Reading #4

Andrew Darcy
Lib103 Reading #4
“The Infodiet: How Libraries Can Offer an Appetizing Alternative to Google”
Author: Steven J. Bell
February 28, 2009

Despite the rise of the world’s most popular search engine, Google, libraries are finding it more difficult to find their niche in the research world. This is especially evident in the academic world, where students are using the easier to use Google as opposed to the libraries advanced research and database systems. Students are wanting their information fast and at the click of a mouse. Even though they are getting a lot of information from online, people are becoming “infobesity” with material that is of low quality and that is ultimately junk. To rectify this problem of poor material, they may need to be online databases like the programs that are used by libraries. Libraries cipher through nutritious amounts of information which for the most part are desirable for students to use for research paper. However, for students to use these types of programs, libraries are going to have to look more like Google and present their data in an easier way. Their needs groups of professors, individuals, and universities explaining the importance of getting to the good information like what we can receive from library databases. While these search engines keep on progressing, students are going to have to get through all of the junk that they are providing and must make sure that they are getting information from viable sources.

Libraries have a tough goal in regaining their spot for research. In the future they are going to have to make their databases more user friendly and educate students on the type of information that they are receiving from online search engines such as Google. Even though I am victim to using the easy to use search engines, this article reminded me yet again that not all of the information that I am receiving is pertinent to what I am searching for and that I need to have a critical eye when evaluating web sites.