Page 213 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Information Sources and Services

Notes
Example: Probably specialized search engines are not that numeric as Web directories
but still certainly there is no shortage of them either, especially if one counts password-protected
sites with database accessible only from within the site as a specialized search engine. As with
Web directories, if there were a list of specialized search engines it would be really, really long
(and constantly changing), so instead, here are some links to lists of search engines: Pandia
Powersearch, Webquest, Virtual Search Engines, the already mentioned The Search Engines
Directory, etc. What is common for these lists is that they offer a selection of specialized search
engines, arranged by topic, so it is a good starting point for the hunt of specialized search
engines.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:

14. ........................................ are just enormous collections of links to sites, arranged in different
categories.
15. ............................... index pages for particular topics only and very often there are many
pages that cannot be found in general-purpose search engines but only in specialized
ones.

Case Study Federal Library & Information Network

Federal Library Directory
FEDLINK has engaged the Federal Research Division (FRD) of the Library of Congress to
compile a directory of all United States federal libraries and information resource centres
(IRCs) worldwide. To this end, in the spring of 2011 FRD sent out surveys soliciting
general information (name and government affiliation, contact information and location,
collection and staff size, hours of operation, leadership, and circulation and reference
services) to known federal libraries and information centres. FRD analysts then
supplemented the data received from these surveys with research in order to compile as
complete as possible a directory of federal libraries and IRCs. The current directory is
comprised of approximately 1,111 entries. FEDLINK hopes this directory will raise the
awareness of federal libraries and information resource centres and contribute to the
more effective use of the resources these organizations maintain.
Note that each United States embassy maintains a library but, because of security concerns,
the Department of State has asked that FRD not include the locations of these libraries in
the directory. In addition, at the request of the Bureau of Prisons, FRD is providing limited
contact information for any libraries or information centres located in federal prisons.
FRD is making every effort to maintain in this database accurate and up-to-date links to
Library and Information Centre Web sites. However, FRD has no control over content and
availability of those sites.
Questions:

1. Discuss about the Federal Library Directory.
2. What effort did FRD is making to maintain in this database accurate and up-to-date
links to Library and Information Centre Web sites?
Source: http://www.loc.gov/flicc/FLD/index_FLD.html

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