End of semester takeaways (530 Spring 2020) by Joyce Valenza

Victoria Allums

2020-05-01 03:41:34 UTC

Well….I can’t honestly say that I “enjoy” searching, even less so than I do finding, haha! But, I can say that I definitely have a far greater appreciation for not only the beauty and art of searching, but also the precision and detail that is involved with finding the right answers. I imagine that expert searchers are able to find information faster than amateurs, but I find it oddly comforting that even the most experienced of searchers have to do some pre-searching and trial and error. I’ll be happy when my search processes are streamlined with time and practice.

And I certainly hope to get plenty of that practice, because I intend to apply what I’ve learned to both work and the rest of my classes. I have two semesters left. Would it really be a MI degree if I didn’t have to do some searching!?? So, I expect to have plenty of practice. At work, I want to use what I’ve learned about both finding the sources and searching within the sources to find the best information I can for my patrons. While very specific requests like these are rare, I can also pass on what I know as patrons request help finding certain resources. I’m greatly looking forward to this. It feels like a world has opened up, and it’s far less intimidating now than it was.

And, now for the picture! Excuse my sad little fish and stick-figures, but I drew it up a tad hastily on my computer. The information landscape is a vast sea of knowledge, where many pieces of data exist. And, being the user out to search for certain information, it might seem like I can walk right up and just get what I need from the source. However, I have to remember that not only would that be very inaccurate but also very time consuming because the sea is so vast and there is so much data. Yet, we have search engines and other portals to help us out! They help us find information we need, but we have to remember to look beyond the easy pickings. Just because it’s easier, doesn’t mean it’s the best one. Extended searching can feel disorganized and messy, but once we know how to look, we can find exactly what we want.

Angela Blasco

2020-05-01 19:03:03 UTC

My lurking fear of database searching has been quieted, which is huge. The search strategies we learned and used as well as the activities we did helped me better understand database searching, and have more confidence doing it. I learned that I do not need to know absolutely everything, but having a background knowledge of how databases function and pulling basic search and some advanced search techniques will make all the difference when searching.

I have been applying learned search strategies throughout this semester in this class, in others, and in my own personal searches. So much of what we went over helped me when creating my LibGuide, too. I know that I want to help average searchers get better results and be more efficient in their searches, and I think sharing some basic search strategies with them will change things drastically for them. Whether it is utilizing Boolean operators or helping people search Google better, I think average searchers can employ several strategies that will help them in their searching and finding. ~ Angela Blasco

Reflection

hcp37 — 2020-05-02 20:11:26 UTC

When I started this course I really did not know much about search and I did not think it was a very complex topic. I thought that my use of advanced search on a database was sufficient and I really did not understand what a Boolean search was. But, over the course of this semester I have come to realize search is much more complex than I thought. Everything I have learned in the course, big and small, has been extremely helpful for my own searching but also for my job working as a public librarian. The course has actually really opened my eyes to the world of search and made me wish that I had learned a lot of this information earlier. When I was in high school and undergrad I never had instructions from teachers/professors or librarians that really dealt with how to do more complex searching and it would have been so helpful.

I hope going forward I can continue using the skills I learned in this course so that I can maintain them. Even better, I hope I can also continue to learn from some of the saved resources I have gathered from this course. The world of search is always changing and I definitely do not want to fall behind.

Reflection

kelly_nolan — 2020-05-03 13:38:22 UTC

I I used to think the world of search was scary and only the most experienced professionals could navigate it, but now I think that so long as basic tools and skills are supplied, almost anyone can succeed to an extent. I've come to accept that I probably won't be writing lines and lines of command search code, but I can still implement a proper search and help the patrons. I definitely think I'll be using everything I've learned in this course. I've even been practicing search strategies in my daily searches, just so I can get in the habit of it. Search is so important to democracy! If we all just relied on the information being handed to us, we would never know if it's correct or not. A world without search is a dangerous world. Search gives us the freedom to find our own answers to our own questions. I think it's incredibly important that search remain unrestricted and free.
I decided to do a meme for what the information landscape looks like to me. It's so vast and overwhelming, that I've constantly had to tell myself that less is more! There were a few memes I thought about, but I decided to capture what I had to do in every single Search Activity: refine my search terms. I find that because the information landscape overwhelms me, I try too hard to add everything, when just a few things will do the trick.

Carley D'Auria

cad361 — 2020-05-03 14:18:35 UTC

I think that Roy Tennant’s assertion would be more true if it was worded differently. “Only librarians understand the importance of search. Everyone else wants to find,” or something like that. I don’t always like to search, but I do always appreciate research. At the end of a research project, when you’ve worked hard on it and really utilized accurate and relevant resources, it feels like a huge accomplishment, and that’s true for all people. On the other hand, many people can be lazy with search, and librarians are not exempt from that. But, librarians can be there for patrons when those patrons do want to feel that sense of accomplishment from having researched a topic they’re interested in. To me, that’s the important part. We don’t have to discourage people from ever using Google or Wikipedia, we just have to help them understand how to use all resources in smart ways and also understand when it’s time to step away from Google and look elsewhere.

It’s actually hard to say my overall biggest takeaways are, because I feel like we’ve learned many specific, detailed things. I know many more search strategies than before, but I also learned a lot about search environments of different librarian careers, features on Google that I didn’t know about, debated on open access, etc. We had a pretty wide range of topics throughout this course, but all of the information I learned just helps me understand more about the search world and makes me feel more prepared to be a part of it.

Amy Epperhart

2020-05-03 19:42:25 UTC

This course has expanded my understanding of search and the information landscape. Prior to this class, I had a narrow view of the field of search, but now understand it to be a much broader and diverse field that encompasses many layers. It has also broadened my understanding of internet search, in particular the limitations of Google and search engines in general. The discussion on filter bubbles and how they impact what the user sees was eye-opening and has encouraged me to think more critically about online search. I was also struck by the many search strategies and toolkits available to information professionals and casual users. Exploring databases, social media platforms, and other tools have transformed the way I conduct and approach search. One of the most important points made is that search is fluid and that the information landscape is always changing.

2020-05-04 16:53:07 UTC

Jessica Petrecca

jp1568 — 2020-05-04 16:54:42 UTC

I learned amples amounts of information and gained many sources from this course. In the beginning I was nervous about the course as it was my only second semester in the program and I had no prior experience in the profession. I am glad though in the end I did not. This class opened me up to all the different possibilities of not just search but areas of the profession I didn't even know existed. For example we listened to the Raven from the Culinary Institute of America, voice of search on how she did not have any prior experience with the subject of her work, but is a professional information seeker. She knows how to not only tackle the different searching needs for the students but what they will need to search for, the specific sources they need, and how to get the answers to their searches. Some other takeaways from this course were the evolution of Google and how important it is we need to be up to date with this. To make a portfolio of my own to grow on sources, discoveries and ideas of search. The biggest “aha” and a quote I want to take with me as I move forward in this profession is Roy Tennant’s “Only librarians like to search. Everyone else likes to find.” Explains why search matters and how important librarians of any area are important to all. I love to search. I always have, I just never pinpointed what it was that I loved to do. I mean one of the main reasons I went down the path of psychology in my undergrad because of the search that was involved and the constant updating and adaptations to the current world we live in. Search and Landscape really allowed me to see search on a whole new level. Allowed me to be more diverse with my techniques and strategies. As well as connect information I learned from this class to my previous classes. For example the TED Talk on filter bubbles by Eli Pariser. This relates to my Human Information Behavior course and allows us to see how the internet is both a blessing in the information profession but can also be a curse, depending on how it is used and if information is analyzed appropriately by the seeker.

https://kapwi.ng/w/pENuFW5Z : Here is a meme I created of my understanding of this course.

