ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries March 1 9 9 4 /1 3 9 Internet resources for wom en’s studies By Mary Glazier An introductory guide to electronic resources As an interdisciplinary field, women’s stud­ies necessarily crosses into a wide num­ ber of overlapping subject areas. Though these distinctions were not always easy to make, I have undertaken the compilation of an intro­ ductory guide as a way of presenting sources that deal with the general relationship o f women to various disciplines or that present women’s perspectives on specific cultural in­ stitutions. The following list of electronic resources for women’s studies was created through the use of gophers, Archie, Veronica, and OPACs. Re­ sources are divided into discussion groups (listservs precede Usenet groups), electronic journals, OPACs, electronic texts, fee-based services, gopher sites, and other resources in­ dispensable for identifying listservs in any given subject area. It is my hope that, with the fol­ lowing resources as a starting point, women will be able to pursue their own interests and identify sources of information specific to their needs and that this guide will highlight areas where resources are needed (such as electronic journals) so that complete access to women’s studies resources can become a reality. Electronic m ail discussion groups (listservs) The following is a selective list of listservs on general topics relevant to women’s studies. Generally, to subscribe, one should send the message “Subscribe firstname lastname” to the address indicated after “S u bscribe.” • EDUCOM-W is a moderated list to facili­ tate discussion of issues in technology and edu­ cation that are of interest to women. Subscribe: LISTSERV@BITNIC.EDUCOM.EDU. • FEMAIL is a moderated list which pro­ vides a shared communication channel for femi­ nists around the world. Women and men are welcome to join. Subscribe: FEMAIL-REQUEST @LUCERNE.ENG.SUN.COM. • FEMECON-L is a listserv for feminist econo­ mists. A source of information and answers to questions on econom ics with feminist per­ spectives. S u bscribe: LISTSERV@BUCKNELL. EDU. • FEMINISM-DIGEST. Issues of feminist or­ ganization, experience, and philosophy are dis­ cussed. This is a collation of the articles that appear on Usenet’s SOC.FEMINISM list, sent out about once a week. Subscribe: Feminism- Digest@NCAR.UCAR.EDU. • FEMINIST, owned by the Feminist Task Force of ALA, offers discussions of issues such as sexism , racism, and ethnic diversity in librarianship and pornography, censorship, and intellectual freedom in libraries. S u bscribe: LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU • FEMISA is a discussion of feminism, gen­ der, wom en’s international relations, world politics, the international political economy, and global politics. One o f the purposes of the list is the exchange of documents (course outlines, articles, etc.) related to its topics. Subscribe: LISTSERV@CSF.COLORADO.EDU. • FEMREL-L is a list providing a great deal of conversation about women, religion, and fem inist theology. S u b s c r ib e : LISTSERV@ UMCVMB.BITNET. • FIST (feminism in science and technol­ ogy) is an unmoderated list for discussion of M ary G la z ie r is referen ce/in stru ction lib ra r ia n a t th e State University o f New York a t B u ffa lo ; e-m a il: m g lazier@ u b v m .cc.b u ffalo.ed u mailto:LISTSERV@BITNIC.EDUCOM.EDU mailto:Digest@NCAR.UCAR.EDU mailto:LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU mailto:LISTSERV@CSF.COLORADO.EDU mailto:mglazier@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu 1 4 0 /C&RL News feminism and science and technology. Sub­ scribe: LISTSERV@DAWN.HAMPSHIRE.EDU. • GENDER is a moderated list devoted es­ pecially to discussion of issues pertaining to the study of communication and gender. Sub­ scribe: COMSERVE@RPITSVM. • H-WOMEN is an international forum for scholars and teachers of women’s history. Sub­ scribe: LISTSERV@UICVM.BITNET. • KOL-ISHA is a moderated list for ques­ tions and issues concerning women’s roles in Ju d a ism . S u b s c r ib e : LISTSERV@ ISRAEL. NYSERNET.ORG. • MEDFEM-L is a list for feminist medieval­ ists. S u b s c r ib e : LISTSERV‹ãUWAVM.U. WASHINGTON.EDU. • SWIP-L is an information and discussion list for Society for Women in Philosophy mem­ bers and others interested in feminist philoso­ phy. Subscribe: HSTSERV@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU. • SYSTERS provides a forum for female computer scientists for the exchange of research and career information. Contact Anita Borg at SYSTERS-REQUEST@DECWRL.DEC.COM. • WIM-L (Women’s Issues in Music Librari- an sh ip ). C o n tact Laura G ayle G reen at LGREEN@IUBVM.BITNET. • WIPHYS is a moderated list for issues of concern to wom en in physics. S u b scrib e: LISTSERV@NYSERNET.ORG. • W1SENET is a list for women in science, m athem atics, and engineering. S u b scrib e: LISTSERV@UICVM.UIC.EDU. • WMN-HLTH (women’s health electronic new s-lin e) was started by the Center for W o m en ’s