[Web4lib] Google Books a tease, not a useful tool, for serious research

[Pons, Lisa (ponslm)]

I agree with Mr Coleman below... 

I have written a book for Arcadia regarding the history of our county. I
found many books that had relevant references in it using Google Book
Search. I couldn't always see the entire reference, but I was able to
make note of the item. Then, using the "Find in a Library" I was able to
connect right to Worldcat and search for the item in my local libraries.


Of course, I could do none of this at my own library- I did use a
subject search on our catalog, but that brought up very little. In fact,
I found more in my own library using Google then I did using our own
catalog.

We recently signed up for Serials Solutions 360 search. I have been
using that as well, as it now searches not only our catalog, but
databases as well.

So, if one takes all these tools together, I have an amazing amount of
research I can do right from my easy chair. If I have to acquire the
book from the library- no problem, at least I know what to get!

Lisa 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org 
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Coleman, Ronald
> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 9:46 AM
> To: Richard Wiggins; Web4Lib
> Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Google Books a tease, not a useful 
> tool,for serious research
> 
> I always viewed Google Books as a discovery tool that could 
> help serious researchers locate books they can use for their 
> research.  I don't think of it as its own standalone research 
> tool.  It doesn't replace the copy sitting on the library 
> shelves, but it can lead you to that copy when other tools 
> (library catalogs, journal databases, etc) cannot.  It's 
> simply another tool in a researcher's "toolbox" of research 
> techniques.
> 
> Your concerns are valid and understandable, but from my 
> perspective it seems like you are trying to make this service 
> out to be something it is not.
> 
> 
> Ron Coleman
> Reference Librarian
> United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
> 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
> Washington, DC  20024 
> 

>