Connie Bermudez From beginning to end, I have gained a new outlook on the world of search. My biggest takeaway had to be becoming an advocate for open access. It made me realize my future concern of what will happen when we no longer have access to the databases used from Rutgers. It made question why publishers charge so much to have your work published but also why should we hit paywalls to access information, even if it may not be what we were looking for in our search? I used to think search was just looking up information on a query or for an academic assignment and finding the closest answer and that was the end of it all. But now, I think it is more than that because the course made me recognize how complacent I was with satisficing and not being aware of my filter bubble. I was missing out on more information that could have been better for my previous experiences in research. I also enjoyed our discussions and I gained so much insight from engaging with students in this class. The biggest aha I had was seeing all the elements of search come together from our readings, search activities, voices of search, and playlists. Combining everything I learned into our final assignment I feel was the highlight of this class. To end my reflection, what the information landscape looks like to me can be best captured in this image.

2020-05-04 17:10:31 UTC

It is a battle in searching for quality information but rewarding when you find it.

Xueying Ren

2020-05-04 19:38:51 UTC

After this semester, I feel more confident to look for a job in library. To better equip myself for this, I think I would review what I have learned in this course. I am hoping to graduate this summer. I chose to be an online student to better take care of my kids and family. As a non-native speaker, learning online is even tougher for me. I started my MLIS program last summer. After a couple of courses, I felt lost and hesitated if I should change my career and be an online student, as I felt that I didn’t learn anything that I needed. I still knew nothing about searching. As this course started, I found out that this was the course that I had been hoping for a long time. I feel that if I learn well this course, I could almost work in any library. It covers almost every aspect of a librarian job. If new students come to ask me, what course should they take? I would tell them that this is the only course that is useful and a must-to-take one. I couldn’t express enough about how much I appreciate what this course has brought to me. I am planning to learn this course again as I need more time for it.

Cassondra McCarthy

cbm93 — 2020-05-05 04:13:05 UTC

For me, my biggest aha was really my redefinition of search. Before, I had some skills that helped me search for my personal use, but I was hesitant to use them elsewhere as I was afraid I was doing it inefficiently or just plain incorrectly. Yet, what I found was that many of the ways I had been searching were actual recommended techniques and any inefficiencies I had in my search process were more about not knowing enough about how search sites worked to get the results I wanted as quick as possible. Also, my concept of search itself changed to include social media and other topics. There is no proper feature or definition to search, it is only defined by the actions we take to reach the answers we need. But freeing myself of my preconceptions of search, it allowed me to see how important clear, thorough, and accurate searching is and how the search landscape is much broader than the academic databases I initially thought it was restricted to. I think in the long run this redefinition of my perspective will allow me to continue to think outside the box and adapt search techniques and finding information that will in turn assist the students in my future school library in adapting to increasingly unique 21^st century search needs.

Every class I have taken in this program has fundamentally improved my skills and changed my perspectives. I was blown away at the scope of search capabilities at our fingertips. I come away from this class with a passion around ensuring students have these skills because of how empowering it can be for them, as a student and also in life. I really enjoyed the search activities because of how they allowed me to practice little bits of different search elements and now I have them to refer back to when I need to use those skills in the future. I can’t say enough about the Google MOOC and am confident walking away with that brand new skill set. One of the biggest a-has was discovering how much I didn’t know, not only about search strategies but the overall world of search across disciplines and industries. I also walk away with a renewed passion around teaching students how to critically assess information bias and credibility, especially in this currently polarized political environment coupled with burgeoning manipulative technologies. Last, I don’t think I realized how much I like to search but it has been a pleasant surprise, one that will only help me as I pursue this next professional adventure!

jessiegrundy — 2020-05-05 11:05:48 UTC

Sarah Watson

2020-05-05 12:59:30 UTC

This class has made me enjoy searching a lot more. In the past, I sometimes liked searching, but I often felt a bit lost or disheartened when things didn’t go my way. Now I feel like I have the tools and strategies to tackle the challenges of searching; I also have resources that I can turn to when I get stuck. This has turned my search experiences from frustrating to rewarding and has made me more motivated to teach others so that they can start having the same positive outlook on search. I basically went through this entire class thinking, “This is awesome! How can I share it with my students/friends/family/etc.?” I especially appreciated the talks/readings/webinars by Dan Russell and Tasha Bergson-Michelson because they provided a lot of ideas for making the search process more accessible to non-librarians.

The information landscape reminds me a lot of Wan Shi Tong’s library in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Only the top of it is visible to the casual passerby while the vast majority of it is hidden underground, a lot like the iceberg model of the internet. Even though Wan Shi Tong’s library contains the entirity of the world’s knowledge, it is nearly inaccessible to humans. This is similar to how paywalls prevent people from accessing scholarly articles as well as any other way in which people are prevented from accessing information. While the knowledge-seeking spirits who work for Wan Shi Tong’s library travel the world gathering information for the library’s collection, I see our role as information professionals as bringing the information out of the library and connecting it to people (although we do do a good bit of collecting and curating).

And lastly, I’d like to contribute to the meme party:

Jen Thielker

jjt1431 — 2020-05-05 15:45:38 UTC

I think I got a lot out of this course and it has redefined the way I see search. I don’t know that personally subscribe to the idea of liking searching as much as Roy Tennant asserts but I do like the satisfaction of finding the perfect resource for my patrons and if that means spending more time and attention getting the search terms just right, then that’s perfectly fine with me and doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I feel like I can put together more pieces and feel like I get less stuck in general when searching for information. It can be frustrating not knowing where else to turn to get the results you need, but I think now I can be much more successful in coming to the right resources now that I’ve expanded my toolbox instead of satisficing as much. I am much more attentive to my facets and thinking through my end goal. I can now see 1 or 2 steps ahead in my searches which is a significant improvement since I used to kind of paw around blindly until I got onto a promising track. I take time to envision my end goal and this above all, has most positively influenced my searches.

I envision myself as one of those big rings with a bunch of keys on it. I might not know right away what key will unlock the information out there, but I have the tools to get there in the end and share it with the world. This course has been great. Thank you all for an engaging semester.

freunds86 — 2020-05-06 13:15:11 UTC

Effective searching is a highly iterative process, with additions and deletions of terms, operators, and varying strategies for using different databases or search engines, and I have sometimes felt overwhelmed by how much troubleshooting it involves. I still agree with Tennant though, I do enjoy searching, and I don’t feel like that will change. I enjoy engaging in the process of looking up this or that topic or question, getting different information from various sources, making up my own mind about it, then searching some more, because I feel like I want to know even more, just in case. I don’t find it tedious or frustrating, at least not until I hit those inevitable paywalls anyway. I think the keys to effective searching is to be flexible and persistent, to acknowledge that it isn’t realistic to know everything there is to know about searching. It is about being able to improvise, adapt, and overcome. Hence my Bear Grylls meme.

As I was creating my Bear Grylls meme, I thought of this metaphor:

The search landscape is a vast wilderness, and we must create our own maps in order to navigate it. Search blogs and journals, our course texts, and the Pearltrees playlists are our toolkits, and our fellow info pros are there to help guide us. The thing about this wilderness though, is that it has no borders, it goes on forever. As we move forward in our careers, we will need to continue making our own maps with the help of our PLNs.

Miranda Ramirez

mdanielleramirez — 2020-05-06 16:08:08 UTC

Effective searching has been something I have always struggled with. Coming into this field I was not aware of how much searching I would actually be doing. This course has taught me so much and has gotten me over my fears of searching.
Now I do enjoy searching and can teach it effectively to others staff members in my building.
I am going to be teaching a searching workshop next year for my staff members I am so excited.I hope you all have a wonderful summer and I hope we can all stay in touch.

