Wetware rules in San Diego: Internet Librarian '99 conference

Volume 8, Number 2 • February 2000

Wetware rules in San Diego: Internet Librarian '99 conference
by Irene E. McDermott

INTERNET EXPRESS column discusses the third annual Internet Librarian conference held in San Diego, CA. Says that in the years since the World Wide Web captured attention, technology accelerated exponentially, but the news at the conference is that "wetware," i.e., human brains, are in. Reports on what Reva Basch, author and editor of the Super Searcher book series and keynote speaker on the second day, had to say. Notes that online communities can be "dry" gatherings, themed around sharing information or they can be "wet," i.e. about emotional support. Says the sociology of these online groups mirrors that of the physical world. Reports that Steve Arnold, of Arnold Information Technologies, defined business rules for the next century in his opening-day keynote address, "Web strategies for the New Millennium." Says Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Watch spoke on search engine trends. Expounds on other talks. Includes two screen displays, one photo, and one sidebar.