Hi everyone,
Re. below, some of you may have already seen this reference, but I
thought of the APLA list for distribution:)
Cheers,
Leo
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Kenney, Anne R., Nancy Y. McGovern, and Ida T. Martinez, et. al.
"[18]Google Meets eBay: What Academic Librarians Can Learn From
Alternative Information Providers" [19]D-Lib Magazine 9(6) (June
2003) (http://www.dlib.org/dlib/june03/kenney/06kenney.html). -
This is the report of an interesting study by Cornell University,
in which Cornell reference librarians went toe-to-toe with Google
Answers to try to determine which service answered reference
questions better and most cost-effectively. The study was basically
inconclusive, and the authors admit that it was a "quick, limited
review," but they offer three lessons: "First, the study revealed
the importance of self-assessment...Just as public school teachers
evaluate each other's performance throughout the school year,
reference librarians could improve their services through peer
review...Second, academic libraries should make a practice of
regularly monitoring developments in the broader information
landscape...Finally, what lessons can academic libraries draw from
the ancillary services offered by commercial enterprises?
Commercial enterprises determine their services in part by
assessing their competitors and going one better." Required reading
for reference librarians and administrators. - [20]RT
Current Cites - ISSN: 1060-2356
Copyright (c) 2003 by the Regents of the University of California All
rights reserved.
Copying is permitted for noncommercial use by computerized bulletin
board/conference systems, individual scholars, and libraries.
--
_______________________
Leo J. Deveau, M.Ed., MLIS
Independent Market and Policy Research
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