Effective searching is more important than ever. Every day more information is needed and it is imperative that you know how to search and how to find credible, true information. This course helped me understand this and how any ways one can search. I never really noticed that my search was not as efficient as it could be. There are many tricks and tools that I wished I knew earlier in my schooling life. Now I know that I can share this information with any adults or kids that need them.

hed28 — 2020-05-06 16:47:40 UTC

Meredith Magenheim

2020-05-06 19:10:32 UTC

I was excited and nervous when I signed up for this class because I was not sure what exactly we would be covering. I had always thought that I was a fairly adept searcher, but within in the first few weeks of the course, I realized that I had only barely scratched the surface of the search world. Through the Voices of Search videos, readings, assignments, lectures, and discussions, I have gained a great insight into the world of search and learned about some amazing tools and resources. I know there is so much more out there for me to discover, but I do feel like I have a great foundation to start on the adventure. I also appreciate that we were able to apply what we were learning in ways that will be helpful in my career. Going forward, I will focus on my pre-search planning, navigating filter bubbles, promoting Open Access, further developing my teaching skills, and always approaching my work with a sense of wonder and excitement.

I truly see my future career and the search landscape as adventures, and I look forward to continuing to add to my toolbox as I grow professionally as well as sharing the knowledge I have gained with others.

Kyle Stanley

2020-05-06 21:19:11 UTC

For me, the biggest takeaways are that information professionals need to stay at the cutting edge of technology to thrive within the evolving digital landscape. It is also vital that we understand how to best navigate databases and search engines. I really enjoyed the section of this course where we explored command line searching. While this was by far the most difficult aspect of this class, I think it was really valuable. My plan is to take the knowledge I have gained from this class and apply it everyday to practice. While I'm sure I will not need to use all the skills I've learned each day. I think it will prove useful to revisit course material in the future and think of how I can use the material in my day-to-day life as a librarian. At this point, I see information landscape as something that is always changing. I've definitely made it my goal to stay current and understand how to get the most out of the search technologies available.

Rebecca Jensen I have to admit to dreading aspects of this course. I was not a proficient searcher and I struggled with the patience required for searching. I don't typically do a lot of searching as a children's librarian so I have managed to squeak by with minimal skill in the area. This course first gave me more confidence in my abilities and opened up so many different avenues of search that I was not aware existed. I enjoyed finding new ways to find the information and I have learned to slow down and reexamine the topics for different angles. But what I found most surprising was the many ways in which I could use the information I was learning in my day to day life. I brought things into lessons and back to my fellow staff members that have clearly changed our perspectives. I look forward to going further with the techniques I have learned. I see librarians as the front line for technology, we are the original Google. Now we not only use Google and so many other tools better than an algorithm we can often find the right answer in a field of many results. Searching gives us the opportunity to bring that information to the front and to teach along the way. It may not be the direct route I always sought but its the right and most thorough route to the answers I seek.

becsjen — 2020-05-06 22:15:33 UTC

Jennifer Porter

2020-05-07 03:20:00 UTC

I love metaphors and use them all the time:) This reflection definitely calls for one, so I've settled on Search as a River.
On its surface, a river may seem relatively calm and navigable. But there are powerful, less obvious undercurrents that can pull you under. In this case, when most people determine they need to conduct a search, they perform a surface level Google search and evaluate one or two pages of results, at most. They don't spend much time refining terms or testing combinations of facets, let alone defining the true essence of their query. More intense search dives beneath the surface and travels with those strong undercurrents to explore alternative methods, from chasing authors to referencing thesauri and growing a pearl from one amazing source discovery.

For me, the search and information landscape is both deep and fluid. Information is proliferating by the day while tools and challenges change and shift. We can't get complacent or we will antiquate ourselves as search professionals. The other unfortunate outcome is the danger of accepting whatever Google and other tech companies serve up, and then finding ourselves at the mercy of their algorithmic powers. Personally, I'd rather retain a sense of agency over how I find and consume information, but it's a job. It's an investment. But worth it.

All of us bear a responsibility to be mindful of these considerations as we pursue information careers and work with the public or with colleagues. Information seeking and the transformation of information into knowledge is one of the most human things possible. We can't abandon it to systems.

My overarching takeaway is that search is about the journey even more than the destination, because it's the journey that determines where we end up. At the end, we may realize it's not really what we need, and then have to circle back to an earlier point in the journey. Sometimes, a search can't ever be truly "done." And that's okay.

2020-05-07 10:05:14 UTC

The massive field of search was really opened up for me. From literally searching in physical space to searching being done through a deep and complex understanding of internet and database setups it was a good semester to put s better foundation under my feet to go on.

Diana Ovalles

2020-05-07 15:15:29 UTC

My biggest take away was how to use Boolean operators more efficiently. I only knew the tip of the iceberg with this one, and now I’m better equip to expand on its usage. I found that using this on my Google searches have improved my results tremendously, which is always a plus. I enjoyed all the interviews that were presented, which I learned so much from, and was able to get new ideas for those already in the field. I was able to build on my “tool kit” to keep up to date on what is happening and what are the current trends.
Most importantly, learning how to search does matter. It saves time. It gets you what you need quickly and filters out what you don’t.

1.What were your biggest overall takeaways? My biggest takeaway is that search changes. I used to think it was static. However, I never took into consideration the various sources that provide information such as databases, the web, blogs, social media, etc. Why does search matter? Search matters because there is hidden information that is waiting to be found. Search matters because people are thinkers and search helps to support or refute what they know. This in turn allows them to grow. In essence I would say that search is a source of growth. How will I incorporate it into what I’ve learned? I have used it already. My students always had questions to which they thought they could only find the answer in Google. I have created lessons where they have searched databases. They have compared databases to the web and discovered the marked difference in the information (most of which they could not understand because it was not age appropriate unlike the school database).

cnw40 — 2020-05-07 17:41:24 UTC

Takeaways

nsf25 — 2020-05-07 17:47:09 UTC

1. I think that for this semester, my biggest overall takeaway was that the search landscape is immensely broader than I could ever have thought. I had some understanding of databases and some knowledge of Boolean operators and the like, but the absolute scale of it all really blew me away. I can't even begin to fully comprehend everything, but I think that this class gave me a fighting chance.
As for how I will apply what I've learned, I think that I am already doing it. I have already begun using search tools more effectively when looking up information, and I have explained as much as I could about Boolean operators to pretty much anyone who would listen. I think that it is really important to share the love, and that is my form of application!
2. For me, the information landscape looks like this book cover. One of the things that I have always loved about it compared to any other version of the cover for the same book is that there are many different faces, and it all depends on the angle that you are looking. I think that the information landscape is incredibly subjective relative to each individual's views, and that by looking at it in different ways, we can really come to see a fuller picture.

Taylor Baugher

2020-05-07 17:53:32 UTC

This class is one of the two most valuable classes I have taken in my career at Rutgers. I have learned so, so many skills that I know will be valuable in my career moving forward, and I have found that the world of search is much more intricate than I ever imagined. One of the things that has really stood out to me in this course is the fact that your first search will never be a good one. I was always a little discouraged when the first search I completed wasn’t good as an undergraduate, and I now know that this isn’t uncommon, and it’s a great place to start. That’s something that I will want to show students in the future!

Another thing that really stood out to me was the different tools that are available. I always knew about Boolean operators and truncation, but I don’t think I ever really used them to their full potential, and I am so excited to get my hands dirty with some more advanced search methods in practical situations. One of the things that really stands out to me is the couple of times that I’ve told faculty members at the university where I work how to search and they look at me like I have three heads. That was the impetus for this meme.

