Advance Praise for The Web Library:

“This book has introduced me to dozens of free resources I didn’t know existed. Before the end of the first chapter, I was already discovering ways to dig up valuable magazine articles without having to leave my desk. Thanks to Nick Tomaiuolo for providing a thorough and thoughtful survey of how the Internet can help anyone embarking on online research.”

— Lisa Guernsey
Technology and Education Reporter,
freelance, the New York Times

“The Web Library covers a good breadth of resources. The interviews with resource providers add another dimension, giving you the perspective of both developer and cataloger. The book concentrates on resources, not screenshots, giving you plenty of information per square inch.”

—Tara Calashain, coauthor, Google Hacks,
and editor, ResourceBuzz.com

“This guide to high quality, free and inexpensive online resources will save you a great deal of frustration and expense.”

— Péter Jacsó, professor, author, and
Internet Librarian Hall of Fame honoree

“Nick’s primary purpose in writing The Web Library was to show how individuals can take advantage of free or low-cost resources to build their own personal libraries online,” said Steve Coffman, VP Product Development for Library Systems and Services, Inc., in the foreword. “Follow his instructions and for very little effort you can build yourself a periodical collection that would be the envy of many libraries, for next to nothing.”

The author’s definition of “personal library” goes well beyond a basic collection of reference works on a user’s desktop: He refers to a vast, rich collection of data, documents, and images that—if you follow his instructions to the letter—can rival the holdings of many traditional libraries. A readable, easy-to-use guide, The Web Library puts hundreds of useful resources at readers’ fingertips 24/7 while saving them time and money. It includes a wealth of URLs, 30 helpful figures and screenshots, interviews with librarians and leading content providers, abundant examples of free Web resources, and techniques for finding and collecting new content as the Web evolves.

The Web Library is supported by a companion Web page that features links to all the resources referenced in the book, author updates, and more. It’s the ideal starting point for anyone wishing to develop a personal online library.

Nick Tomaiuolo is a librarian in the reference department at the Elihu Burritt Library at Central Connecticut State University. He earned his graduate degree in library science from Southern Connecticut State University, where he merited induction into Beta Phi Mu, the International Honor Society for Library Science. Tomaiuolo’s articles have appeared in numerous journals and magazines, including Searcher, Online, Computers in Libraries, and Civilization: The Magazine of the Library of Congress. Working with Nick as editor of the book is Barbara Quint, editor of Searcher magazine.

The Web Library: Building a World Class Personal Library with Free Web Resources (440 pp/softbound/$29.95/ISBN 0-910965-67-6) is a CyberAge Book from Information Today, Inc. It is available in better bookstores everywhere through Chicago-based trade distributor Independent Publishers Group (IPG) or by calling the publisher at (800) 300-9868 [outside the U.S. call (609) 654-6266]; faxing (609) 654-4309; e-mailing custserv@infotoday.com; or logging on to the ITI Web site at www.infotoday.com.