Editorial: shape shifters: librarians evolve yet again in the age of Google.
Regalado, Mariana ; Cirasella, Jill
Like all organisms and organizations, librarians and libraries
evolve by adapting to changes and pressures in their environments. From
scroll to codex to online text: every upgrade in technology is matched
by an adaptation in librarianship. Nevertheless, despite centuries of
evolution, the activities of librarians and the mission of libraries
have remained essentially constant and are still recognizable.
The pace of change in libraries has been especially rapid since the
introduction of computers, and an important recent change is the advent
of the "age of Google." Heralded by the arrival in 1998 of the
Google search engine, with its clean interface and superior results
ranking, the age of Google is defined by the growth of Google beyond its
basic search engine and the explosion of online tools that, like Google,
delight users, deliver services quickly, and reflect and respond to user
behavior.
As the tools of the age of Google have become integral to research
and other activities, librarians have adapted in three key ways: using
the tools, creating and improving library tools, and grappling with the
social and pedagogical implications of the tools. This special issue
invites readers to consider specific instances of these modes of
adaptation.
The first group of articles examines how librarians have taken
advantage of opportunities presented by age-of-Google tools to improve
workflow and service. In "'Have You Searched Google Yet?'
Using Google as a Discovery Tool for Cataloging," Jennifer Lang
discusses how Google can be used effectively in library technical
services. Next, in "A Case Study of Using Google Analytics for
Improving Library Website Content and Design," Wei Fang describes
how Google Analytics can help librarians assess and improve library Web
sites. Then, in "You and Me and Google Makes Three: Welcoming
Google into the Reference Interview," Jill Cirasella demonstrates
how various Google modules can be used to solve tricky reference
questions.
The second group of articles shows how librarians adapt to the
challenge of the age-of-Google service model, in which user expectations
drive service. "Library Resource Sharing in the Early Age of
Google" by Beth Posner and " Library Delivery 2.0: Delivering
Library Materials in the Age of NetFlix " by Lori Ayre both explore
the implications of age-of-Google tools for resource sharing and content
delivery. Then, in "What About the Book? Google-izing the Catalog
with Tables of Contents," Angi Faiks, Amy Radermacher, and Amy
Sheehan assert that libraries can take cues from Google Book Search to
improve users' experiences with online catalogs. Next, in "
Google 'til They Goggle," Carol Ottolenghi describes how her
library uses age-of-Google techniques such as alerts and RSS feeds to
create a specialized library service. Finally, in "Standing Up for
Open Source," Lee Jaffe and Greg Careaga argue that age-of-Google
librarians are well positioned to embrace and promote open source
projects.
The third group of articles explores how librarians are changing
how they think about information literacy and authority in the age of
Google. In "Unclear on the Context: Refocusing on Information
Literacy's Evaluative Component in the Age of Google,"
Genevieve Williams posits that the age of Google provides an opportunity
for librarians to foster deeper levels of information literacy. Then, in
"Research Authority in the Age of Google: Equilibrium Sought,"
Mariana Regalado discusses how authority has been redefined for research
in the age of Google. Regalado's argument is complemented by
"Digg.com and Socially-Driven Authority," in which Steven
Ovadia explores how age-of-Google news sites are organized according to
a new kind of "social authority."
The special issue is brought to a charming close with an editorial
called "The View from an Elder," in which JoEllen Broome
recounts her professional maturation in the age of Google. Broome's
story shows how librarians are imaginative and responsive shape
shifters, not the mere shelf shifters we are sometimes portrayed as.
We welcome you to read, consider, and respond to the articles in
this issue. But first, we wish to acknowledge our colleague Vicente
Revilla of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, who invited us to
participate in a panel discussion on "Is Google the Library of the
Future?" This special issue sprang from our provocative discussions
with Vicente and other colleagues, and was supported by research leave
time from the Brooklyn College Library.
Mariana Regalado
Reference Librarian
Brooklyn College Library
Brooklyn NY 11210-2889
Jill Cirasella
Reference Librarian
Brooklyn College Library
Brooklyn NY 11210-2889