Alyssa Coleman's Takeaways

aac235 — 2020-05-07 20:10:34 UTC

I felt very strongly about taking this class initially, as strong searching practices are essential to have as an information professional. I am happy to say that my feelings about the importance of search have been validated and strengthened after taking this course.

The biggest takeaway I have is the importance of controlled vocabularies and knowing which words to use when doing searches. When I was looking for articles related to my search topic, I found myself needing to readjust my search terms a lot more than I thought I would, even though I chose a topic that I already knew a lot about. Some of those resources would've been completely hidden from me had I not reassessed my search terms to fit certain parameters better. The fact that you can use things like truncations and wildcard symbols to broaden your search also blew my mind. I already thought I knew a lot about how to search in a database, but now I feel like I have recalibrated a lot of my previous knowledge base.

This class has also reaffirmed for me the importance of sharing our knowledge with patrons. Many, many people do no have equivalent access to information and anything that we can do to bridge that gap is vitally important. From the open access movement, to assisting people in their search, we librarians can offer a lot to our communities.

As soon as I heard that we could make memes for this reflection, I got really excited and almost overwhelmed by all the options, but I eventually settled on a Methods of Search Alignment Chart. For those of you who aren't familiar with this type of meme, it is based on an aspect of Dungeons & Dragons that tells you a character's morality.

Saupan Cheng

2020-05-08 01:56:04 UTC

My mid-term big moment came from Dan Russell’s that helped me appreciate each search platform by its own merit. My current moment is from wrestling the questions and issues behind the information and search - the information right and the path to it. The former mostly boosts the skills. The latter challenges principles while the skills grow, but for what purpose and greater good. Both challenge me to comprehend something not yet fully comprehensible. As Badke says it right, it is an adventure - imply a reward ahead! So, what response shall be? The continuous professional development and quest for the value of the comprehended apparently is the best way to stay ahead in the landscape of search.

Kaitlin Wood: End of Semester Reflection (Section 90)

kaitlinbrittanywood — 2020-05-08 02:11:20 UTC

First of all, I want to begin this reflection by saying how much I loved taking this course. In addition to Reference Services (which I had the pleasure of taking last semester), Search and the Information Landscape has become my favorite course that I have taken in the MLIS program here at Rutgers, because I feel as if I have emerged as a more confident, versatile, and resilient researcher capable of tackling any search-related problem that I encounter in the future. In fact, Professor Valenza asked us in the lecture video this week whether we added any "tools to our search toolkit" over the past fifteen weeks, and I would answer with an affirmative (and vehement) "absolutely!"

As for big "Aha" moments that I had throughout the semester, the first major one came early on in the semester, when I realized just how important and vital basic search methods are for the research process. For instance, I learned in this course that it is difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a successful search unless I have already done my "presearch preparation" by completing facet analysis of my search queries, because instead of merely using whatever search terms I deem worthy of typing into the database, I need to carefully consider each distinct element of the query, breaking it down into its biggest parts and pulling out the most relevant facets. This is true not only when I am performing searches for myself (e.g., when I am finding sources for a research paper in one of my graduate classes), but also when I am assisting patrons with their own search problems. Similarly, I will never again underestimate the value and power of simple search tools like Boolean operators and controlled vocabularies; I remember Markey comparing CVs to "the utensils you use to eat food: forks, knives, and spoons," which allow "you to be precise and on target about choosing exactly what is on your plate to eat placing it in your mouth," just like how CV searching "enables you to conduct high-precision searches bearing mostly relevant retrievals" (p. 141), and this analogy really stuck with me, to the point where I cannot imagine conducting high-level research without CVs now. Likewise, as I noted several times over the past fifteen weeks, database thesauri quickly became my favorite resource to consult when I needed to brainstorm relevant search terms for a particular assignment, because I like how they function as a kind of translator between the database and myself, providing me with the terms that are likely to yield the best results.

Additionally, Professor Valenza ended the lecture video this week by asking us to reflect on the question "how will I keep up?", or in other words, how will I stay on top of current search trends and new tools that are at my disposal? This question reminded me of Markey's (2019) point in her textbook that "just when you've mastered a search system, the vendor changes its interface or searching functionality," and these "changes are disruptive and disconcerting for everyone," so I must frequently reeducate myself about the available search tools, strategies, resources, and digital technologies. Consequently, in order to stay up to date on any new developments whenever they appear, I will take Markey's advice to "keep up to date on information-industry news; read trade publications, such as the monthly Information Today, semi-monthly Online Searcher, and daily Search Engine Watch; attend conferences specific to online searching; participate in online discussion groups, such as ERIL-L and Liblicense-L; and share what [I] learn with [my] expert search colleagues via email, staff newsletters, intranet, blogs, and/or a private Facebook or Google group" (p. 344). Why is this necessary? Because as Mary Ellen Bates (who was my favorite "Voices of Search" speaker this semester, with Amy Affelt a close second) perfectly put it all the way back in Week #1: “The searcher with the widest range of search strategies available is the searcher with the greatest retrieval power," and if I wish to maintain this retrieval power, I have to keep up to date with the latest search systems and skills.

Lastly, Professor Valenza encouraged us in the lecture to reflect once more on the famous quote "only librarians like to search, everyone else likes to find," and I definitely feel that this statement is true for me, especially after taking this course. I have always been naturally curious and driven when it comes to extensive research, which is perhaps why I connected so strongly with Leslie Stubbins, whose chapter on the mysterious Dr. O and her relentless pursuit to find him for no other reason than sheer determination resonated with me; I was genuinely fascinated by Stubbins' journey from start to finish, and I can easily imagine myself falling down the same proverbial rabbit hole if I was put in an identical search position. Professor Valenza mentioned in the lecture that librarians and information professionals often have this kind of tireless persistence written "in their DNA," and I have to agree, because just like Stubbins, I'm not sure that I would have been able to walk away from the Dr. O saga either, since there is something inherently satisfying and engrossing about such a tricky and prolonged search process. Accordingly, I want to conclude this reflection with a meme (which I created and designed) that encapsulates the aforementioned point, as well as perfectly represents my own innate appreciation for the search landscape:

Zhengyang Cui

cuizhengyangoscar — 2020-05-08 04:03:55 UTC

One of my biggest takeaways is that I have learned more about details in the field of library and information science. I did not know too much about library and information science before because I mainly study the design courses. In this course, I had a better better understanding on searching techniques and library and information science after having those search activities. The final project is the most practical assignment in this course, and I think I have learned the importance of the role of librarians.

Chelsea Rizzolo

2020-05-08 15:37:02 UTC

Looking back to compare my own personal search experiences prior to this class with my newfound skills led me to think about the information landscape like the gateway into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (see photo below!). Wonka's tour group saw the door from afar, down the hallway, where it looked to be full-sized and easily accessible. Once they got closer, it became clear that the door was actually very small. The group wondered how they would ever go through to the other side. Before I studied search, the information landscape on the web seemed wide open and easily accessible - it's all right there! But as I would dive into a search I would quickly hit obstacles that would prevent me from moving further into my research. It is only once you have the knowledge and tools to go through the tiny door (so to speak) that an entire landscape of previously inaccessible information can present itself - just as Wonka guides his group through the impossibly small door into his wide-open chocolate factory.

