Google are undoubtedly brilliant at what they do and what they do is mostly beneficial. But they're not public servants. OK, so their product is virtually synonymous with freely accessing the world's information, but when you get right down to it they might as well be selling baked beans. However they like to spin it, making money is their overriding purpose; it has to be. So while it may be depressing, it's not really surprising that they've rolled into bed with the Chinese government - what's a little censorship compared to losing out on a growing market?Tags: Google 11:05 . . .
So, the dissertation is Back. There are study breaks and there are extended bouts of procrastination, and this was definitely turning into the latter. 18 weeks until hand-in, which sounds like a lot but represents only about 30 days of actual free study time... also I have a sneaking suspicion that I haven't done much actual WORK yet.However, one of my research findings is quite interesting. Only about 20% of students reported using our computer catalogue to locate resources, whereas about 65% had been to ask a member of staff. Now, in a way I'd be highly delighted if the percentages were reversed, because it would clearly mean less work for me answering repetitive questions, (oh and and not imply that our catalogue was a giant waste of money). But in a way it's encouraging, because it seems to show that students aren't as scared of interacting with library staff, or as infatuated with shiny computery things, as the literature would have us believe. On the other hand, it might just show that students are perfectly well aware that looking up something on our particular system is akin to the old needle/haystack experience and therefore a waste of their time. I mean, talking to me is CLEARLY a last resort.Tags: dissertation information retrieval 14:43 . . .
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