H ealth R e se a rch . S u b s c r ib e : LISTSERV@UMDD.UMD.EDU. • WMST-L serves academic and professional needs of people involved in women’s studies teaching, research, libraries, and programs. Subscribe: LISTSERV@UMDD.UMD.EDU. • WOMEN is a general purpose list for all w om en’s groups and areas o f interest for women and their friends. Subscribe: WOMEN- REQUEST@ATHENA.MIT.EDU. Usenet new sgroups Methods of accessing Usenet newsgroups vary from system to system; the best approach is to ask your system administrator. • ALT.FEMINISM is often a venue for con­ frontational debates about feminism. • SOC.WOMEN offers an unrestricted range o f topics, mostly nonacademic, of relevance to women’s lives. • SOC.GENDER-ISSUES is a discussion of gender issues of interest to women. • SOC.FEMINISM is a moderated list where issues of feminist organization, experience, and philosophy are discussed. (Also available th ro u g h th e In te rn e t as FEMINISM- DIGEST@NCAR.UCAR.EDU.) Electronic journals • AMAZONS INTERNATIONAL is an elec­ tronic journal for and about “physically and psychologically strong, assertive women who are not afraid to break free from traditional ideas about gender roles and femininity.” Gopher to gopher.cic.net. Select “Electronic Serials.” Select “General Subject Headings” then “Culture.” OPACs (online lib rary catalogs) The following OPACs offer access to library co lle ctio n s w hich are known for having strong women’s studies collections. Most go­ pher systems provide access to library cat­ alogs, however, telnet addresses are listed be­ low for those who wish to connect directly to these catalogs. (Note: some systems are not entirely compatible with telnet access; for some systems you may need to type TN3270 or TNVT100 instead of “telnet.” If you are doubt, check with the system administrator at your school to determine which command you should use.) • BROWN. Telnet to BROWNVM.BROWN. EDU. At the BROWN logon screen: TAB to command field. Enter DIAL JOSIAH. TAB to the JOSIAH choice on the screen. • NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. Telnet to LIBRARY.UCC.NWU.EDU. At the Database Selection Menu, enter NCAT. • TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY. Telnet to VENUS.TW U.EDU. At the U sernam e: prompt, type IRIS. Press RETURN several times when prompted. • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE (MELVYL). Telnet to MELVYL.UCOP.EDU. When asked for terminal type, enter VT100. Press RETURN when prompted. Type START LOOK for easy-to-use library system. • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO. Telnet to STEFFI.UNCG.EDU. When prompted for Username, type JACLIN. • UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. Telnet to VICTOR.UMD.EDU. Select PAC from the Avail­ able Services Menu. Select 5 for VT100. Press RETURN twice. mailto:LISTSERV@DAWN.HAMPSHIRE.EDU mailto:HSTSERV@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU mailto:SYSTERS-REQUEST@DECWRL.DEC.COM mailto:LISTSERV@NYSERNET.ORG mailto:LISTSERV@UICVM.UIC.EDU mailto:LISTSERV@UMDD.UMD.EDU mailto:LISTSERV@UMDD.UMD.EDU mailto:REQUEST@ATHENA.MIT.EDU mailto:DIGEST@NCAR.UCAR.EDU March 1 9 9 4 /1 4 1 Electronic texts The Women Writers Project provides texts of some 200 literary works produced by women writers from pre-1830 England, Scottland, Ire­ land, and Wales. It also includes works from other colonies. The listserv (WWP-L) offers a forum for discussion of these works (su bscribe: LISTSERV@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU). Fee-based services • WON, the Women’s Online Network, was founded by Carmela M. Federico and Stacy M. Horn in January 1992 and is concerned with developing strategies to improve the position of women in our society. The network distrib­ utes prominent and essential information re­ garding concerns to women, and aids in the coordination of useful political action. Annual membership is $20, which is negotiable if nec­ essary. To join, contact the cofounders at (212) 255-3839 or (212) 989-8411 or e-mail to carmela @echo.panix.com or horne@echo.panix.com. • WIRE, Women’s Information Resource and Exchange, due to begin operation in 1994, will be an international interactive computer network providing women with a centralized source o f women-oriented information and conversation. For information contact WIRE at (415) 615-8989 or e-mail to info@uivc.net. G opher sites • INFOGOPHER.YORK.AC.UK includes In­ ternet guides as well as bibliographies on women’s studies and feminism. Select “Library,” then “Subjects,” then “Women’s Studies.” The following guides are recommended and are available at this site under “Internet Guides:” Balka, Ellen. W om en ’s A ccess to O n-line Dis­ cussions a b o u t Fem inism . Hunt, Laura. G u id e to W om en ’s S tu dies/ Fem inist In form ation on the Internet. 