Since August 2007, the Whittemore Library reference librarians have been compiling a list of useful reference resources online via Del.icio.us. Del.icio.us is a social networking site that allows users the capability of “bookmarking” websites which have been found to be particularly useful and relevant. Many libraries now take advantage of this type of software to make lists of pertinent subject websites for their staff and students. Prior to social networking, many of these lists would be static and difficult to change should the need arise. With Del.icio.us, this is no longer the case. The library staff updates the Del.icio.us site as frequently as new websites are found.
The Whittemore Library reference staff started with websites recommended by the journal CHOICE, an academic library journal consisting of reviews and evaluations of books, journals and websites. Each site was visited, evaluated for potential student/faculty use, and placed in the library’s del.icio.us site by category. Then the websites were “tagged” – defined by common words familiar to users – and the del.icio.us links were made to the library’s own subject guides as needed. The Whittemore Library’s Del.icio.us website has all manner of sites from those specific to a particular major to those useful for a quick check of information. If you would like to recommend websites to be included with ours, please forward the urls to Elizabeth Bolton, Reference Librarian at ebolton@frc.mass.edu.
Henry Whittemore Library's Blog 