The excitement of Google Scholar, the worry of Google Print

Biomedical Digital Libraries

In late 2004 Google announced two major projects, the unveiling of Google Scholar and a major expansion of the Google Print digitization program. Both projects have generated discussion within the library and research communities, and Google Print has received significant media attention. This commentary describes exciting educational possibilities stimulated by Google Scholar, and argues for caution regarding the Google Print project.

Full-text PDF available in the left-hand column.

Metasearch v. Google

Lorcan Dempsey's most excellent analysis.

Libraries struggle because they manage a resource which is fragmented and 'off-web'. It is fragmented by user interface, by title, by subject division, by vocabulary. It is a resource very much organised by publisher interest, rather than by user need, and the user may struggle to know which databases are of potential value. By off-web, I mean that a resource hides its content behind its user interface and is not available to open web approaches. Increasingly, to be on-web is to be available in Google or other open web approaches.

Scholar Monitor

Scholar plus Gmail plus Firefox =

Have you ever wanted to monitor research papers of particular authors, research groups, or research areas? If you have, Scholar Monitor is what you want.

Google Pushing Scholar on Google University Searches

Multiple people have written in (thanks!) to note that text ads for Scholar are appearing at the bottom of the bottom of the results screen for Google's University Search. Which was supposed to be ad-free.

IngentaConnect tools to integrate with Google Scholar and Firefox

Science Library Pad has found some interesting tools for those of you who have some or your holdings in Ingenta.

Citation blues got you down? Try Google!

The UW Daily Online: One less thing to worry about

There is hope, though. Certain tricks can help alleviate the anxiety. Google Scholar is one of them. Scholar, working along the same principles of the regular Google search engine, adds its own idiot-proofing twist: it searches only academic sites and journals, eliminating the problem of questionably credible sources (Google Weblog, 11/18/04).

It goes on to mention libraries in the (ahem) last paragraph or so.

Identity Crisis

Google pioneers digital libraries.

Google has also compiled a database, Google Scholar, that lets users search various universities and organizes the search results by relevance. Duke participates in Google Scholar, but it has also recently developed the Digital Production Center, a new enterprise with the goal of digitizing library collections and expanding digital content to the Duke community.

This is easily the tenth article I've read that blurs the line between Google Scholar and Google Print. I suppose it's understandable, but I reckon a Brand Manager at Google might want to get on this...

Net Generation Students and Libraries

Longish article (chapter?) about the ways in which academic libraries are failing the current generation of students. A bit heavy on gross jargon as Educause writings often are (marketplace of ideas, etc.), but a fairly strong piece that speaks to some of the reasons why Google Scholar (and other disintermediaries) will someday rule the roost, if we don't get our acts together. She paints with an incredibly broad brush and I'm sure you'll find lots to disagree with, but worth the read nonetheless. (thanks Brad!)