When last we met, I discussed the behemoth that is Google. Risking academic scorn (at least from those who stopped reading halfway through), I pointed out why Google is a superior product. Today, I do the same with Wikipedia. You will not often hear a librarian sing the praises of Wikipedia, so be sure to mark this day in your calendar.
As I am writing, the English portion of Wikipedia includes 2,808,575 articles. By comparison, Grove Music Online is comprised of the equivalent of 36 printed encyclopedia volumes and has fewer than 100,000 articles. Although this is very rough estimate, this means that Wikipedia could be the equivalent of over 1,000 printed volumes. The scope of the content is also exceptional. Here are five articles I found using the “Random Article” feature:
• Jacques Rougeau (semi-retired French-Canadian professional wrestler)
• Sechelt/Porpoise Bay Water Aerodrome (a former airport)
• Pont-de-Metz (a commune in France)
• Grey Teal (a duck)
• Ultimate Human (Marvel comics series)
With a scope like this, you are able to find information on practically anything (a slight exaggeration, of course) without having to search very far. Also, since most Wikipedia articles can be updated by anyone, they are constantly being expanded and improved.
And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for: The Caveat. Wikipedia is an amazing resource, but only when used properly. I would never use it as the final word on something that really matters, such as a research paper. A general rule of thumb for research is that if you don’t know the source, you can’t trust it. While one of Wikipedia’s strengths is that anybody can change it, this also means you don’t know who changed it.
So, what can we use it for? It is excellent for questions that just don’t matter that much, such as if I’m wondering who wrote the theme song to The Office. I’ll probably find the correct answer, but if I don’t, it really isn’t that important. The other primary use for Wikipedia, perhaps more relevant for an academic setting, is as a research aid. A well written article includes references that point out where the information came from, thus pointing the reader to more authoritative sources. Even if there are no references, it could give you some ideas that could aim you in the right direction. Again, Wikipedia is not a one stop shop for research, but it is a valuable tool when used properly.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Why We Love Google
We all know how frustrating the library catalog can be, a fact I will not deny. A quick comparison to a Google search leads many to believe that our catalog is far inferior to Google. I will now break the Librarian Code of Ethics by saying that this is true… sort of. Google (which I use to represent most web search engines) excels at figuring out what we are looking for, whereas the catalog provides us with the tools to dig down and find exactly what we are looking for.
The creators of Google understand exactly how people search and what they are searching for. They have made searching incredibly intuitive to the point that Google almost seems intelligent. Our library catalog clearly lacks intelligence, as evident by everybody’s favorite error message: “The system could not interpret your search statement.” It doesn’t make any suggestions on how to fix your search, it doesn’t automatically try different spellings, and it doesn’t make any assumptions about what you are trying to find. From this perspective, it is indeed inferior to Google.
And now, before they take away my library license (no, there is no such thing; it is actually a degree), let me explain why this isn’t really the case. Library catalogs are generally lacking in this area because they serve a very different purpose. We need to give you the ability to find books on very specific topics, a score in a particular format by particular editor, recordings in a variety of formats, and the list goes on. By meticulously cataloging all the data we have on each item in our library and by allowing you to construct a precise search indicating what you need, we provide you with the tools to hone in on, with pinpoint accuracy, exactly what you are looking for. If you’ve ever browsed through page upon page of Google results looking for the answer to an obscure question, you know that this isn’t always possible in Google, and this is where Google is inferior to the library catalog.
I admit that it is not easy to construct these precise searches in the catalog, but that’s why we are here to help. If at anytime you would like help figuring out how to improve your searching, please feel free to talk to me or anyone else behind the desk. Fully understanding how the catalog works is not a simple task, but the more you learn about it, the more you will be able to take full advantage of all of the great resources you have at your disposal here at the library.
The creators of Google understand exactly how people search and what they are searching for. They have made searching incredibly intuitive to the point that Google almost seems intelligent. Our library catalog clearly lacks intelligence, as evident by everybody’s favorite error message: “The system could not interpret your search statement.” It doesn’t make any suggestions on how to fix your search, it doesn’t automatically try different spellings, and it doesn’t make any assumptions about what you are trying to find. From this perspective, it is indeed inferior to Google.
