the Internet Public Library
About the Ready Reference Collection
The IPL Ready Reference Collection is intended as a resource for our staff and patrons to answer questions. It is an evolving resource, with new items being added all the time.
Before being added to the Ready Reference Collection, resources are evaluated by our staff in accordance with our selection policy. Upon acceptance, an annotation is written, keywords are assigned, and the resource is placed in our database.
About the Big Change
On April 5, 1996, the Ready Reference Collection underwent a series of changes.
Many of these changes were internal, and they should make it easier for us to
update, add and change entries.
The things that should be readily apparent to users are our new categories and
navigational structure. Our new subject categories make use of what's known as
a controlled vocabulary. As far as we know it is the first controlled
vocabulary being used to classify Internet items that was specifically designed
for that purpose. The new navigational structure was designed to take advantage
of the opportunities that the controlled vocabulary offers us, and to make it
easier for users to tell where they are within the collection.
Jump to: Ready Reference Seal
The IPL will seek to collect Internet resources which:
- Are high in useful content, preferably those which provide information in their own right rather than simply providing pathways to information
- Are updated consistently (unless the nature of the resource is such that updating is unnecessary, e.g. an online Bible)
- Are designed such that any graphics are an attractive complement to the information rather than a flashy distraction from it
- Provide text-only interfaces for non-graphical browsers
- Show evidence of having been proofread carefully (no spelling/grammatical errors or faulty tagging)
- Contain only "live" links, only to documents which are as relevant as the primary document
A resource which does not meet all the above criteria may still be added to the Ready Reference Collection if the selector feels that it is still a useful source.
Resources that are selected as Ready Reference sources may choose to display the following message:
an IPL Ready Reference Source
Use the following html code:
<h3><a href="http://www.ipl.org/ref/RR/"><img src="ipl.logo.gif" alt="IPL" hspace=5></a>an IPL Ready Reference Source</h3>
and download this .gif: logo.
Only sites which are directly pointed to as a Ready Reference site may display this message. If for any reason a site is removed from the Ready Reference collection, we will ask that the message be removed.
If you'd like to recommend a source for inclusion in the IPL Ready Reference Collection, please fill out our Recommendation Form or send e-mail to ref-url@ipl.org
You may also wish to see: Materials Reconsideration Policy | About the IPL Reference Center
Return to Ready Reference Collection | IPL Reference Center | IPL Lobby
the Internet Public Library - = - http://www.ipl.org/ - = - ipl@ipl.org
Last Modified Nov 27, 1996