Introduction

My experience as a women's studies librarian for approximately twenty years informs the following observations regarding libraries, cyberspace, information resources and services on women and gender issues, and women's knowledge. For the purposes of this chapter, "cyberfeminism" is taken to mean feminist responses to computer-mediated communication.

I have seen the birth and development of the two multi-disciplinary fields of women's studies (WS) and women in international development (WID). (Very roughly, WID includes women and gender issues in all developing areas of the world.) During that time I have built a collection and provided reference service for faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, many visiting international scholars, and the general public.

On a daily basis I see the effects of the hyperbole and mythology about information technology (IT) and Internet on those seeking information about women and gender issues - particularly on undergraduates. Because of the hyperbole and myths about computers/IT many people have unrealistic expectations that everything they are looking for will be instantly accessible in exactly the form they need. Largely because we live in a sound bite communications culture, many, especially the young, cannot fathom the need to invest time and effort in the pursuit of what they need.

That is, it appears to be difficult for many to understand that they might need to consult more than one source to do research on a topic such as media images of women or how a mother's working outside the home affects children. More peculiar to many is the notion that in some cases the sources that would be most helpful to them are actually available only on paper(!), thanks to the myth that anything found on a computer is more valid and more up-to-date than anything found on paper.