My latest column for BB is all about our fave superheroes of information: Librarians! Here's a taste:Go ahead, laugh. But think about it; what is the most crucial commodity in the world today? Information. Even if you're not quizzing Number Six, you are still bound to be wading through tons of information every day even if you don't wear a cable modem as an IV like I do. Estimates vary, but one study has suggested that by next year "the amount of digital information in the world will double every 11 hours."
Even if the real numbers don't end up that high (although it certainly feels well within reason), most folks will admit that we're swimming our way inexpertly through a barrage of information with insufficient help. When you consider the annual output of a just single bon vivant with a blog, a Facebook page, a couple of Twitter accounts and a web page to be prodigious when toted up at the end of the year, try imagining all the billions of internet users creating similar content of wildly divergent qualities.
It ain't all good stuff and it's often seems easier to stumble across the cretinous because everyone's passing it along the usual social media networks.
What do you do to find the stuff you need?
Read the rest at BitchBuzz HQ!
13 comments:
The Rorschach Zone ponders...
"HRM...
Librarian's Journal, Friday:
The accumulated LACK of all their research skills will foam up about their waists and all the students and faculty will look up and shout "Save us!"...
...and I'll look down and whisper
Hee hee -- will you be so heartless? I think not. You are far too kind to the students and faculty you have now.
The Rorschach Zone rejoinders:
"I didn't finish my sentence
that's up to YOU
& this hacksaw..."
I suspected there was more!
Generally I find that a seance or magic swizzle sticks work well. In truth, however, I was a librarian and some of the questions were so off the wall I suspected they did come out of a seance experience.
I so much wanted to be a librarian when I grew up. I even looked into it when I was in college, but I came to the conclusion that since I was unable to leave the area, I'd be limiting my chances to find a job.
Elle Parker
http://elleparkerbooks.blogspot.com/
Ha! I take the easy way out. I don’t research, I just invent stuff. For example, my boss asked me once to find out how many widgets company XYZ produced in 2008. Now, I knew this was useless information. This boss had a propensity to collect useless factoids, and never apply the data to anything.
So, about two hours later, I emailed him, “Jerry, the answer is 5,432.” It worked. I never looked it up, never called anyone. The world was good. This, I think, brings me in on the lower level of the human scale.
Best Regards, Galen.
GalenKindley.com
I rely way too much on wikipedia. But I like your title. Librarians are misrepresented bunch of people. Your title gives them their due.
In Quest of Theta Magic
Great post! Praises to the way underappreciated, the guardians of knowledge!
Nancy, from Just a Thought…
I start with sites I trust and follow links I find there.
If I can't find what I need, I go to a real library, find a reference librarian, and beg for help. Librarians are compassionate and they're very good about helping writers, especially those who've obviously been crying.
Patricia
The best reference question I have ever been asked:
"Do you have any butter!??!"
And my question, of course, is did you?
Post a Comment