Internet Information
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project
“Most Americans Expect to Find What They are Looking for Online in News, Health Care, Government Information, and Shopping”
The Pew Internet Project issued a news release that’s dated next week (12/29) with a few highlights from a research study about Internet usage. I’ll post a link to the complete report titled, “Counting on the Internet” when it’s made available.
**UPDATE 12/29: The full-text of the report is now online.**
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Here are a few passages from the news release:
–”New research from the Pew Internet and American Life Project finds that most Internet users (80%) and many non-users (about 40%) expect that they will be able to find reliable information online when it comes to news, health care information, e-commerce, and government.”
–“A large share of Internet users now say that they will turn first to the Internet when they next need information about health care or government services.”
–”46% of Internet users say they will use the Net next time they have a medical inquiry, a figure statistically indistinguishable from the 47% of Internet users who say they will contact a medical professional.”
–”69% of all Americans, Internet users and non-users alike, expect to be able to find reliable, up-to-date news online; 85% of Internet users say this compared to 43% of non-users.”
–”At the same time, the high hopes for the online world are tempered when it comes to personal information. Only 31% of Americans expect to be able to find reliable information about someone online; 35% of Internet users say this and 25% of non-users say this.”
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What do these highlights say about the library world and database industry? Do they demonstrate that we’re getting the word out about authority issues or the services (databases, books, etc.) that we provide? I don’t think so. Please don’t misunderstand me, I don’t want libraries and librarians to be rigid gatekeepers to information, that was and is a bad idea. But our role as a teacher and guide have never been more important. Are we meeting the challenge? In my mind these numbers illustrate what’s becoming a regular discussion on The ResourceShelf, how well our profession markets itself, our skills, and the services we offer. In other words is the general public saying, why do I need a library or librarian if I’m using the Internet and getting something “reliable” when it comes to news, health, and other information? This survey, very likely to receive mainstream press attention, and similar reports force info pros to ponder many questions.
Here are a few that I’m thinking about:
1) Are we doing enough (anything) to promote and market the services we offer? To differentiate web resources from the others we offer? Maybe the reason that most people turn to the free web is because they don’t have an idea about what a library and fee-based resources can offer? Are they aware that in some cases these resources are available to them without having to leave their home or offices? Do they know that virtual reference is a service many libraries offer? What about simply picking up the telephone and calling the library?
2) Will the “powers that be”, in this case the people who write the checks to online database vendors, begin to question why they’re spending money on these materials when most people will first and perhaps only turn to the free web? Does the teacher have any idea that their students have “remote access” to many reputable databases via the local public library? Does the public, the business person, the student, believe that “it’s all” on the web? What are we doing to demonstrate that it’s not?
3) Where is the public with its ability to judge the quality of info on the Internet? Anyone with a Internet connected server, can place anything on it. Overall, this abililty to access data is a very good thing but problems do exist. What is the library world doing to teach the public how to judge and analyze the quality of this material? The recently published book by Anne Mintz and Genie Tyburski’s web site are great places to start. The news release also points out that one of the causes for these numbers is that, “search tools have become more powerful so people can locate the information they want.” This is a correct statement. However, what about the underlying data? Easier to find is one thing but what about the accuracy and authority of the material?
4) Has the library community done enough to market services and skills to those who haven’t been in a library in many years? Sure, many libraries do a good job at reaching patrons who visit the building, but what about the others?
5) Will the student of 2003 who are used to finding something, anything “on the web” become even more difficult to reach? Will they care about what libraries can provide? What about the small business owner? The worker in a corporate setting?
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Final Notes
Remember, many people only look at the first few results. Do people use several resources, search tools? Do most people rely on a single search engine? Do info pros have the skills to demonstrate and teach multiple tools? Do they utilize non-commercial directories? Are they aware of web search engine limitations but able to select an alternative search tool or printed resource that might get the job done?
See Also: An 11/18 ResourceShelf posting With Results of a Study About How People Use Search Engines
Again, only numbers, but from my conversations with info pros they are fairly accurate.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 26th, 2002 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.