Internet Public Library

Internet Public Library

Web address	www.ipl.org
Launched	March 17, 1995 (1995-03-17)
Revenue	Non-profit
Current status	Active

The Internet Public Library (IPL, ipl2) was a non-profit, largely student-run website managed by a consortium, headed by Drexel University. Visitors could ask reference questions, and volunteer librarians and graduate students in library and information science formed collections and answered questions. The IPL opened on March 17, 1995. On January 1, 2010 it merged with the Librarians' Internet Index to become ipl2. It ceased operations completely on June 30, 2015.

The digital collections on the site were divided into five broad categories, and include Resources by Subject, Newspapers & Magazines, Special Collections Created By the ipl2, and Special Collections for Kids and Teens. As of March 2011 it had about 40,000 searchable resources.

History

The IPL originated at the University of Michigan’s School of Information. Michigan SI students almost exclusively generated its content. They also managed the Ask a Question reference service. In 2006 the University of Michigan opened up management of the IPL to other information science and library schools. They stopped hosting the IPL and moved the servers and staff positions to Drexel University, and by January 2007 the "IPL Consortium" was a group of 15 colleges, still including the University of Michigan, that ran the IPL. Drexel's College of Computing and Informatics hosted the site. With a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Drexel also used the site as a "'technological training center' for digital librarians."

ipl2, the new face of the Internet Public Library, resulted from a merger with the Librarians' Internet Index, previously managed by the Califa Library group. This project involved moving ipl2 to a new Drexel-provided website.

According to Dr. Joseph Janes, ipl2 would no longer be supported as of the end of 2014. The last ipl2 monthly newsletter was February 2014. All operations officially ended on June 30, 2015.

Scope

ipl2's Mission Statement and Vision Statement, adopted 19 May 2008, are:

Mission Statement of ipl2

ipl2 is a global information community that provides in-service learning and volunteer opportunities for library and information science students and professionals, offers a collaborative research forum, and supports and enhances library services through the provision of authoritative collections, information assistance, and information instruction for the public.

Vision Statement of ipl2
ipl2 will shape and direct the evolving role of libraries in an increasingly digital world while working to become a virtual learning laboratory for the study of information services and technology.

The ipl2 staff, faculty, and volunteers will strive to meet these goals by:

• 1) creating and supporting new learning experiences for students and volunteers,
• 2) serving as a research forum and as a technological test-bed,
• 3) serving the public by finding, evaluating, selecting, organizing, describing, and creating high quality information resources, and
• 4) connecting members of the public to high quality information resources through the IPL question answering service.

Reviews

The Internet Public Library was generally highly regarded. It was noted for its "clean design" and depth of resources as well as its reference service that by 2011 had answered more than 100,000 queries.

Elimination of site suggestions

IPL has been closed, with regard to website suggestions from outsiders, since 2010. At that time, the site had more than 21,000 suggestions, of which greater than 85% were deemed inappropriate, based on the site's inclusion criteria.

See also

• Digital Public Library of America
• Internet Archive

External links

• Official website
• updated through early 2012