Reading #4

Bell, Steven J. "The Infodiet: How Libraries Can Offer an AppetizingAlternative to Google." Chronicle of Higher Education 50.24 (2004): B15. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 19 Oct. 2010.

The article is discussing how Google has made it actually more difficult to research subject, people, or items for students. It speaks about the mass amount of hits each term receives when using Google as a research tool. I also mentions how most of the sites given by Google are not scholarly cites and can be filled with domains that can’t be used as authoritative. The author says that due to places like Google students have now made their research methods broader rather than learning how to shrink down their search for more detail. The alternatives offered are of course libraries, but also new internet projects that are working with libraries combining information from different locations. Also the new projects will be ranking the information given in order of relevancy to the terms being searched.

I think the article makes a good point. We actually discussed these things in class last week. Google will throw out pages of web sites for any subject you look up, but generally the top lists are opinionated or not considered scholarly so they first pages or so may be useless. There is also no way to weed out the unneeded sites you simply have to scroll. I think the projects like RedLightGreen are a great idea. To be able to use a site just like Google and not have to worry if the sources given are credible is wonderful.

The article proposes that by starting with internet parodies using libraries and actual commercials will spark a new craze for libraries. That people will see these videos on YouTube and become interested, supportive, and enthusiastic about libraries again. The author offers a number of benefits of a library such as the fact that they are “open to the public” showing that no one is ever turned away. Also makes a comparison that your local librarian is like if your computer could walk and talk. There is even the usage of the new go green concept sweeping the world. The author says that it is eco-friendly to rent books from the library rather than buy them because it saves trees. This also ties into the free concept of reading books and magazines at the library rather than going out a purchasing them.

While I think that this is a clever and well thought out article I don’t necessarily agree with the author. There are good and valid points regarding the benefits of using public libraries. Having said this I just don’t see the ideas and concepts in this article bringing about a new surge of interest in local libraries. The idea that the Old Spice parodies will spawn movies and reality shows is a little bit of a stretch for me I see Old Spice commercials all the time and still haven’t spent a dime on the product. Also how can one forget the TNT trilogy The Librarian? Those movies ran for a week straight and there was no resurgence of public library usage.