A personal perspective on accessing academic information in the Google era, or 'How I learned to stop worrying and love Google'

Abstract

As a young librarian and student, it is easy to feel pulled in two directions. I grew up on Google and it is naturally my first port of call when I identify a gap in my knowledge. However, as a librarian-in-waiting, the idea of a 'quick and dirty' search with Google is an illicit thrill. It is almost too easy.This paper discusses some of the most commonly perceived disadvantages of the new 'Google era' for students and researchers, and frames them in a new light. Issues such as the comprehensiveness and quality of web-based information are important both to those using this information and to those facilitating access to it - the librarians. Here, it is suggested that there is a tendency to overestimate the problems associated with the Google era - and to underestimate the new benefits we can reap by including web search in our information gathering strategies.