With The IPL”)
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org
Have a reference question? Submit it
using our online form:
http://www.ipl.org/div/askus/
Have more questions about what the
IPL can do for you? Contact Jennifer
Lau-Bond, User Services
Coordinator, at [email protected]
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org