Reviewed:
21st May 1997
By:
Dianne Nelson
Like our own BUBL, New Zealand's South Sea BUBL is an information gateway for the country's library and information community. There the similarity ends.
Heading the first page is not a colourful website logo, but a murky black and white photo of a library. A simple list contains the usual categories: 'Directories', 'Job noticeboard', 'Online catalogues and home pages of New Zealand Libraries', among others, but why two separate entries for specific conferences, rather than a 'Conferences' category?.
South Seas Bulletin Board for Libraries Web site
Not impressed by first impressions, I'm further disappointed to find, under 'Current Awareness', contents pages of two LIS journals last updated in '95 and '96. Then, in the 'AntePodium Subject Index' Feminism comes before Environment.
SSBUBL contains a lucky-dip assortment of information and links. Seemingly random and often sparse collections, such as five full-text LIS related documents and eight assorted e-journals, are mixed with the more useful material for New Zealand's LIS professionals. 'Other information services - New Zealand and overseas' gives a very comprehensive list of links to other websites, including BUBL. One important aspect of SSBUBL is its biculturalism. Sources of Maori information are included such as online journals "Nga korer o te wa" and "Maori Law Review".
This is clearly a site in its early stages of development. Its homespun charm probably owes much to a lack of resources. Nevertheless more attention to design would improve its attractiveness and ease of use and do justice to the undisputed value of the service.
Reviewed by: Dianne Nelson,
University of the West of England.
Material on this page is copyright Ariadne/original authors. This article last updated/links checked on 11-Jul-1997