• What Is TIP?
• TIP's Three Components:
  • "Search Functions"
  • "Our Picks"
  • "Other Library Resources"
• What's the Difference Between TIP and the Libraries' Homepage?
• Background
• What Others Say About TIP

TIP (a shortened form for Topper InfoPortal) is a unique search tool on the WKU Libraries' Homepage to streamline and make more productive users' searches for useful information from the Web. It allows WKU and community users to find the very best local, regional, national, and international Web sites in over 30 categories along with the University's and the Kentucky Virtual Library's electronic resources and Web accessible catalogs. The fact that library and non-library resources -- funded and non-funded -- are presented in a one-stop shopping interface makes TIP the first development of its kind. It can serve as a model for libraries to become "portals of first choice," providing offerings that both include and exceed those from commercial ISP's (Internet Service Providers). TIP is built upon many successes. Although the online databases are only available to users affiliated with WKU and KYVL, many other resources, including the online catalogs, are accessible to all.

Its campus situated on a hill, the Western Kentucky University community is called the Hilltoppers. Hence Topper InfoPortal.

 Search Functions

These functions are accessible by the yellow buttons on top of the text area. In addtion to the Libraries' online catalog TOPCAT, subscribed datebases, e-journals (via TDNet), and ebooks, these buttons also take you to the Kentucky Virtual Libraries' databases and catalogues, and the diverse search engines that include the new Google Scholar service that allow you to find scholarly literature. The menu buttons also lead you to a host of library resources and subject and departmental guides that help you how to locate them online and offline.



Our Picks

Accessible from the vertical menu bar on the left of the screen, "Our Picks" consists of over thirty categories, such as "Financial Aid & Scholarships," "Grants & Funding," and "Computing & the Web." Each category has about twenty Web links to sites professionally selected by the WKU Libraries Web Site Team, and is grouped into "Local/regional" and "National/international" blocks, prominently featuring the university' resources drawn from its Web sites. For instance, WKU students who look for job opportunities will first find the university' Career Center, followed by links to nationwide job databases, Occupational Outlook Handbook, interview tips, etc.





Other Library Resources

Also accessible from the yellow buttons on top of the text area are the "Research Guides" created by the WKU library faculty in collaboration with faculty from all WKU's academic colleges, and the "More Resources," which include indexes to printed and electronic collections in the library holdings. In addition, accessible at the bottom of the vertical menu bar on the left of the screen is a series of search engines that search the portal, as well as the University's and the Libraries' Web sites.

What Is the Difference Between TIP and the Libraries' Homepage?

TIP is complementary to the WKU Libraries' homepage. While offering a portal, or gateway, to facilitate users in locating library or non-library Web accessible resources, TIP is not designed to provide routine library information, such as hours, calendar of events, departments & units, floor plans, museum exhibitions, etc. This type of information is available through the Libraries' Homepage.

There are, however, some overlapping elements. For instance, users can access online catalogs and databases, research guides, and library collections from both TIP and the Libraries' homepage. This redundancy is intentional, designed to provide multiple access points to cater to users' diverse preferences. The bottom line is always the same: helping users to find what they want when and where they want it.

Structurally, TIP and the Libraries' homepage coexist, providing users a round-trip access: they can come to TIP by clicking on the animated TIP logo on the homepage, and go back to it from TIP by using the link "Libraries Home" at the bottom of each TIP page.

The idea of making WKU Libraries' Web site a "portal of first choice" was conceived by Dr. Michael Binder, Dean of Libraries, in the spring of 1999. Haiwang Yuan, Web Site & Virtual Library Coordinator, began to work on the project with his Web Site Team in the fall of the same year. With the help and support of the Dean and the Libraries' leading body, Council of Library Department Heads, TIP was completed and released to the public in May, 2000.

After its release, TIP was highly acclaimed by Dr. Barbara Burch, Provost of Western Kentucky University. On first seeing TIP demonstrated, she said, "I am astounded. This is fantastic!"

Dr. Richard Kirchmeyer, Vice President for Information Technology, gave TIP an "A+" recommending it to faculty and staff at the Summer Computer Camp 2000, a program to improve their computer skills.

Keith E. Shafer, Consulting Research Scientist from OCLC, comments, "This looks well thought out and quite extensive. I'm sure it took a good deal of effort to put together. I didn't have the sense that the portals were rehashes of something someone else did. Probably because of the local emphasis. I think this is critical."

Dr. Gay Perkins, Business Librarian of WKU Libraries, comments: "The Topper InfoPortal has many topics of interest such as database access, the weather, business, and senior citizens, and is a joy to use. It is very well organized and laid out and should be of great help to those who access our WKU Web site."

Faculty and staff rave: "Excellent!" "Nice concept!" "... Lots of potential here. (But who knows that better than you and your colleagues in the library?)" and "Just want to let you know: TIP IS GREAT!"

Pamela Napier, Information Coordinator of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), added a link to TIP on the OSP Web site at Western immediately after its release, as she considers TIP to be a great complement to the OSP site.

LaVette M. Burnette wrote in her e-mail feedback, "As a graduate student, I use Topper InfoPortal (TIP) everyday. I am absolutely elated because this new research guide helps me get to FirstSearch, EBSCOhost, and ERIC fast and effectively."

Carolyn Carruthers, a senior of Library Media Education at WKU, is right to the point when she says of TIP's interface, "Everything is there at the click of the mouse. Everyone will be able to find exactly what they are looking for."