I also remember reading of studies in Maryland US and Sussex UK, both of
which gave a figure of no more than 60% for success rate of enquiries in
public libraries. Apparently we're supposed to say 'did that answer your
question?' before they go...(I'd love to reference this but not off the top
of my head)
> ----------
> From: Roddham Mike[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 May 2002 11:31
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Google Researcher Replacing Librarians?
>
> ************************************************************************
> This e-mail has been received directly from the INTERNET: you should
> exercise a degree of caution since there can be no guarantee that the
> source or content of the message is authentic.
>
> If you receive inappropriate e-mail from an external source it is your
> responsibility to notify Computer Services Helpdesk (telephone 738884).
>
> The full States e-mail Usage Policy can be found here:
> http://intranet1/aware/Internet_email_issues.htm
> ************************************************************************
>
> But how good is your average reference librarian anyway? I can remember a
> Consumer's Association report from a few years back which showed that they
> often gave incomplete or inaccurate information!
>
> Mike Roddham
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wentz, Reinhard [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 May 2002 08:35
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Google Researcher Replacing Librarians?
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> Karen Albert on Medlib-L today mentions an article in 'Information Today'
> on
> Google's new service designed to invite
> any question which will then be answered by one of a team of researchers
> at
> Google:
>
> http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb020422-3.htm
>
> The beta version of this service and a few sample questions can be seen at
>
> https://answers.google.com/answers/main
>
>
> The Google Answers Researchers Training Manual, with more details, Do's
> and
> Dont's, more sample questions with answers,
> a style manual etc. can be seen at
>
> https://answers.google.com/answers/researchertraining.html
>
> An archive of all questions and answers is planned.
>
> All very interesting (not so new in the area of 'health on the web':
> there
> are enough sites where a patient can leave his/her
> symptoms and then get a diagnosis and medical advice from a doctor), but
> as
> a general service?
>
> A chance for a spot of moonlighting (income passed on to our respective
> employing institutions? Check some of the answers and
> then deride (or learn) from them? Feel threatened by it (as a reference
> librarian)? Join other reference librarians and set up a competing
> service?
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Reinhard
>
>
> Reinhard Wentz,
> IC LIS, London
>
**********************************************************************
The information in this e-mail and any attachments is confidential and may be
privileged or protected by other legal rules. It is intended solely for the
addressee(s). Access to this e-mail by anyone other than the addressee(s) is
unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible
for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are not authorised to, and
therefore must not, disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message or any
part of this message.
**********************************************************************
|