Review of websites of particular use to social work students and social workers

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a rationale for seeking out and making federal, state and non-governmental Web sites available to social work students and social workers and describe a number of valuable resources, primarily from the non-governmental agencies, as they can be more difficult to identify. Design/methodology/approach – Resources included here include those that illuminate policy issues in general followed by those dealing with specific populations or issues. They have been identified both by systematic study and the serendipity that results from 27 years of experience seeking resources for undergraduate and graduate students in social work. Findings – These Web sites provide timely and authoritative information of particular interest to social work students or practitioners: first, Web sites that help illuminate policy and practices related to supporting low income people; and then, Web sites focusing on specific (geographically or topically) information needs. Research limitations/implications – The author is most familiar with sources that have been useful to undergraduate social work students and graduate students in a program that focuses on rural social work. Practical implications – The information in the Web sites described is timely and authoritative and should be part of the resources that are made known to students, faculty and practitioners in this discipline to inform their work. Social implications – Not every library can afford to subscribe to the valuable research presented in social work journals. Nor can they afford to purchase every book that might be valuable to social workers. They can, however, be knowledgeable about Web sites that present good, data-rich information as well as models of successful programming and services. In addition, it seems valuable for social workers in one state to build on the ideas that other practitioners are utilizing in another state. These Web sites often provide that kind of cross-pollination. Originality/value – While the organizations that create these Web sites have been around for decades, the literature in library science focuses primarily on collection development activities around books, electronic books and journals, while the Web sites which are free, authoritative and timely get a lot less attention.