Kaitlyn Ilinitch

2020-05-08 18:01:05 UTC

Before entering this class, I wasn’t too excited about it. I felt pretty neutral about research. I didn’t hate it or love it. Even though I knew it’s a big part of the library profession, it wasn’t what drew me to it. Now that we are at the end of the semester, I can honestly say that I have a much deeper appreciation for research. This class got me excited about all of the possibilities. It truly surprised me that there was so much new content every week. There was so much I didn’t know previously!

One of my takeaways is that databases are so much more complex than I ever knew. There are so many different ways to search for information on them. I got an understanding of how discovery search works, strategies for advanced search, using controlled vocabulary and thesauri, and even played around with command line search. I found the week on Google search strategies and features to be really valuable – there was also so much I didn’t know from a search engine that I use daily.

From this course, I also got a sense of my values as an information professional. The week on open access opened my eyes to why information access is so important and necessary for a thriving democracy. This is something that I will continue to think about as I continue my program and enter the library field.

I’m going to go the extended metaphor route. I see the information landscape as a tree during the spring. The trunk is considered the base where the main form of information exists: the World Wide Web. From there, the tree grows branches – these indicate places you get information, such as websites, databases, portals, social media, etc. Specifically in the spring time, leaves start to grow from the tree. The leaves indicate the continuous growth of information. Leaves that grow show different kinds of information systems or sites being created. Some leaves fall off which indicate changes in those information systems and sites – some die and others replace them.

Grace McCusker

mccuskerlibrary — 2020-05-08 22:59:04 UTC

I had many vital takeaways, however, as a school library student, I have been constantly circling back to my responsibility to provide quality instruction on the search and information landscape for my future students. If they do not learn how to access and assess information for themselves, through sustained efforts through their academic years, they will be stuck receiving whatever information is being served to them, and this is a dangerous thing. We use the term “information literacy” in this program all the time. Now, more than ever, humans are at risk of illiteracy if they are not kept up to speed. This is not something that comes naturally. It takes a professional to help them navigate these skills and I am so excited to be a part of that.

This is why search matters! We frequently discuss the importance of keeping a skeptical eye on new information that we receive. The web is a bit of a Wild West still. Everything is there for us, but there are landmines of information along the way. With proper search skills and instruction, the world truly is our oyster!

In response to Roy Tennant's assertion, YES. I love to search. I always have. I chose to make a joke about National Treasure for my information landscape meme, because I truly feel the thrill of the discovery when I have found something juicy after a good search. It’s a little like fishing… or treasure hunting. I hope to inspire my future students to feel just as empowered by it as I do.

Sienna Tinsley (Section 90)

siennatinsley — 2020-05-08 23:31:18 UTC

Search matters because it is how we navigate the massive amount of information that is available to us. Without effective search techniques, we would have no way to find the information that we and our patrons need, when it is needed.

My biggest overall takeaways include the following: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to search. The most effective strategies and processes will vary based on the information you need, the time and resources you have available, and more. However, there are some useful general rules of thumb. For example, search is iterative. You won’t find everything on your first try, so keep looking. In addition, resources change constantly, so it is important to keep up with updates to search engines, databases, etc. Becoming familiar with resources ahead of time will save time when you are helping a patron or student with an information need. Finally, preparing talking points to help the user improve their search skills can also help give them a more productive search experience.

I had many ahas! This semester, but some of the key ones are as follows: Google seems simple, but if you look deeper, it has so many hidden capabilities. Selecting an appropriate database for your task can be as important as knowing how to use the databases. Visualizing your ideal resource can help you search more effectively. Learning what controlled vocabulary is and how to use it can be the key to search success! Information literacy, especially the ability to evaluate information found on the open web, is a vital skill to help every student master.

These were some of the key points that came to mind, but there is so much more I could say about what I am taking away from this class. Before this semester, I never thought too much about search. However, that has all changed. There is much more to search than I realized and I am sure I will never think of it the way I did before this class.

I chose my meme to represent the fact that the information landscape is as vast and full of adventure and possibility as Middle Earth. I also intended it as a reference to our favorite quote from Roy Tennent ("Only librarians like to search. Everyone else likes to find.") I suppose for this to make any sense, we will have to pretend that Boromir is a librarian!

Stephanie Nakamura (91)

skn39 — 2020-05-09 06:27:32 UTC

This seems so strange now, but I didn’t know I’d enjoy creating a LibGuide so much. I remember looking at the examples of guides in the beginning of the semester, and I couldn’t imagine how I’d get from point A to point B. I’ve learned that a good guide cannot be made overnight. I also learned one needs to try out LibGuides, experiment. Very grateful I could do that here. Similar to how Markey discussed in her VOS that her first database experience fed into all her future database experiences, this experience with LibGuides has helped open up a part of my mind to design thinking which I feel was lying in wait for some time. I’m not sure if in my current or future career LibGuides will be the platform in front of me, but what I’ve received from this experience scratching the surface of presenting engaging, accessible (meaning both user-friendly and open access) content will come with me. There were also a few small HTML things from 550 I got to apply, and that was satisfying. The other big thing for me was part of the LibGuide project: tutorial videos. Assignment #1 was so educational for me. It eventually led to the opportunity to create database tutorials for the high school students at the school I work at. It was very rewarding to be able to apply this so soon! As was nicely illustrated by the different VOS each week, the application of search skills is very broad. I feel this course has helped a great deal to prepare me to be an info pro in any setting. Through the Search Activities, I got to spend dedicated time exploring databases that were new to me, and from the weekly readings, gained so many resources to consult going forward. This course was both challenging and enjoyable. It was one of my favorite courses ever! My perspective on search and search guides and instruction has changed for the better and I see the info landscape differently.

Molly Reinero (90)

mdr202 — 2020-05-09 16:40:55 UTC

Hi all, I've included my written reflections as interactive elements in my visualization. Thanks to everyone for a fantastic semester!

Natasha Mikulich 91

2020-05-10 14:06:20 UTC

The things I will apply from this class are probably going to be the different database search methods. Better learning how to use advanced search and the language of command line searching has really improved my ability to navigate these search engines effectively and quickly. Given that most patrons expect speedy responses when asking for sources, I think this skill will help me better assist and interact with patrons.

I think search matters because it empowers us to learn. I think today especially there is this feeling that we all need to be "experts" when we discuss something, which often isn't possible. But search helps us grow in our understanding of topics, and being an expert in search is much like being an expert across the board, as you have a firm grasp on how to find out the most accurate information on a subject. It can help us embrace the reality that nobody knows everything, because when we understand search we can understand how to learn about anything.

To me, the information landscape looks like a minefield these days. That may sound extreme, but I truly feel that the increased ease in which people can propagate misinformation online in a convincing format has created an information landscape where searchers can be easily mislead if they are unfamiliar with proper searching and fact checking methods. Proper understanding and guidance can help people avoid these information hazards, and I believe it is our job as librarians to provide that guidance and education.

Lauren DelGaizo (90)

2020-05-10 16:06:54 UTC

1 - Perhaps because it was the first VOS, but my notes on Mary Ellen Bates are ones I referred back to all semester and will continue to do so in the future: the first step in research is orienting yourself; asking the right questions instead of asking all the questions; establishing a “done point” for yourself.

I used to think that search was a necessity--a means to an end. And it is! But now I think it’s about the process, not the product. The information gathered at the endpoint does not inherently have more value than everything we learned along the way. And to that same measure, the process of search must continually be reinvented and reinvigorated, because doing the same thing every time is neglecting the value of the process.

The best way for me to apply what I’ve learned is to keep acting simultaneously like an experienced and a learning searcher: I want to approach my task with confidence and a grasp on my intended outcome, but I also want to see each process through new eyes, willing to experiment and learn.

