Check out library on Web

You don't have to always physically travel to the library these days to do research for school.

Thanks to Utah's three "pioneer" online Web sites, developed by the State Library Division of Utah, a tremendous amount of material is as close as a home computer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Also, unlike the open Internet or a Google search, which can contain lewd or unreliable sources and materials, the three pioneer Web sites rely on proven, accurate sources.

Those without the Internet at home can also access these at their public library.

There is the "Public Pioneer" site at pioneer.utah.gov; the "School Pioneer" (for K-12), pioneer.uen.org/k12/index.jsp; and the "Academic Pioneer" (for college), www.ualc.net/acadpioneer.html.

All three sites can also be accessed off the main, pioneer-library.org Web site.

The State Library Division has used tax funds to create these new sources.

"This is being paid for with public dollars," said Donna Jones Morris, state library division director.

Users need a password or an access code to go into the databases because the licenses for the premium databases require that their usage be limited to Utah residents. For Public Pioneer, the access code is simply a library patron's bar code numbers off his or her own their own public library card. For the school and university site, students get access details from their schools.

The Pioneer sites have been up for several years, but only this fall has the state been publicizing them through various media.

"Kids are pretty savvy at using the sites," said Craig Neilson, program manager for information resources of the State Library Division. Otherwise, public schools receiving training on using the sites and public librarians can also assist.

Morris said the sites contain what the library's budget allows. If some sources increase costs, that may prompt a change in what the sites contain. Also, not all the databases are included on the K-12 site because of insufficient funding.

Still, Morris said this system means Utah public libraries can combine their resources and include some premium sites that smaller libraries could not afford to have on their own.

"Quality databases have a price tag," Morris said.

Neilson said for the fiscal year 2003-2004, there were 400,000 searches conducted on these sites. He also said many other states are doing similar cooperative efforts.

Usage is expected to increase as more of the public becomes aware of this online service.

Public Pioneer offers access to various magazines, to the Deseret Morning News and other Salt Lake newspapers and to academic journals. It also has motor vehicle repair and maintenance access, business and financial, health and medicine, photographs, poetry/literature, school reports biographies, dictionaries, phone books, ZIP zip codes and much more.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com