The availability of information on the Internet has caused concern in academia. Recent articles and essays suggest that the Internet misleads students into believing the library no longer is necessary; that the Internet has contributed to the decline in students' writing and in their expression of original ideas; that it misleads students because it offers so much unregulated material in a believable format; that it provides an opportunity to collect material and use it without crediting the authors.

Our students have come to believe that any information they need for their research may be found on the internet. Glitz, Madison Avenue advertizing, catchy phrases, fact/opinion, fiction/non-fiction, a plethora of information at our fingertips- --information that appears accurate because it is in print right before our very eyes. We see it; it is published! With a few keystrokes we find information, heretofore unavailable to us.

No longer do we need to journey to the library, spend hours searching for this title or that, this subject or topic. It can be found on the Internet. So believe many of the students engaging in basic research. They accept the printed word with little question. Now that so much information is readily available on the Internet, they do not feel compelled to visit a library. If it cannot be found on the Internet, then it must not exist.

When students begin to look for information on the Internet, they have little understanding as to how to use the internet and proprietary data bases as research tools. They have no concept of search strategy. In many cases, neither do their instructors. They select a search engine, enter a term or phrase, click search and are presented a list of web sites. Randomly they cruise the sites, clicking on the blue lit links embedded in the document. And, as we have noted, since it is printed in a convincing format, they believe what they read.

Close your eyes and imagine a computer classroom scene where a grey haired woman in her middle years, not dressed as the stranger in Mark Twain's War Prayer, but emulating the stranger as she slowly walks down the aisle separating the rows of computer stations. She begins in a quiet voice:

"My name is Ophelia. I run a sperm bank on the west side of Chicago. I have been sent to you today by the Spirit of the Most High to bring you His message."

Her voice rises as she begins to deliver the message.

"He has sent me to warn you that you are in great danger and that it is only out of his goodness that you continue to live. You are hanging over the fires of hell by a mere thread. YOU MUST REPENT!! And, how should you repent? Gentlemen in the group, you are to donate your sperm that I may bless it and make it pure and holy so that when the women of the group receive it, they will conceive children worthy in the eyes of the Lord. Then the master race, the society of greatness will prevail."

"You must repent and see your evil ways. You must GET RIGHT WITH GOD. You must adopt as your bible the web site of Matt Drudge because he supports links to the National Enquirer."

We will join forces so that we may protect our society from those aliens who have begun to donate their sperm.

No one speaks. The door opens and a gentleman, unaware of the words just spoken, arrives carrying a dining hall tray of styrofoam cups with lids. (They are filled with coffee.) Someone in the congregation--it no longer seemed appropriate to call this group participants in a workshop--remarks that Ophelia is being upstaged. She turns and solemnly proclaims, These cups have been prepared for the donation of sperm."

For a moment there is silence; then everyone doubles over with laughter. No one is sure what to believe. What are the sources for this woman's speech? Has she done research on sperm banks, and is she really a spokesperson of God? If we look at the speech on the web we see the various links and sources. Now the reader must decide whether or not the links of information are valid.

In the presentations posted on this web site, search strategies, web site evaluation techniques, and library assignment design are featured. In addition sample syllawebs and a presentation on government documents is offered.

This web site resulted from the workshop The Internet As a Research Tool: Dispelling the Myths. where we examined the role of the librarian in this information age, and attempted to dispel these myths as well as demonstrate the need of the librarian and libraries in this age of the Internet.

Jana Edwards introduced the participants to search strategies and effective use of search engines.

Judy Fellor provided a guided tour through the maze of government documents.

Bruce Leland offered methods for evaluating web sites.

Julia Hansen and Lydia Jackson offered insights into assignment design, reminding teachers that the structure of the assignment is critical to teaching research.

Larry Clark, demonstrated ways to incorporate the use of the Internet into a course.

In absentia were the web masters, Steve Krause and Alan Rea. They provided their expertise in designing this web site and providing additional information.

There is the notion that soon the librarian will be an extinct species. Quite the contrary, the librarian and libraries are critical to us in academia, as well as in the public sector, as data bases proliferate and the cost of archiving materials escalates. There remains a segment of society that does not have access to technology in their homes or work places. The library is a source for them. Business and academia .....are becoming increasingly dependent upon the library for electronic reference services and training. (Abels, Eileen and Peter Liebscher. "A New Challenge for Intermediary-Client Communication: The Electronic Network." Librarians on the Internet. New York: Haworth Press, Inc. 1994)

We who teach must recognize the critical role of librarians and make every effort to join forces with them as we teach research to our students.

Bibliography

Anderson, Daniel, et al. Connections: A guide to on-line writing. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1998.

Bopp, Richard E. and Linda C. Smith. Reference and Information Services: An Introduction. Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. 1995.

Branscomb, H. Eric. Quick Guide to the Internet for Composition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1998. CD entitled Sprint Internet Passport included.

--- Casting Your Net: A Student's Guide to Research on the Internet. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1998.

Brereton, John C. ed., The Origins of Composition Studies in the American College: 1875-1925, U of Pitt P, 1995.

Connors, Robert J. Composition-Rhetoric: Backgrounds, Theory, and Pedagogy, Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, 1997.

Day, Pam A. & Kimberly L. Armstrong, "Librarians, faculty, and the Internet: Developing a new information partnership." Computers in Libraries 16 (May 1996), 56-58

Evans, G. Edward. Developing Library Information Center Collections. Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. 1995.

Greenfield, Louise and Jennalyn Tellman, & Beth Brin, "A Model for Teaching the Internet: Preparation and practice." Computers in Libraries 16 (March 1996)

Spear, Karen. "Controversy and Consensus in Freshman Writing: An Overview of the Field." Chronicle of Higher Education; v20 n3 p319-44 (Spr 1997).