Exercise #1
Exploring the Gap: How We Find Information
In this exercise you will look at your information seeking patterns as a trained, experienced library staff
member. Next you will imagine how a typical online user would seek the same information.
A. Imagine you are working at a reference desk and have available to you whatever
licensed databases, websites, OPAC, and print resources and collections you are
accustomed to using. For each question below, choose where you would START to look
for an answer – your top choice.
1. Are genetically modified foods safe for young people to eat, when you think about their
life expectancy of another 70 or 80 years?
_____ OPAC to locate books and other things in your library collections
_____ Licensed online index of magazines, journals, books (e.g., EBSCOhost, Infotrac,
Pubmed)
_____ Other licensed subject-specialized resource (e.g., Auto Repair Research Center,
Health & Wellness Research Center, NoveList, RefUSA)
_____ Print or for-fee virtual reference collection such as Gale's (directories,
encyclopedias, almanacs, etc.)
_____ Free online reference resource (e.g., Answers.com, Wikipedia, Britannica)
_____ Google search or other general web search engine or meta-search engine
_____ Librarians’ Internet Index (lii.org), Infomine, Google Directory, Yahoo Directory,
or other annotated directory of selected websites
_____ Government agencies' websites or databases (city, county, state, or other)
_____ Other (specify) ______________________________________________
2. How long did it take to travel from England to Boston in 1876?
_____ OPAC to locate books and other things in your library collections
_____ Licensed online index of magazines, journals, books (e.g., EBSCOhost, Infotrac,
Pubmed)
_____ Other licensed subject-specialized resource (e.g., Auto Repair Research Center,
Health & Wellness Research Center, NoveList, RefUSA)
_____ Print or for-fee virtual reference collection such as Gale's (directories,
encyclopedias, almanacs, etc.)
_____ Free online reference resource (e.g., Answers.com, Wikipedia, Britannica)
_____ Google search or other general web search engine or meta-search engine
_____ Librarians’ Internet Index (lii.org), Infomine, Google Directory, Yahoo Directory,
or other annotated directory of selected websites
_____ Government agencies' websites or databases (city, county, state, or other)
_____ Other (specify) ______________________________________________
OVER
Reshaping Reference to Fit the Internet Culture Summer 2006 - This material has been created by Joe Barker for the Infopeople Project
[infopeople.org], supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and
Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Any use of this material should credit the author and funding source.
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3. I am thinking of opening a landscaping business in this town. How can I make sure I
have all the licenses and permits I need?
_____ OPAC to locate books and other things in your library collections
_____ Licensed online index of magazines, journals, books (e.g., EBSCOhost, Infotrac,
Pubmed)
_____ Other licensed subject-specialized resource (e.g., Auto Repair Research Center,
Health & Wellness Research Center, NoveList, RefUSA)
_____ Print or for-fee virtual reference collection such as Gale's (directories,
encyclopedias, almanacs, etc.)
_____ Free online reference resource (e.g., Answers.com, Wikipedia, Britannica)
_____ Google search or other general web search engine or meta-search engine
_____ Librarians’ Internet Index (lii.org), Infomine, Google Directory, Yahoo Directory,
or other annotated directory of selected websites
_____ Government agencies' websites or databases (city, county, state, or other)
_____ Other (specify) ______________________________________________
B. Where you think a “typical” library patron with online access would begin to answer
each of these questions?
Reshaping Reference to Fit the Internet Culture Summer 2006 - This material has been created by Joe Barker for the Infopeople Project
[infopeople.org], supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and
Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Any use of this material should credit the author and funding source.
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