Contact: Maridith Geuder
An electronic service allowing library users to customize frequently used resources is earning national recognition for Mississippi State University.
Mitchell Memorial Library's personalized library service now is listed as an "innovative Web-based reference service" by the American Library Association. Specifically, it received the honor from the machine-assisted reference section of the ALA, the world's oldest library association.
Available at MyLibrary via http://library.msstate.edu, the customizable service "allows the user to create a portable Web page using resources of the MSU Libraries," said system administrator Stephen H. Cunetto. The personalized page becomes a one-stop reference tool featuring the user's preferences, he added.
The ALA, which has a membership of more than 60,000, implemented the listing in 1998 to provide models for similar projects at other libraries. Sites recognized must provide a completely new service to users, be publicly available and require no user fee.
MSU joins Cornell, New York, North Carolina State, and Virginia Commonwealth universities in being recognized for "innovative or interesting locally developed reference projects." A small number of public libraries around the nation and in Canada also are similarly honored by the professional association.
"Our libraries are committed to being responsive to our users, and we're delighted that the MyLibrary service has received this national recognition as an innovative way of meeting user needs," said Frances N. Coleman, dean of libraries.
For more information, contact Cunetto at (662) 325-8542 or scunetto@library.msstate.edu.