Hi everyone, Re. below, some of you may have already seen this reference, but I thought of the APLA list for distribution:) Cheers, Leo ------ 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 9 Chestnut Ave. Wolfville, Nova Scotia. B4P-1V7. Canada Office: 902-542-3908 Cell: 902-452-3517 Fax: 902-542-7686 [log in to unmask] My professional and personal subject lists can be found at: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ljdeveau/Homepage.html