I’ve written about AI’s effects on libraries and librarians more broadly, and today I’ll share some thoughts about how AI is affecting library instruction and approaches to information literacy. There there are a lot of credible fears about AI’s propensity to mislead, but I think there are also opportunities to refresh conversations about authority, search […]
Blacklisting Wikipedia and Google as a Credible Source?
In my work as an academic librarian, one thing I frequently teach is how to identify a trustworthy source. For research purposes, Google and Wikipedia have their limitations but they are almost always the first step for students. Because of this, one strategy is to take aggressive steps to prevent students from using them. I […]
How Does Google Scholar Work and How Can I Use It Better?
Google is great for its convenience and quick answers but much more hit or miss when you need authoritative sources. It’s important to critically evaluate your search results to figure out who each author is and why he or she might be a good person to write about the subject at hand. But another thing […]
The Shift from Tools to Platforms on the Web
Several weeks ago, Google announced it would shut down its popular RSS service Google Reader on July 1, leading to a mad scramble for alternatives. Some people remarked on how the replacements could not quite replicate their familiar workflow, forcing them to change their news-seeking routines. Others could not even sign up, as the flood […]
Is Siri a Threat to Google and Search Engines?
With Google’s current dominance over search, it’s natural to speculate about possible threats. Microsoft’s Bing, for one, is investing big time resources in hopes of gaining market share, and up-and-coming services such as DuckDuckGo are also intriguing. But the strongest competitor might not be a traditional search engine at all, but rather a fundamental new […]
What is a Vertical Search Engine?
When we think of search engines, Google typically comes to mind first. And this makes sense, since they own a dominating market share over Yahoo and Bing, the closest competitors. But there are plenty of other search engines that stick to one subject instead of trying to do it all. These are known as vertical […]