Steven Bell, Director of the Paul J. Gutman LibraryPhiladelphia Universitybells@philau.edu

Googlization and Google MigrationGooglization and Google Migration ::What Does It Mean and How Does It Affect What Does It Mean and How Does It Affect

You (and your patrons!)You (and your patrons!)

Connecting with the Net GenerationACRL/NYDecember 2, 2005

Googlelizing

Googlelizing: What Does That Mean?

Googlelizing

Definition: The desire to see traditional interfaces look more like this:

But – Is this all that different?

Googlelizing

Question: What’s This?

Googlelizing

Answer:

Googlelization Is:

• Often misunderstood

• Does not mean you love Google or hate library databases

• Another way to say “I want to give users a Google experience”

• There are some good experiments in making library databases “more like Google” but still sophisticated(e.g., RedLightGreen)

• Is “federated” search a viable option

Googlelizers Vs. Resistors Poll

A – I’m a Googlelizer!

I’m in favor of “Googlelizing” the interfaces of most library databases

B – I’m a Resistor!I think we need to retain the sophisticated features of library databases, databases that actually deliver goodsearches

Choose A Side!

Google Migration

• Put the library content where the users are – in Google

• If they bypass the library – we can still deliver it to the users – assuming they can find it (link resolving or other connections provided by content vendor)

• How will this change searching behavior?

• Best example is Open WorldCat

• Will library databases be next?

Let’s turn everyone into librarians

Good enough is okay

Only librarians like to search

Library databases are too complex

Change it all for Millennials

Five New Platitudes

Help users know about all research options

Collaborate with educators and other learning support professionals

Retain core values yet adapt to new landscape

Create Wise Information Consumers

How Do We Survive (and prosper!)

• Develop expertise – and keep up

• Preach balance – there is a full spectrum of search resources – use them all wisely

• Create user awareness in your community

• Open up eyes and minds with comparative search utilities

• Think competitively and differentiate the library