The Web Library: Building a World‐Class Personal Library with Free Web Resources

Citation

Pymm, B. (2005), "The Web Library: Building a World‐Class Personal Library with Free Web Resources", Collection Building, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 105-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/01604950510608339

This is an entertaining, easy‐to‐read volume that provides a very good overview of web resources and their coverage. Together with its accompanying web site to ensure things are kept up‐to‐date, Tomaiuolo's work acts as a quick and easy reference resource, identifying a large number of full‐text and near‐full‐text sites, freely accessible, that should satisfy most enquirers.

Aimed at individuals and institutions, this ready reference offers hundreds of sites under a number of broad headings. The headings covered include magazines and professional journals, news, reference works, online reference services, literature, images, exhibitions (museums, galleries, etc.), and software. Each of these eight chapters is prefaced with an interesting discussion of some of the issues related to accessing this particular area (e.g. there is a simple but well‐presented discussion of copyright), comparisons with pay sites and reference back to traditional library reference resources. Many sites are then given a fairly detailed overview as to the nature and extent of material offered. An appendix lists all sites discussed under the broad subject headings.

While many of the sites will be well known to many librarians, there are many here that are new to me. All of them are substantial sites, most maintained by institutions, which ensures a degree of longevity. Given the nature of the web, and the major market for this resource, there cannot help but be a US bias to the work. This in no way diminishes its usefulness (for anglophone users at least) and is not overwhelming.

While a printed work like this will almost certainly date quickly, the accompanying web site will help maintain its currency and usefulness. In addition, a useful listing of all web sites mentioned in the text is included as an appendix. My only (slight) complaint is the index – fairly sparse with some quirky entries and a lot missing. Having said that, it is not a major issue. Overall this is a very useful addition to any library – from yours at home to the largest academic institution. This work is highly recommended.