2- I have a vivid picture of the information landscape in my mind that I believe is from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but can be found in a number of various cartoons: a child, buried under a pile, their scrawny arm poking through the top waving a Golden Ticket. It’s a slush pile that feels overwhelming, but when you put in the work and find the right bits of information, it feels like waving a golden ticket--worth it.

Jayde Valosin (91)

jav198 — 2020-05-10 18:09:09 UTC

I think my biggest takeaway from this course is that search is such a broad and multifaceted concept! Prior to taking this course, I never imagined that there would be so many different ways to search, different tools, and different considerations in the search process. I also never realized quite how many careers there are that depend on the search process. I really loved the VOS videos throughout the course, because they highlighted different paths that understanding search can take someone down. Search is necessary not only in libraries, but there are many corporate professions that need search insights from trained professionals as well.

I’m walking away from this class with a greater appreciation of how to use search in my future career. It will help me to answer the questions of others as a librarian, but also to answer questions of my own. I also think that understanding more about the search process has helped me to develop deeper opinions about things like “open access” material and equitable access to resources. This will certainly be something I fight for in my future career.

The search landscape is definitely a little jumbled and crowded. There are so many different resources with their own rules and regulations that it’s a little but like navigating a crowded city in the dark. Understanding how to search and effectively use information is like having a flashlight that helps you navigate the crowdedness. You might be able to get where you’re going without one, but a flashlight eases the process infinitely!

Erik Rock (90)

egr39 — 2020-05-10 19:08:08 UTC

My biggest overall takeaways from this semester are that there is more information out there - and ways the FIND that information - than any one person could possibly remember. I feel a little overwhelmed, actually, at the enormity of information tools, search possibilities, and portals that exist. Somehow I thought that I would come away from this class fully-rounded in the ability to search and find information, but I actually feel far more incompetant than I did before because I know just how much MORE there is. But I suppose everyone feels that way, and it will only ever continue to grow as the information in the world grows along with it. But in the end, all that any of us can ever really do is know HOW to search. Even if we don’t know where to search, the strategies remain the same no matter which tool, portal, engine, etc. you are using. That is the biggest relief among all of this; even if I can’t remember every information portal, I have the expert search strategies and foresight in my toolbag in order to drum them up.

I will apply what I learned on a daily basis helping people in my community as a public librarian. I will help them search, secretly instill search skills into our interactions and teach them something, and continue to document any good portals, resources, or tools that I find. Professor Valenza’s extensive Pearltrees playlists have inspired me to keep track of the resources I myself find, so that they can be kept (and remembered!) in one place and thus shared with others and utilized.

I think that yes, I do like to search, but ultimately… I want to FIND, just like everyone else. But the difference here is that my personality is very gratification oriented in that.. I am not one to satisfice. I will not stop searching until I have what I came to find. So that drive will always be of benefit when I am searching.
The information landscape, to me, looks ominous in some ways. Alluding to my previous answer, it is overwhelming; and if it is overwhelming to even me, as an information professional, we can only imagine how overwhelming it is for the average person. This could be why people tend to grab for the low-hanging fruit and use the simplest search methods possible. I feel that now, and especially in years to come, Google/search will become synonymous with research, in that people think they can look something up on a search engine and immediately have the answer. What we have to be extra cautious of is the fact that yes you will get AN answer from a search engine, but it probably isn’t the right answer the first time around (or 100th time around if you aren’t searching properly!). So thus, I created this meme, to sort of explain how the idea of searching on a search engine instills false confidence into the searcher and how we must continue to instill information and digital literacy skills into the public in any way we can. And if we're using Google... we better use it BETTER.

Dylan Vetter (90)

2020-12-14 02:32:31 UTC

I think my biggest takeaway of the semester has to be that search, from negotiating queries of other parties, to thinking about appropriate terms combinations, to switching between a myriad of techniques, is messy! Not necessarily in a negative way, though. I find that dream documents or images or items are out there, but the path to them takes time and consideration and working through mistakes. Learning these techniques for oneself can be complicated, and helping others reach those same thresholds is similar -- but both are worthwhile.

The information landscape to me is like the fluid image within a kaleidoscope! It’s ever-changing and colorful, and everyone’s approach in seeking and finding within it has its merit.

(Oh! And I also have learned a lot about Creative Commons licenses and attribution. The image I use here is from:
https://tinyurl.com/unsplash-kaleidoscope)

Kelsey Comerford (91)

2021-04-26 16:24:06 UTC

My biggest takeaway from this class is the need for information literacy. The information landscape should really be called the misinformation landscape! I think it is the biggest problem facing our democracy. I think as information professionals it is our responsibility to teach people how to navigate the information landscape so events like the resurrection on our White House do not happen again. Another takeaway from this course is all the search strategies I learned. I really liked learning about search tools like the customizable search engine. I have already used this feature when making research guides. I also mentioned it at an interview and the interviewers were very impressed.
To me the information landscape is like the ocean. You have to respect it or it will eat your alive! So many people get lost in the information landscape. They are unable to see past their emotions and get sucked into agendas. If you respect the information landscape, and learn the skills necessary to navigate it, you can go anywhere- just like the ocean!

Joyce DeStasio (91)

jgd106 — 2021-05-03 01:16:54 UTC

My biggest takeaway is that every search is different. There is not a set process for search because every question is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all solution that works for every problem. Search is more about a skill-set, a strategy for seeking results, and an information literacy that allows us to best find the solution or answer that we need. This class taught a lot of skills and tools to help us critically and strategically determine the best plan of attack for each problem that we encounter, for each answer we are looking to find.That is why I thought this meme was a great representation of us! We are bad-ass seekers of information / truth / answers. After taking this class, we have a particular set of skills now (that we need to continue to hone) that will allow us to find what we (or those we are helping) are looking for!

Danielle Lewis (91)

dlewis144_1 — 2021-05-09 22:44:51 UTC

I have had several takeaways from this course. As a metaphor, I was going to draw, write a song, do an infographic, or even try to make a film. I then realized that I am most comfortable writing, but I am also a singer. This means that my words will have some form of melody and rhythm, albeit imperfect:

"Librarians like to search, all others like to find."

When you try a Command search, you often must rewind,

Refine, rethink and reconsider your results,

Look at the search and find its faults.

No search is perfect, but some glisten

If you build relationships and listen

To each user, their attempts to tell

You where their real query might dwell.

If Voices of Search are a symphony,

Then all of these voices have enriched me

As does an opera, or a choral phrase

Helen Lane and Mary Ellen Bates most amaze.

All, however, are now seeds

That will sprout with future information needs,

My own and my students, my users

For their cause, my search will have its pleasures.

Customizable search engines are keys.

Google is too, but does not always please.

Librarians can help move queries: we might say

That one should not fear the dark web, or the gray.

Creative commons keeps us from audacity

Of unfair use. It undergirds integrity.

The skills that I am growing

Are all new forms of knowing.

I will apply all that I know I’ve learned

And more so, all I do not know I’ve earned.

Search is a world -- a cornucopia of joys,

Once I refine my skills beyond the noise.

I’m on my way, my muscles are now strong

To learn, unlearn; a journey that’s lifelong.

Information threatens to bombard;

Truly, a librarian is everyone's trump card.

