From Website to Virtual Library and Beyond: the Genesis of myfuture.edu.au

Val Mobley, Information Officer, myfuture Project, education.au limited. Email: vmobley@educationau.edu.au

Keywords

Career counselling, Career exploration, Career information, Careers, Content management systems, Databases, education.au limited, Helpdesk, Industries, Informatics, Information literacy, Information management, Metadata, myfuture, Occupations, Online information service, Search engines, Self-assessment, Thesauri, Usability, Virtual reference, Web design, Webdesk.

Abstract

From Website to Virtual Library and Beyond: the Genesis of myfuture.edu.au

The paper explores the development of a national career information service, and describes information management issues during the first year of operation. The service is a website, but much more than that - it is a searchable online library of extensive information capable of continuous refreshment. Searches may combine elements from multiple data sets to refine resource discovery. The service also offers an interactive personalised career planning and decision making tool. A WebDesk service offers assistance in use of the site. Other interactive features are planned.