> I am not finding fault with Google (in fact, I have found that Google is so beloved by many students that
> when I discuss these matters in my information literacy workshops, the response is real anger), but
> I point out that Google is only a tool, like a hammer or a drill. And like any tool, it has strengths and
> weaknesses. Since Google is such a major tool, and it changes constantly, it is important to
> reconsider its (continually changing) strengths along with its (continually changing) weaknesses.
Agree entirely when you put it like this, and it is probably part of our responsibility as librarians to bring this perspective to patron's attention even when it does make them angry! Because it can (kind of curiously, really) cause such an emotional reaction to question Google, all the more reason we have to be sure we are accurate and sensible in the information we impart on it, rather than alarmist about misrepresented things that are not in fact alarming.
That is, it's appropriate to educate patrons about the fact that Googles algorithms are "subjective opinions" operationalized -- but only in the context of understanding that ALL software search engines, including our own catalogs are other interfaces, are also thus.
Received on Tue Dec 07 2010 - 10:24:41 EST