2nd ed. Turek, Kathleen, and Judith Hudson. Elec­ tronic A ccess to R esearch on Women: A Short G uide. • INFO.UM D.EDU. The U niversity o f M aryland’s g o p h er, InForM , h o u ses the Women’s Studies Online Database. Divided by subject, it includes calls for papers, employ­ ment opportunities, feminist film reviews, women’s health information, poetry, fiction, political information, and more. Select “Educa­ tional Resources,” then “Women’s Studies.” • HAFNHAF.MICRO.UMN.EDU The Uni­ versity of Minnesota Women’s Center’s gopher site offers access to information about counsel­ ing, education, family relations, health, finances, housing, research, violence, current events, scholarships, grants, financial support, and (In tern et cont. o n p a g e 143) mailto:LISTSERV@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU mailto:horne@echo.panix.com mailto:info@uivc.net March 1 9 9 4 /1 4 3 Tactic # 1: Read Start by reading cover-to-cover a book on elec­ tronic networking, geared to your level of ex­ perience with computers and the Internet. I browsed several titles in various bookstores before buying Ed Krol’s chatty but basic work, The Whole Internet (O ’Reilly & Assoc., 1992) which I devoured over the 1992-93 New Year’s weekend. That plus experience led me to real­ ize I need to know more about the Unix oper­ ating system, so I intend to purchase an el­ ementary text on that. (Yes, I do use my own and the local public library for works on the topic, but when I sense a long-term commit­ ment to an area, I always want to own at least one title and keep it in my office for reference.) Read a wide assortment of articles: practi­ cal ones like those which appeared recently in this journal, describing Internet resources in particular subject areas such as Russian and East European studies; news reports about how aca­ deme, business, and government are struggling or collaborating; technical contributions that discuss how to manipulate electronic docu­ ments; and philosophical pieces that speculate about the impact on our lives of the so-called Electronic Superhighway. The best way to iden­ tify these is to use your usual multidisciplinary index, whether on paper or online. Library Lit­ eratu re now has a separate heading for the Internet, as does Library & In form ation S cien ce Abstracts (classification 13.11). Read appropri­ ate electronic listservs or Usenet newsgroups regularly. Although there is no such thing as a complete directory, that in the back of Krol’s book and the more recent compilation by Eric Braun are helpful guides to electronic forums in all disciplines. Tactic # 2: Confer Find a buddy or two— a colleague, friend, an electronically talented student—to answer your questions patiently and coach you step-by-step through such arcana as unzipping compressed files or modifying your computer’s hidden pa­ rameters to make some procedure work more smoothly. Tactic # 3: P lay Practice as much as possible in an unpressured environment (not at the reference desk!). Try Hytelnet to browse other libraries’ online cata­ logs. Tackle Rick Gates’s monthly In tern et Hunt, available on several library-related elec­ tronic listservs. Work through all the examples in a text like Richard Smith and Mark Gibb’s N avigating the Internet. Get comfortable with the many paths and destinations gophers pro­ vide. Make sure you can both send and re­ trieve files using ftp and that you can identify them using Archie and Veronica. Any of these efforts, systematically pursued, will help you become fluent on the Internet. Tactic # 4: Contribute Share your ideas, comments, and experiences with others, both locally and remotely. Partici­ pate in electronic discussions, offer to be a buddy for someone even newer to technology, or teach a workshop on a topic or area you have become expert in. Tactic # 5: Ponder Reflect on what you are learning and whether there are more efficient or thorough ways to master the Internet. Put yourself in your users’ place and brainstorm with colleagues about what is reasonable and possible to expect fac­ ulty and students to do on their own and what is an appropriate part of reference service or research consultation. Draft a policy to delin­ eate these areas and then implement it, modi­ fying your guidelines as technology and user sophistication improve. These are my observations as of early 1994 about the Internet and professional develop­ ment. It is a very powerful tool, permitting every possible learning style, and conquering it— whether because it is an intrinsic challenge, just plain fun, or the tidal wave of the future— should be a resolution for every academic librarian. ■ (In tern et cont. f r o m p a g e 141) much more. Select “UofM Campus Information,” then “University of Minnesota Women’s Cen­ ter.” O ther Resources • SOC.FEMINISM FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) provides “an informal compilation of potential resources for women” and includes feminist organizations, related organizations, feminist and women-oriented publications, feminist and women-oriented electronic mail­ ing lists, and a list of catalogs/bookstores. It is available through ftp to rtfm.mit.edu as “re­ sources” under /pub/usenet/news.answers/ feminism. ■