Reading #3

“The Infodiet: How Libraries Can Offer an Appetizing Alternative to Google”
Steven Bell
Chronicle of Higher Education

In this article the author, Steven Bell, makes the argument that the search engine Google is beginning to challenge the place of academic libraries in terms of patronage. This is compounded by the fact that people, in particular students, are begging to ignore their libraries to the point of being surprised that they actually have one available to them. In essence Bell makes his argument that “the academic library has clearly lost its monopoly as the campus information gateway”. However he maintains that this need not be the case; libraries can revamp themselves to draw back wayward patrons and students. But the question is how exactly to do this? One way is to simply make finding information easier. It seems one of the main complaints students have is that when they search a library data base they get frustrated with how difficult it is and in that frustration give up their search. Now, however, libraries are trying to “Google-ize” their data bases to be less restrictive and broader in their search results. While this is a good idea, many libraries don’t wish to “lower” themselves to Goggle standards. Instead they are coming out with programs to help their students make sense of the complicated methods in which they can find information at their libraries. Programs like “the information-literacy initiative” try to teach students how to trudge through electronic and paper resources; but for the most part many more people are of the opinion that libraries should simply get with the times.

Personally I have never had too much trouble finding the information I needed at a library. This may be due to the fact that both my parents were teachers and I spent many a weekend of my childhood in a library while they did research for one thing or another. I recognize that most people don’t have this…background, and so I sympathize with them and support the modernization of the library catalogue.