Why should I use the library instead of Google?
Answer
Google is geared towards a consumer audience, not an academic one. While you may get a good result or two, you will also run in to advertisements, wiki entries, and other unreliable sources. The web is constantly changing, so when we cite information for scholarly work, we want it to be more stable than what Google typically provides.
More reasons why you may want to use library resources instead of a general web search:
- The information provided by the library is not free. It has been paid for by the library on your behalf. Accessing information on the open web may result in running into a paywall, where you may be asked to pay for access.
- The information provided by the library is curated and very reliable.
- The library organizes information so that it is easily discoverable and helps decide what databases are most useful for a given topic.