And now, before they take away my library license (no, there is no such thing; it is actually a degree), let me explain why this isn’t really the case. Library catalogs are generally lacking in this area because they serve a very different purpose. We need to give you the ability to find books on very specific topics, a score in a particular format by particular editor, recordings in a variety of formats, and the list goes on. By meticulously cataloging all the data we have on each item in our library and by allowing you to construct a precise search indicating what you need, we provide you with the tools to hone in on, with pinpoint accuracy, exactly what you are looking for. If you’ve ever browsed through page upon page of Google results looking for the answer to an obscure question, you know that this isn’t always possible in Google, and this is where Google is inferior to the library catalog.
I admit that it is not easy to construct these precise searches in the catalog, but that’s why we are here to help. If at anytime you would like help figuring out how to improve your searching, please feel free to talk to me or anyone else behind the desk. Fully understanding how the catalog works is not a simple task, but the more you learn about it, the more you will be able to take full advantage of all of the great resources you have at your disposal here at the library.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
15 Things You Might Not Know About Allen Library (In No Particular Order)
1) We have a sheet music collection that mostly consists of individual popular songs. It is located in the small seminar room and can be searched online.
2) Our namesake, Mildred P. Allen, was the Secretary of State of Connecticut from 1955 to 1959. Her picture is in the large seminar room, behind the projection screen.
3) Our current periodicals are out in the open and can be browsed. While you can’t take them out of the library, I encourage you to read them here in the library. We have something for everybody!
4) It can be hard to find certain types of items in our catalog, so if you are having trouble, you should ask for help.
5) We have several one-octave midi keyboards that you can check out for in-library use.
6) One of the services we offer is providing you with subject guides. These guides will provide you with call numbers, useful books, subject headings for the catalog, and more in the areas of music, dance, and theatre.
7) We aren’t just a music library, we are a music and dance library. Our dance materials are in the GV section outside of the seminar rooms.
8) We really like pistachios.
9) You can access your course reserve lists online.
10) You can renew materials (once) online through the My Account feature in the catalog.
11) We use the Library of Congress Classification system for our call numbers. We even use this system for our CDs, which even the Library of Congress doesn’t do.
12) The monkey on Jenny’s computer is named Mojo and, despite what she insists, it is really an ape.
13) We have a large collection of orchestral parts on CD-ROM. Ask for them at the desk!
14) For music education students and faculty: The “Big Purple Book” is now the “Big Red Book.”
15) If you are using chamber music for a chamber class, you can take it out for the entire semester.
2) Our namesake, Mildred P. Allen, was the Secretary of State of Connecticut from 1955 to 1959. Her picture is in the large seminar room, behind the projection screen.
3) Our current periodicals are out in the open and can be browsed. While you can’t take them out of the library, I encourage you to read them here in the library. We have something for everybody!
4) It can be hard to find certain types of items in our catalog, so if you are having trouble, you should ask for help.
5) We have several one-octave midi keyboards that you can check out for in-library use.
6) One of the services we offer is providing you with subject guides. These guides will provide you with call numbers, useful books, subject headings for the catalog, and more in the areas of music, dance, and theatre.
7) We aren’t just a music library, we are a music and dance library. Our dance materials are in the GV section outside of the seminar rooms.
8) We really like pistachios.
9) You can access your course reserve lists online.
10) You can renew materials (once) online through the My Account feature in the catalog.
11) We use the Library of Congress Classification system for our call numbers. We even use this system for our CDs, which even the Library of Congress doesn’t do.
12) The monkey on Jenny’s computer is named Mojo and, despite what she insists, it is really an ape.
13) We have a large collection of orchestral parts on CD-ROM. Ask for them at the desk!
14) For music education students and faculty: The “Big Purple Book” is now the “Big Red Book.”
15) If you are using chamber music for a chamber class, you can take it out for the entire semester.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Allen Library Has Yet Another Book Sale
The day you have all been waiting for is finally just around the corner. On Monday, March 9, at 10:00am, we will start the Spring 2009 Allen Library Book Sale. For those of you who have yet to experience the joy of the Book Sale, this is the time of the semester when we clean house and get rid of hundreds of items that we have duplicates of or just don't need. The name "Book Sale" is a bit of a misnomer, as it includes books (including art books again), scores, CDs, VHS tapes, and even three laserdiscs. Most items will be $2 or less, so this is an excellent opportunity for you to build your personal collections. While the sale usually lasts for several weeks, the best items go fast, so make sure you get here as early as possible. See you next week!
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