Introductory
remarks
This
web-site has been designed to achieve two major goals:
First
of all to supply the user with a
concise but fairly representative cross-section of the referential base for
various fields of traditional knowledge covered by
a modern medium like the internet.
Secondly
to create a convenient and easy to use hub for a good part of those daily raised
questions which can
best be answered by using a work of reference.
As
for the potential user both the experienced and the newly interested are
expected to be profitting.
The
array of web-sites for the various fields has been selected and put together for
student and teacher alike – offering overviews or access to in-depth research
in numerous fields.
The
structure chosen is based on general considerations how to cut the continuum of
knowledge into countable sections with clear-cut borderlines. Major
encyclopedias served as examples in
applying such a structure.
The
problem addressed, though is still inherent. Almost all of the fields of
knowledge hold innumerable cross-references with various other fields, thus
often complicating direct and clear access to the answer desired.
For
first access and for those questions which can hardly be associated with any single field of knowledge there has been a
GENERAL -section put in.
The
“SEARCH“ –area is to fulfil similar
needs.
In
the process of designing this website it has been discovered that others ( ) have collected more than ever has been intended to
for this site.
Still,
the learner of English and the fresh user of the internet have certainly not
been the target groups of those more comprehensive virtual libraries.
Any
user of the site and of the internet is invited to contribute to this website in
order to create a blooming, comprehensive and
individual site of reference – still keeping in mind that full coverage does
not meet the demands, but conciseness, reliability and accessability.
Gerald Meyer
Dr. Michael Schulz
05/01/01
