Got questions? The web has answers. When I was in the technology industry, especially when working hands on, but even when doing more "strategic" consulting, the web was a constant companion. It was the only way to deal with the complexity that presented itself on a daily basis. Discovering Google I started to hone my search skills, twenty different ways of asking the same question. I developed a six sense for what was good information (depending on the source) and what might be shaky (to say the least). What I was developing was the skills that good librarians possess. The ability to effectively and quickly search the information space to narrow where the possible relevant answers were likely to come from.
Now in law school, I find myself doing the same thing. Lexis and Westlaw are not my starting points. I want to know what the "infospace knows" about a particular topic. Who has summarized a particular area of the law in a way that quickly points me in a direction that will dramatically shorten the research cycle? Is it a book on Amazon? A website dealing with media or first amendment law? A description of how to write an appellate brief from a practicing master?
Now I am fascinated with patterns and I can assure you that if I were studying medicine, or engineering, or physics, or you name it--or making a living in those fields--the web would still be a constant companion. The skills of a librarian are starting to take on a whole new dimension with respect to knowledge workers and what they do, day in and day out.
Tags: Search, Google, Librarians
Good point. I think when it comes to Librarians, they can be considered the "easy way out" when conducting research. It's important to find ways of doing it on your own, but at the same time utilizing them for continuing research.
I have forced myself to learn different ways to research one thing. I also think you must observe possible clues or leads in each search in order to progress your information. This helps create a flow to the topic and provides alternate perspectives for each finding. Otherwise, you may run into a dead end.
This is essential in zoning into the foundation of the topic so that you discover the key researchers and contributors in the field.
Posted by: rmansell | February 19, 2006 at 12:14 AM
Rachel,
How important do you think your ability to research impacts what you do on a daily basis. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being a huge impact and 1 being a slight impact, how would you rank the impact (from a productivity perspective)?
Posted by: Carlos Leyva | February 19, 2006 at 06:42 AM
Although I've never thought about that before, I'm sure it does have an impact on my daily activities.
I would consider myself at a neutral "5" on your scale. I think my ability to look into things and take one event throughout the day and expand upon that is how it would relate to research. You must always be on the look out for new things and ways to connect things that at first may not seem similar, but once you've done your research, now have that connection.
The neutral standpoint comes in because I know that everyday I walk out the door I don't tell myself I'm going to research everything that I come across. I really don't think it's until you find that connection or want to know more about something that you actively start doing more research.
Posted by: rmansell | February 19, 2006 at 02:23 PM
Yeah that makes sense, that it would depend on the day and what it entails. It was probably too broad a generalization but I think the trend is in the direction that I indicated. However, depending on what you do, the impact might not be daily!
Posted by: Carlos Leyva | February 19, 2006 at 05:20 PM