" 'This house believes librarians cannot any longer offer more than Google'. ".

My premise: “ Google” is used as a synonym for all the internet search engines that are available for public use and which index publicly available information. And I was a librarian. Until I discovered the Internet.

“ Google” is used as a synonym for all the internet search engines that are available for public use and which index publicly available information.

And I was a librarian. Until I discovered the Internet.

What can search engines offer (that librarians can’t)?

24/7 access

Geographically independent

Currency

Speed

An independent source

Data Library of Congress: 20 terabytes Amazon: 42 terabytes YouTube: 45 terabytes Google: 100s of terabytes World Data Centre for Climate: 330 terabytes, 6 petabytes of additional data = 3 times the amount of ALL the U.S. academic research libraries contents combined.

Library of Congress: 20 terabytes

Amazon: 42 terabytes

YouTube: 45 terabytes

Google: 100s of terabytes

World Data Centre for Climate: 330 terabytes, 6 petabytes of additional data = 3 times the amount of ALL the U.S. academic research libraries contents combined.

Accuracy?

So…

RSS feeds and alerts

Data gathering

Complexity?

What else can Google do? Web, Images, News, Blogs, Products, Books, Maps, Scholar, Video, Music, Reader, Base, Directory, Finance, Catalogs, Bookmarks, Linux, Apple, Macintosh, Trends, Notebook, Accessible, Code, Patents, Timeline, Maps, Movies, Definitions, Weather, Sites, Calculator, Flights, Shakespeare, Health, Docs, Email, RSS, Gadgets, Music trends, Mars, Ride Finder, Suggest, Sets, Alerts, etc etc

Web, Images, News, Blogs, Products, Books, Maps, Scholar, Video, Music, Reader, Base, Directory, Finance, Catalogs, Bookmarks, Linux, Apple, Macintosh, Trends, Notebook, Accessible, Code, Patents, Timeline, Maps, Movies, Definitions, Weather, Sites, Calculator, Flights, Shakespeare, Health, Docs, Email, RSS, Gadgets, Music trends, Mars, Ride Finder, Suggest, Sets, Alerts, etc etc

But the real reason? LIBRARIANS ARE SLEEPWALKING! “ Our summer break” Friday, June 29, 2007 11:23 AM Posted By Pam Saenger, Associate Marketing Manager

LIBRARIANS ARE SLEEPWALKING!

“ Our summer break” Friday, June 29, 2007 11:23 AM Posted By Pam Saenger, Associate Marketing Manager

How many engines do YOU use?

Do you ever: Say “Google it” or “Let me just check Google” Think of Google as the first search engine to use when you go on the net? Use ‘Google’ as a synonym for ‘search engine’? Think you’d be lost without Google?

Say “Google it” or “Let me just check Google”

Think of Google as the first search engine to use when you go on the net?

Use ‘Google’ as a synonym for ‘search engine’?

Think you’d be lost without Google?

Google has 87.3% of the UK search engine market. 87.3%

Google has 87.3% of the UK search engine market.

87.3%

Do you… Know your search engines as well as you do your reference collections? Know the strengths and weaknesses of the GYMA resources in the same detail you do your subscription databases? Know which engine is best for images, people, blogs, specific countries, re-ranking results, for children, sounds, etc?

Know your search engines as well as you do your reference collections?

Know the strengths and weaknesses of the GYMA resources in the same detail you do your subscription databases?

Know which engine is best for images, people, blogs, specific countries, re-ranking results, for children, sounds, etc?

Now, of course… It’s not ‘just’ Google It’s not ‘just’ librarians It’s not ‘just’ information A combination of a skilled librarian, a powerful computer, basic technical abilities, and a host of search resources is… well…

It’s not ‘just’ Google

It’s not ‘just’ librarians

It’s not ‘just’ information

A combination of a skilled librarian, a powerful computer, basic technical abilities, and a host of search resources is… well…

In summary A librarian can add a depth of understanding The ability to manipulate data across a range of resources Work with an enquirer … . and leave the rest up to

A librarian can add a depth of understanding

The ability to manipulate data across a range of resources

Work with an enquirer

… . and leave the rest up to