Libraries and Google

Citation

Parry, F. (2007), "Libraries and Google", Online Information Review, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 248-248. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520710747301

Mark Sandler, in the first of a collection of 18 chapters, likens the effect on the library world of Google Print to that of a lottery win on its lucky recipient. Life will never be the same. Sandler calls this “disruptive beneficence”, which is a pretty accurate reflection on the reactions of many librarians to Google's ever‐expanding initiatives and ambitions. Libraries and librarians have for some time been trying to work out just how to respond to Google. Is it a threat to a way of life, a challenge to take on board or a positive enhancement? The chapters in this very well put together book closely analyse the various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats posed by Google.

Not all the authors agree with one another, which makes for a healthy debate. For instance, Sandler sees the future role of libraries as being a provider of a social space and a place where “the value they add will be the indulgence of personal relationship with the efficiency of expert retrieval”. Mike Thelwall examines the role of Google in helping students with literature searches and suggests and educational role for librarians in constructing search strategies and alternatives to Google. But Rick Anderson disagrees, saying that there is not much that the library can add to the convenience and efficiency of Google, especially with the advent of Google Print and Google Scholar. He is also fairly disparaging about the ability of – or need for – librarians to seek an alternative role as educators or specialists, turning researchers information seekers into expert searchers.

Google Print and Scholar dominate much of the discussion. Most mention the benefits of the Google Print project, which brings hitherto hidden – to many – texts out to a potentially large audience. The Google Scholar project is still in beta testing mode but is already making waves and, with the addition of many library holdings and the ability to download results into bibliographic managers, is challenging the holy of holies, the library's expensively maintained bibliographic database collections. Still, there are hidden dangers in relying on these two new tools, the most common of which is the belief that “if it is not on Google it is not there”. Burton Callicott and Debbie Vaughn deal with this very effectively in their analysis of the performance of Google Scholar and their library's subscription databases. Another chapter challenges the comprehensiveness of Google with its inability to search the Invisible Web. Other chapters also examine the effectiveness of Google Scholar and the implications for libraries and library information literacy programmes.

If the library community is unsure about how to deal with Google, it is clear that Google is aware of the problem and is making a concerted effort to bring librarians into the fold. Recent developments in Google Scholar and the introduction of “Google Librarian” is evidence of this. The final chapter of this book is entitled Keeping up with Google and lists ways in which librarians can keeps tabs on a service which is definitely proving to be more than just another search engine.

These chapters were authored in 2005, and some have been overtaken by events, but this remains an excellent, thought‐provoking read.