This book contains a selection of articles "designed to highlight HIV/AIDS specific Internet information sources and resources," showing the breadth and depth of information available, issues in developing and maintaining a Web presence, evaluating an Internet site, and locating relevant HIV/AIDS information. The editor has written a number of books about HIV/AIDS and information sources, has a background in libraries, and has served as a Co-Chair of Texas Woman's University's Task Force on HIV/AIDS. This book makes a case for the importance of information in HIV/AIDS prevention and management, managing various complications, extending life expectancy, treatment advances, and in social support, and the value of the Internet in providing access to that information is communicated. Healthcare professionals and the general public are the intended audience. The book educates the reader about HIV/AIDS and provides well described and evaluated Internet resources on this topic. It is well indexed, helping readers to find the specific Internet resource that they need quickly. This book surpasses many other books about Internet sites in that it also educates the reader about HIV/AIDS and the needs and obstacles of special populations of AIDS patients (children and adolescents, African Americans, Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, women, and people living in rural communities). It also educates the reader about antiretroviral drug development, complementary and alternative medicine and HIV/AIDS, and agencies and grant supported efforts to get much needed information about HIV/AIDS to the populations who need it. Throughout, this book provides well annotated and evaluated lists of Internetresources. The importance of access to information for the general public, as well as healthcare providers, is emphasized. The ability to get information about new treatments in a timely manner and to connect with people with similar concerns, makes the Internet a powerful medium in HIV/AIDS, where information about new discoveries is important and people's lives are so dramatically impacted. My one criticism is that this book claims to show the reader how to evaluate sites, which is misleading. The first chapter does give recommendations for building a site, but it is not integrated well with the rest of the book. Evaluation of web sites is only taught by demonstration, as sites are evaluated. It does an excellent job of meeting the other objectives of educating and providing Internet resources.
Offers information about using the Internet to answer questions regarding HIV and AIDS. The 12 contributions address issues surrounding developing and maintaining a Web presence, recommend how to evaluate Internet sites and locate relevant, reliable HIV/AIDS information, and clarify unusual terminology common in newer sites. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Reviewer: Peggy R. Baldwin, MLS, AHIP (Providence Portland Medical Center)
Description: This book contains a selection of articles "designed to highlight HIV/AIDS specific Internet information sources and resources," showing the breadth and depth of information available, issues in developing and maintaining a Web presence, evaluating an Internet site, and locating relevant HIV/AIDS information. The editor has written a number of books about HIV/AIDS and information sources, has a background in libraries, and has served as a Co-Chair of Texas Woman's University's Task Force on HIV/AIDS.
Purpose: This book makes a case for the importance of information in HIV/AIDS prevention and management, managing various complications, extending life expectancy, treatment advances, and in social support, and the value of the Internet in providing access to that information is communicated.
Audience: Healthcare professionals and the general public are the intended audience.
Features: The book educates the reader about HIV/AIDS and provides well described and evaluated Internet resources on this topic. It is well indexed, helping readers to find the specific Internet resource that they need quickly.
Assessment: This book surpasses many other books about Internet sites in that it also educates the reader about HIV/AIDS and the needs and obstacles of special populations of AIDS patients (children and adolescents, African Americans, Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, women, and people living in rural communities). It also educates the reader about antiretroviral drug development, complementary and alternative medicine and HIV/AIDS, and agencies and grant supported efforts to get much needed information about HIV/AIDS to the populations who need it. Throughout, this book provides well annotated and evaluated lists of Internet resources. The importance of access to information for the general public, as well as healthcare providers, is emphasized. The ability to get information about new treatments in a timely manner and to connect with people with similar concerns, makes the Internet a powerful medium in HIV/AIDS, where information about new discoveries is important and people's lives are so dramatically impacted. My one criticism is that this book claims to show the reader how to evaluate sites, which is misleading. The first chapter does give recommendations for building a site, but it is not integrated well with the rest of the book. Evaluation of web sites is only taught by demonstration, as sites are evaluated. It does an excellent job of meeting the other objectives of educating and providing Internet resources.