Blog Reflection #4

The $20,000 I would spend would include a mixture of both print and electronic references, depending on the type or area of reference involved. The majority would be spent on print references such as various encyclopedias (general, medicine, technology, education, etc.), dictionaries, atlases, almanacs, and periodicals. One (possibly two) reliable electronic databases that patrons could access from home and/or the library would enhance the reference collection, but would not replace print materials. It would be nice to have actual reference sources so that patrons get away from a simple Google or Wikipedia search. For people who are serious about getting information, knowing that the library provides dependable electronic references would also entice them to visit the library to expand on their research.

Print resources may be becoming obsolete to those who choose to strictly use electronic resources. However, for most people who really want to research a topic, print resources are invaluable.

Project 1 - Our Economy

Being a “non-library technician student,” I chose to complete the Alternate Project on a subject that, in or way or another, affects all of us. I am very interested in learning as much as possible about how our economy is functioning. The sub-categories I used in my search were Calculation & Conversion Tools, Census Data & Demographics, News & Current Events, and Periodical Directories.

My first search was under Calculation & Conversion Tools. I searched the site called “The Inflation Calculator” at http://www.westegg.com/inflation/. This site is created and maintained by S. Morgan Friedman of westegg.com. This site allows you to enter any dollar amount and compare its value from one year to another. For example, it will tell you what $1 spent in 1910 would be valued at in 2010 (the same item that would cost $1.00 in 1910, would cost approximately $23.10 in 2010). It is a very user-friendly site. This site is not a commercial, educational, or government sponsored site; there is no “about us” information. It is simply a straight forward calculation tool. There are a few advertisements and links to additional sites, but I don’t believe the creator is gaining any profit by providing an online calculator. It is just a means of providing insight to what the value of a dollar may become. The significance of this site is that it can show people (especially college students) how much currency values have changed, and what the potential is for future inflation. This information can be helpful when figuring out future living and educational expenses. This particular website may not need to be updated on a regular basis, just as the rate of inflation fluctuates. It is not necessarily an exact calculation; it is more of a helpful prediction. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this site at about 7 because it is helpful information although it is not exact information.

My second search was under Census Data and Demographics. I searched the site called “Census Bureau Economic Information” at http://www.census.gov/econ/index.html. This site is sponsored by the United States Census Bureau, which is a government sponsored entity. The main topics included on this site are get data, user guide, data release schedule, definitions, contact info, FAQs, and a site map. The “Overview of Economic Statistical Program” link described the bureau’s programs that provide statistical information about businesses and governments in the United States. The list of programs includes both active and discontinued programs of ongoing interest. The Economic Census section includes 19 tables by economic census, such as educational services, health care and social assistance, wholesale and retail trades, utilities, construction, manufacturing, real estate, and more. The site is fairly up to date, as it has 2009-10 statistical information listed. All information is free of charge, but it does take some time to navigate though all of the active links. I never really paid much attention to why census information was gathered, but after searching this site it became clear that census data plays a huge role in determining income and housing needs, political representation, and economic needs of different areas. This site also collects statistical information each time it is accessed. Although it does not collect personally identifiable information (name, address, social security, etc.) it does keep track of what links are being viewed, what types of browsers, IP addresses, and dates and times the site is being viewed. I would rate this site as a 9 as it does provide critical economic information.

My third search was under News and Current Events. I searched the site called “New York Times Business Connections” and selected the Business page at http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html. This site is a commercially sponsored site, sponsored by The New York Times Company. It is updated regularly as it provides business news on a daily basis. Some of the links include categories on global news, deal book, markets, economy, energy, media, technology, personal tech, small business, and your money. In the economy section, there are links for the consumer price index, financial tools, and articles on the state of the economy. As with any newspaper, there are some sponsored advertisements. Although the newspaper is free, they may be gaining some profit from the website through their advertisers. I believe the purpose of this website is to inform consumers of recent economic trends and what the future may hold. However, most of the articles just touch on individual subjects and do not go into full detail. It is a great starting point to find out basic information and gives the reader a starting point to research further details. I believe this site is credible, but it is up to the reader to use information wisely. I would rate this site as a 7 in terms of economic reference material.

My final search was under Periodical Directories. I chose the Business page from the site called 1^st Headlines at http://www.1stheadlines.com/business.htm. The site is organized by Rentz Data Systems. Under the business category, I found several headlines related to the U.S. and international economy. This site was similar to the New York Times Newspaper site, as it provided editorials and articles. It appears to be a commercially sponsored site and allows the readers to log in and join conversations about individual articles. There is a sign up link to received current information via e-mail. This site includes several advertisements and I believe the site probably gains some profit from the website advertisements. It allows you to access news by state, news by city, and U.S. and world news. As with other periodicals, the site is updated as articles are changed on a daily basis. The purpose of this site is to provide news on various economic topics. The site was not hard to navigate, but there so many articles that it seemed a little overwhelming and hard to determine which articles were relevant to my needs. It did provide a “my pages” link to gather and organize information that is important to the user. All information is available free of charge. Although this site provided a lot of relevant economical information, it is not one that I would use as a first choice. I would rate it a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Blog Reflection #3

Being a creature of habit, I am usually guilty of heading straight to the internet to get quick information. I have visited the library a lot more since I’ve taken LIB courses, but I still fall into the bad (and easy) habit of grabbing my phone where I can access information on just about anything. However, the information I get may not always be the best (I know, I shouldn’t believe everything I read). I’ve also learned that there are particular websites that can expedite my search and still be, for the most part, accurate....Wikipedia is NOT one of those sites!

When I was in high school, and first discovering the magic of Wikipedia, I thought it was the best thing ever! It’s a site that can be edited by anyone who has a Wiki ID. I used to believe that it would always have the best and most up-to-date information available. However, as long as information can be changed and edited by just about anyone, who knows what is truly accurate and what is “thought” to be accurate. Sites like Wikipedia can be a place to begin research, but should not be relied on. Sites that provide references and sources are more likely to be accurate.

As mentioned in our book, “The basic criteria for evaluating materials include: accuracy, authority, scope, arrangement, methodology, bibliographical content, and currency”…not exactly the essence of Wikipedia. Taking a little time to evaluate these criteria will save a lot of time and produce better research results in the long run.