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.
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