scholarly journals Crossing borders: The Internet Public Library as a global information service

Author(s):  
Lily Rozaklis ◽  
Craig M. MacDonald ◽  
Eileen G. Abels
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seigo Mitsutake ◽  
Ai Shibata ◽  
Kaori Ishii ◽  
Rina Miyawaki ◽  
Koichiro Oka

BACKGROUND To develop websites that enhance Internet users’ health knowledge, it is important to identify relevant factors associated with obtaining health knowledge via the Internet. Although an association between eHealth literacy (eHL) and knowledge of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been reported, little is known whether eHL is associated with obtaining knowledge of CRC via the Internet. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the results obtained from Internet users with high or low eHL in searching and using a reputable cancer website to gain CRC knowledge. METHODS This study used respondents to Internet based pre-and post-surveys conducted in 2012. Potential respondents (n = 3,307) were identified from registered individuals aged 40–59 years (n = 461,160) in a Japanese Internet survey company. A total of 1,069 participants responded (response rate: 32.3%), and these pre-survey responders were then divided into high or low eHL groups using the Japanese eHealth Literacy Scale median score (23.5 points). From each group, 130 randomly selected individuals were invited to review the contents of a reputable CRC website, the Cancer Information Service managed by the National Cancer Center, and to respond to a post-survey via e-mail; responses were obtained from 107 individuals from each group. Twenty responses to knowledge statements regarding the definition, risk factors, screening prevention and symptoms of CRC were obtained at pre- and post-surveys, and differences in the correct responses between high and low eHL groups compared using the McNemar test. RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 49.1 (5.5) years. Four statements showed a significant increase in correct responses in both eHL groups pre- and post-survey: “S4. The risk of CRC is greater as a person gets older” (high eHL: P = 0.039, low eHL: P = 0.012), “S8. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for CRC” (high eHL: P < 0.001, low eHL: P = 0.020), “S11. Obesity is a risk factor for CRC” (high eHL: P = 0.030, low eHL: P = 0.047), and “S12. Excess alcohol consumption is a risk factor for CRC” (high eHL: P = 0.002, low eHL: P = 0.003). Three statements showed a statistically significant increase in correct responses in the high eHL group only: “S1. CRC is cancer of the colon or rectum” (P = 0.003), “S5. The risk of CRC is the same between men and women” (P = 0.041), and “S9. Red meat intake is a risk factor for CRC” (P = 0.002), whereas only one response did in the low eHL group: “S17. Bloody stools are a symptom of CRC” (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Low eHL Internet users appeared less capable of obtaining knowledge of CRC through searching and understanding information from a reputable cancer website than high eHL Internet users.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.12) ◽  
pp. 545
Author(s):  
Risabh Mishra ◽  
M Safa ◽  
Aditya Anand

Recent advances in wireless communication technologies and automobile industry have triggered a significant research interest in the field of Internet of Vehicles over the past few years.The advanced period of the Internet of Things is guiding the development of conventional Vehicular Networks to the Internet of Vehicles.In the days of Internet connectivity there is need to be in safe and problem-free environment.The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is normally a mixing of three networks: an inter-vehicleNetwork, an intra-vehicle network, and a vehicle to vehicle network.Based on  idea of three networks combining into one, we define  Internet of Vehicles as a large-scale distributed system to wireless communication and information exchange between vehicle2X (X: vehicle, road, human and internet).It is a combined   network for supporting intelligent traffic management, intelligent dynamic information service, and intelligent vehicle control, representation of an application of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology for intelligent transportation system (ITS).  


Author(s):  
Kristin McDonough

In 1996, its centenary year, the New York Public Library opened its Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL) in a former department store in mid-town Manhattan, occupying 160,000 square feet of usable floor space. The building, which has received six awards, is designed to be both attractive and highly functional. The $100 million project was funded by a combination of private and government funds. The concept is of a specialized high technology research centre with unparallelled older and current print collections (1.2 million books and serials) and access to electronic resources, which also incorporates a 50,000-item circulating library of popular print, audiovisual and multimedia materials. All of the resources are available to the public at no charge. Much of the collection is on open access. There are several professionally staffed information service points. The provision of extensive training sessions is proving to be an outstanding success, more than 20,000 people having registered since SIBL opened. A three-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has enabled SIBL to train information professionals in the three crucial areas of technological competence, customer service and professional development.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-173
Author(s):  
MANUK HARUTYUNYAN

The article considers the problems of global information which is acquired via computer, social networks, the Internet and cyberspace. The main focus of the study is the disclosure of the complex and contradictory nature of the impact of the Internet on transformation processes of modern societies.


Author(s):  
Manlunching

Information plays a vital role in bioinformatics to achieve the existing bioinformatics information technologies and to identify the needs of bioinformatics researchers. The most revolutionary development for bioinformatics resources is access to the internet because internet is pervasive in all bioinformatics work. Users required various sources of information for conducting bioinformatics research. The success of the information service is more likely to be achieved by adjusting the services to meet the specific needs of an individual.


Author(s):  
Al P. Mizell

The Internet has become an essential element of all society today. Those who can access the World Wide Web have become active participants in the Information Age. Unfortunately, many individuals throughout the world do not have ready access to the needed technology. Furthermore, they do not have the required knowledge and skills to use the technology and cannot participate actively. As a result, this has created a world of information haves and have-nots. In this chapter, after examining the concept of the digital divide, data is presented that shows that those with low incomes and those who are older have little access to technology and the use of computers. Low-income seniors are especially limited in their opportunities to own a computer, and they seldom have the skills needed to use one for e-mail, search the Internet, and so forth, even if they visit a public library where they could use a computer without any cost. Various approaches being used to help seniors learn how to use computers are described, andthen the chapter focuses on two projects that have proved to be successful in this effort. SeniorNet is a national organization that helps establish learning centers around the country. The approach used at one such center, located at Nova Southeastern University in South Florida, requires seniors to pay for their courses. A second project is known as SeniorComp and is supported by private foundation funds. Ten low-income senior citizens are selected for each group of seniors in this project. They are given a complete Dell computer system, and their tuition is paid to take four of the SeniorNet courses. At the end of the fourth course, ownership of the computer system is turned over to the individual participant. To date, the completion rate has been 100%. The approaches used can serve as models for others to modify and use in their own communities. By adopting a similar approach, the impact of the digital divide can be significantly reduced for those low-income seniors that participate in the project. In this way, this portion of the marginal community can be empowered.


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