Lili Hermeline (90)

leh127 — 2022-05-06 23:14:03 UTC

My big end of semester takeaway for this class would have to be that the information landscape has grown tremendously over the past decades with the internet and social media that it's necessary for us as librarians and especially future school librarians to always use a critical eye when interacting with information and teaching our students to interact with information. From the way the internet provides us information using algorithms that have been shown to demonstrate bias to the endless digital spaces that give us "news" and information or misinformation/disinformation, this landscape is a rocky one with crevices to fall into everywhere. Another takeaway I got from this class that I didn't really fully understand before was how much information is inaccessible to most people. I This really came to light during our week on paywalls and open access. This second takeaway really relates for me to the first one because I see how much of a controlled and manipulated environment the information landscape can be. A sign of democracy is an informed citizenry and yet we prevent the majority of people (often from lower socioeconomic and less educated backgrounds) from getting access to reliable information. Understanding this has also made want to push for more equity and access in the information landscape. Now when I look at databases and at news sites, I think to myself what is missing? Who is being privileged to get this information?

Analee Pattwell 91

2022-05-08 19:46:51 UTC

The search techniques I learned have already come in handy for materials in other classes that I am in this semesters. As someone with a keen interest in info literacy instruction, this class not only exposed me to new techniques, but also allowed to explore one’s familiar to me in new ways. Brown’s chapter on Google Image search was helpful in particular as it showed me how you could use the tool in ways I had never thought of before. For example, Brown talked about how you could use Google Image to look up maps as a way to trace the history of country and its’ shifting borders. I also really enjoyed Leslin Charles’ talk on Voices of Search. Leslin told a story about when she was teaching a class of grad students she mentioned oft-hand the technique of citation growing. They had never heard of before and were really excited to start using the technique in their search. It was a great reminder that we should never assume that just because something is obvious to us that it is not necessarily obvious to others. This is a reminder to set outsider of ourselves and our world view.

Brigitte Carroll

2022-05-09 02:33:23 UTC

The most useful part of this class was probably the Voices of Search series of videos; we're taught all these tools and given all this instruction but fairly few other classes take the time to give an idea of what the application of these skills would look like. Unless you are already working in the field - and there's the circular logic of no experience without work, no work without experience - it's very hard to get a feeling for how things can be useful in a given context.
Information literacy can and should be taught, and most people can be given at least a grounding in it by librarians. There is a vast and untenable sea of information out there in the wild, with more being added every second of every day. Its quality is inconstant, its provenance ranges from solid to questionable to quackary, and it is more than enough to overwhelm anyone. But we are the navigators of that sea, and we've the astrolabe to steer by.

Useful tools:
Google reverse image search
Google custom programable search
Command-line searching
NoveList
Search challenges

Takeaways:
People like to find, but librarians like to search

And remember:
"Cross not a librarian, for they hold the keys to all lore." - old Faerûnian saying.

Gaby Berman (91)

2022-12-16 19:32:46 UTC

Throughout this semester, I have learned many new search skills that have improved how I conduct my Art history research. Among our readings, I enjoyed Karen Markey’s Online Searching book, in particular, chapter 4's “ Selecting a Relevant Database,” and chapter 11's “Search Strategies.” I chose these chapters as most impactful for me because I have always had difficulty choosing databases that would yield the best results. Therefore, after reading Markey’s chapter 4’s advice on choosing databases, I have learned the basic criteria for choosing databases, which has led me to receive quicker results in my field of study. In addition, I have enjoyed our class readings/tutorials on Google with Dan Russell and Christopher Brown, as they provided me with key insight to properly search Google. Through their advice, I have been able to navigate the web much easier for website portals than I have previously.

In regards to my choice of meme, I chose this Toy Story meme to represent the information environment. The meme appears to show Buzz explaining to Woody the vast amount of information outside Andy’s room. As Woody’s nervous expression shows, this demonstrates the uneasiness many users have searching the wide web and databases that at times can feel so unfamiliar to them. Thus, as future Information Professionals, we are tasked with providing the necessary tools for users to easily navigate any databases or web sources so that they do not feel overwhelm.

Caitlin Smits

2022-12-18 17:09:51 UTC

Throughout the whole semester I learned a lot about not only search but how to navigate information and information sources. For me I want to take away the pre-search planning that was covered in the beginning weeks of the course. I think that that particular skill will be important not only for myself but for my future students.
I also learned how complex the information landscape is and how many varying issues and concerns are present like search bias as well as bias within AI and algorithms, I think that it will be vital to pass this sort of information to my students as well.

Jennifer Kerr (90)

2022-12-18 19:02:12 UTC

I am a novice searcher so much of what we learned this semester was novel. My biggest take away came at the very end of the course and when I least expected it, our last office hours. Librarians must create things. This is an intimidating prospect. Yet as I reflect at the semester, I recall just how much I enjoyed creating the Libguide, DOTW, and the database assignment. And I feel somewhat confident as I move forward. Some of the skills we discussed I found I did naturally, such as reading laterally.

The information landscape is full of possibilities
that can easily go undiscovered. It
requires nuance and skill to see the forest through the trees. The sheer amount of information that is
accessible does not guarantee that it will be found. It is here that I see myself as the light in
this image, an information professional that will guide users through their
search process.

Norman Lee (90)

2023-04-18 23:18:33 UTC

What were your biggest ahas?

One of my biggest ahas was definitely that the surface web only indexes between ~4 and 10% of the internet. Admittedly, for some people, that 4-10% might be all they need, but now I’m very aware of the fact that I need to feel out how much I need.

Another big aha was that people are really seriously working on not only improving existing search methods but also creating more-or-less new ones (e.g., ChatGPT, literature visualizers). This is obvious in retrospect but, since I spent a lot of my time with eminently practical librarians, nobody had a lot of time to experiment with search. I think this is really important for me because it will hopefully get me to ask not only “what information do I need?”, but also “has someone created a tool to make this kind of search easier/better?”

What thresholds have you crossed?

One thing is that “siloes” don’t just apply to academics who never read outside their sub-field. Siloes are big infrastructural problems including paywalls, how indexers work, document file types, and a lot more. I think that’s really important because, historically, I’ve just assumed that more-or-less everything I needed could be found on the surface web or a database accessible via Rutgers. Now, instead of just thinking about which terms/fields/search method I’m using, in the future I think I’ll also pay more attention to where the information I need might be found.

Another threshold is that, as an information professional, finding stuff is not my only important skill. My ability to interpret and synthesize results (or lack thereof) is also helpful. That’s for sure going to change how I communicate with patrons and how I view what counts as “value-added” search help.

What does search look like to you?

You can see what search means to me in the picture at the top of this post. In short, I (the tiny person in the picture) am small in comparison to the broader information world (the forest). But, this class has given me some tools (the big rock giant) that should make me slightly more capable of exploring to find what I need.

Also, image credit to Tomislav Jagnjic. Not only is he a talented artist, he also has a remarkable gift for giving his art funny names. For instance, the picture above is titled “yo bro is it safe down there in the woods? Yeah man it’s cool”.

SaraBeth Coyle (90)

2023-04-20 16:06:14 UTC

I was very nervous before taking this class. Search is such an important part of librarianship, and while I felt like I was maybe a little more proficient with searching than the average user, I wasn’t totally confident in my skill. I had hoped to learn in this class the terminology to help me articulate the search strategies I needed to complete to help patrons, as well as get better at actually performing them. This class has helped me put a name to the search strategies I have used in the past, as well as taught me so many different ways that I may go about searching. I found the search activities very helpful especially 2 and 3 where we really dug deep into searching databases using the strategies in our textbook. I’ve been enjoying curating my LibGuide that I feel represents a combination of many if not all of the ways we can find information online. It’s useful for a potential patron, but it also helps me remember the different places I can look to find what I need. I also enjoyed making the database of the week instruction and database explanation or a user audience – I think at first I was nervous to walk through these databases, but doing so really helped me understand them better myself. I’ve already found myself using the strategies in this class at my job at a university information desk, and while perhaps not as adeptly as some of the search experts we heard from this semester, I’m hopeful that with practice my search skills will be honed and I will be able to help patrons find all the information they need.

