2005SpringQ2

Question #2
Information professionals believe that well designed information systems contain structured access points and vocabulary, and that recall and precision must perform at certain levels. Usability and convenience are also important so that these systems often provide different interfaces for expert and novice users. However, many users instead use an Internet search engine and accept the results of “googling” as satisfactory without even considering the use of databases available to them. a. To what degree are databases relevant for the user of a library of your choice (academic, media center, public, special)? Support your statement by comparing the strengths and weaknesses of a search in a structured information system (e.g., ERIC etc.) with a Google search of the Internet. b. Discuss issues such as resource availability and quality, search vocabulary options, search logic, and ranking of results as well as searcher time and effort. c. When, in your view, should a user resort to a search engine instead of a database or vice versa?

Response