We might also wish to consider the nature of virtual
information - it is often corrupt or of duious origin,
thus requiring professional assessment of its
credibility.  Further, we are already aware that
anyone with a computer can put information on the web
- making searchers vunerable to misinformation
maliciously posted to mislead or persuade readers of
particular theories which may utterly devoid of
substance. Internet searching can never replace
professionals who are able to assess the quality of
information and enusre its value to the end user.

Librarians already address these issues of reliability
ona regular basis through selection of materials, and
knowledge of resources.  I shudder to think of
unsuspecting undergrads using "bad" information to
inform their studies.

Sandra Dunkin
Librarian/Records & Information Management Coordinator
First Nations Summit
Suite 1200 - 100 Park Royal South
West Vancouver, BC
V7T 1A2 Canada.
604-926-9903
www.fns.bc.ca


 --- "Dobson, Malcolm"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> "pull up relevant documents with just a few clicks
> on a keyboard. " - maybe
> - if the documents is available digitally & without
> charge. But most
> documents 'relevant' to any research are still only
> available in print, in a
> library.
> Malcolm S. Dobson
> Librarian
> James B.P. Ferguson Library
> Lanarkshire NHS Board
> 14 Beckford St
> Hamilton ML3 0TA
>
> 01698 281313 ext 6209
>
> 'Knowledge is power' - Christopher Dresser
>
> The views expressed above are my own and not those
> of NHS Lanarkshire
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Deborah Morrison [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: 27 January 2005 13:49
> > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:      Re: Restructuring at Bangor
> University
> >
> > By coincidence, the following has just appeared on
> Genie Tyburski's
> > Virtual Chase site
> > (24 Jan) "In less than a decade, Internet search
> engines have completely
> > changed how people gather information. No longer
> must we run to a library
> > to look up something; rather we can pull up
> relevant documents with just a
> > few clicks on a keyboard. Now that 'Googling' has
> become synonymous with
> > doing research, online search engines are poised
> for a series of upgrades
> > that promise to further enhance how we find what
> we need."
> >
> > The Scientific American article
> >
>
<http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=0006304A-37F4-11E8-B7F48
> > 3414B7F0000> continues by describing some of the
> developing search
> > technologies, many of which will continue to
> improve access to
> > information. But improved search technology won't
> necessarily result in
> > better searches. Research is a process that
> encompasses more than querying
> > a database. It involves understanding what you
> seek, identifying potential
> > sources, formulating precise queries, analyzing
> what you find, and then
> > possibly revising this strategy based on what you
> learn.
> >
> > Let's keep excitement about new search
> technologies in perspective.
> > "Googling" might be synonymous with searching, but
> no single search
> > engine, database or other technology is synonymous
> with research. It's an
> > art that will take a higher level of computing
> intelligence to replicate.
> >
> > Deborah Morrison M.A., MCLIP
> > Information Research Officer
> > University of Edinburgh Management School
> > 7 Bristo Square
> > Edinburgh
> > EH8 9AL
> > Tel: 0131 650 9546
> >
> > ********************
> > NHS Lanarkshire Confidentiality and Disclaimer
> Notice
> >
>
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> >
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