What can Search Engine Designers Learn from the Reference Interview?

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Query specifications by typical users are notoriously imprecise. And for many searches it is impossible to expect the user to fully and accurately specify what they are interested in. Because they do not know what is available for the asking, users cannot be expected to specify exactly what they want. Reference librarians have been developing a craft that, among other things, deals with this incomplete specification of desired results. What can search engine designers learn from prior art to improve query results? John Dove, CEO of Credo Reference, will contrast Google's vision of the future with one where reference librarians may be called upon to expertly modify online query systems in order to significantly improve query results for their users.

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Pew Report: Information Searches That Solve Problems

At the CARL North Regional meeting at Santa Clara University on Feb. 11th, Carolyn Schubert shared data from the Dec 2007 Pew Report "Information Searches That Solve Problems : How People Use the Internet, Libraries and Government Agencies When They Need Help.

This report found that while more people still turn to the Internet for help to solve problems, a large percent of younger people are starting to turn to libraries. From the report, "Another key insight is that members of Gen Y are the leading users of libraries for help solving problems and in more general patronage". Are people starting to want more "quality" information that a librarian can provide?

Many other reports on the Pew website would be of interest to Academic Libraries. This post from librarian Mari Miller, Co-Chair, CARL North IT IG.

25 Awesome Beta Research Tools

CollegeDegree.com notes, "Check out this list of tools being used in libraries" -- tools such as Project Blacklight at UVA, LibX, Encore at Michigan State.