LISNews: Librarian News

Built by the team responsible for the Information Research
FAQ and a longstanding site on information research, this
extensive project is completely free.

The launch of SpireProject.com & SpireProject.co.uk last
week mark a move to reach a more general audience - to
provide a more complete and comprehensive way to find
information.

Books, Patents, Statistics, Discussion, Periodicals,
Webpages; each information format has a distinct structure,
with particular search tools and search techniques. The
inspiration in The Spire Project is to treat each format
separately. Different \'search blueprints\' walk the searcher
through the intricacies of gathering particular information.
Each blueprint incorporates descriptions, strategies, direct
links, search techniques and forms to relevant search tools.

A number of conventions are broken in providing assistance:

- Most information assistance to date is built on linking
to resources.

- Few sites link to resources beyond the web (even those
far superior to online resources).

- Search strategy, to date, tends to stall at boolean AND
and NOT on search engines.

- And few search guides go beyond reviewing sites to
building cohesive stories.

A cohesive and reasoned approach saves both time and
confusion. It draws your attention to resources and enhanced
search techniques useful in locating information, with full
guidance, instructions and the best simplicity html can
offer.

Several search pages are absolutely unique like our coverage
of UN information and National Statistical Agencies. The
project also inherits from previous work a free shareware
version, four usenet FAQs and a collection of mirror sites
on library & university sites. \"Speed is the key.\" explains
David, \"Having this information close to you really helps.\"

Books, Patents, Statistics, Discussion, Periodicals,
Webpages; each information format has a distinct structure,
with particular search tools and search techniques. The
inspiration in The Spire Project is to treat each format
separately. Different \'search blueprints\' walk the searcher
through the intricacies of gathering particular information.
Each blueprint incorporates descriptions, strategies, direct
links, search techniques and forms to relevant search tools.

Of interest to the library community, mirror sites are
welcome and free.