I think one of my biggest takeaways from this semester is that search is always evolving and that you will need to continue to learn to stay on top of new technologies. That said, there’s nothing wrong with needing time to get better at new things. I’m reminded in our first weeks of the saying “Your first search is only for you” and the many voices of search we heard from that said not to worry if you’re nervous at first, expertise will come with experience. I will continue to use the strategies I’ve learned in this class in order to feel more comfortable with them, but of course I will continue to learn throughout my professional career. While I may not be an expert at the moment, as I continue to traverse the information landscape with my search strategies in mind, I will become more adept at the search process.

Please enjoy this Succession/search class crossover meme. It made me laugh while I created it but I also think it’s true: there are so many search strategies that we now keep in our ludicrously capacious search bags.

Rachel Elmer (90)

2023-04-21 15:06:49 UTC

Before taking this class, the word “database” made me quake a little in fear, so the fact that I now feel like, you know, a normal person when talking about databases feels like a threshold crossing. More than that, I think I was probably also a database skeptic, but I have been won over by them; one of my biggest ahas is that databases can actually be used for everyday information needs, and that they are readily available through state libraries (JerseyClicks has become a go-to for me!).

Search matters a lot to me personally; this class gave names to things I’ve done my whole life, and affirmed for me that the way I tend to interact with search and information (with excitement, curiosity, and also skepticism) means that librarianship is a good fit. But it’s important for all of us, because we mediate our own information needs in an unprecedented way in today’s information landscape. Strong search skills are essential to being healthy, educated, connected—all the things that make up a successful society. It’s as important a life skill as I can think of, really, in today’s world. And I feel that this class has equipped me with a lot more understanding of best practices, of some of the barriers we face to effective search, of the systems we are interacting with and up against, and of how we can communicate this to the patrons we will serve.

When I imagine the information landscape, it is not clean. It is not linear. I cannot possibly know its every detail or travel to its every corner—it’s a whole universe unto itself (which is what I was trying to convey in my picture). In fact, there is far more that I will never really know—from specific databases’ controlled vocabularies to areas of the dark web—than I will. But if I have my trusty search toolkit (my favorite metaphor from this class), I can figure it out, and equally importantly, help someone else who might be feeling the same anxiety I felt—and still sometimes feel!—do the same.

Phoebe Waldron (90)

2023-04-22 00:28:28 UTC

This class gave me a better awareness of the vast amount of information that is on the internet, the tools available to access it, how that information is restricted and the politics and conversations around that restriction, and the different tools we have available for presenting information to users. In week six, I was shocked to read that “hidden content” of the web, or content that Google is not able to crawl, is 500 times what is findable in Google (Brown, p. 12-13). Week eight expanded on this by helping me understand what makes up the deep web (and the dark web). I’m really grateful for our Database of the Week assignment which asked me to really sift through all the databases we have access to through Rutgers and then take a deep dive into one of them. The database I profiled, PolicyMap, also showed me how much raw data on our communities is out there waiting to be organized and analyzed so that people can use it to make changes that affect people’s lives for the better.

Search Activity #3, the command line/free text search in dialog, really opened my eyes to how intense and multilayered searching can be. I had never thought of searching like an equation, splitting my search into facets, and combining sets of results. It’s overwhelming to think of how deep you can take it. Hearing from Amy Affelt in Voices of Search made me realize that in many jobs, you are hired to search as hard, as far, and as thoroughly as you can because the stakes are high. The database comparison activity forced me to think like a user in a specific field, in my case public policy, and really plumb the depths of three different databases. I found it really useful to be positioned as a librarian needing to make a purchase for the collection and then assessing each database’s capabilities. In Assignment #1 I ended up selecting one of these databases, and the process of creating this presentation showed me all the different creative options available for information delivery. Before this assignment I had not considered merging screencasting with a slideshow. I was pleased with the outcome, but after perusing my peers’ presentations I also can see the benefits of creating instructional sites that allow the user more control in how they take in the information.

This class has deepened my understanding of a search professional’s duties and responsibilities. As a librarian, it will be my job to help people find and access information, organize it, make sense of it, and use it to move the world forward. The image of the layers of the ocean that we saw throughout week eight when discussing the deep web really stuck with me. My information landscape is the ocean, and most of us skim along the surface doing basic Googling. My job as an information professional is to don my scuba suit and help people access information that is less easily accessible and potentially more valuable. I have to know where to look and what the best tools are to access that information.

Maria Printon (90)

mp1855 — 2023-04-23 21:12:52 UTC

Ironically (or fittingly?), I couldn't think of a picture that felt like it exemplified how I think of the information landscape, which is this: it makes me think of that feeling you get when you're trying to remember something, but it's just out of reach. Like when you're trying to find just the right word to fit into your sentence, and you know it's right on the periphery of your mind, so close to your reach but just far enough away that you can't get to it. That's what the information landscape feels like to me. Like there's always something so close and yet so far, and all we need to do is come up with the right search terms to get us there.
This class was honestly such a joy to take part in, and I feel like I have built up an arsenal of search tools that I will be able to bring with me into my current job, future jobs, and daily life. I found so many of our conversations to be incredibly important, especially those about algorithmic prejudices, misinformation, and constant misuse and abuse of new technology.
My biggest hesitancy coming into this class was databases. They're pretty intimidating to me, and I always feel like I'm fumbling around in the dark hoping I'll find something useful by chance. I think our first few search activities at the beginning of the semester helped me overcome that feeling, and I gained at least a tiny bit of confidence when it comes to navigating databases. I also always thought of myself as a pretty competent Googler, but this class showed me how much there is out there that I had never even attempted to use! It was so great to expand my toolkit and learn different ways to get to the same answers.
Not sure if I've even stuck to any of the prompts at this point, but I'll end with a note on why I think search matters. The information landscape is incredibly vast and pretty unknowable, but it's also essential. Each person needs to navigate it every single day in some capacity, and that's something that will never change. Search is the ability to navigate that landscape, even a little at a time, which makes it one of the most important skills any person can possess.

Christopher Villanueva (90)

2023-04-23 22:28:42 UTC

Initially, I was unsure about how to go about addressing the many topics addressed in not just this course but also information landscape in general. Information and search can be overwhelming especially with the many resources and information sources available to navigate and use to address information needs. However, this course have provided me insight into various interesting topics and concepts that I haven't considered looking into before or realized how much more complex/nuanced it can be. One of my biggest ahas is the discussion of the deep web which would serve as a certain section on the internet that is not indexed on common search engines and would require software and other methods to access. While many would associate this part of the internet with illegal activities, it's interesting to see how useful it can be to find scholarly content and databases not typically available to the public. Another takeaway is the understanding of various search techniques such as operators, command/advanced search filters, and more features that can be used to find more relevant and useful information sources.
After working on the various search assignments and libguide, this course taught me the features and complexity of databases in the information landscape. I haven't considered how important these databases would be in not just academia but research purposes as well. There's no doubt that I'm more knowledgable and confident in navigating various databases and finding sources for future courses and projects as well as addressing information needs. One of the takeaways from this course is how vast and complex information can be and important it is to be up to date on search techniques and sources to look for relevant/useful information.
Personally, the information landscape looks like an iceberg where the visible/outside part of the iceberg is representative of traditional search engines and information easily accessible to anyone. The deeper we go down the iceberg, the more complex and lesser known these information sources are available and seen by the general public. This would relate to the discussion of the deep web where there's information sources and sites that are password protected and hidden from users navigating through the internet and public sites on the internet. The complexity of the information landscape has made me fascinated in the idea of finding information sources that have the potential of impacting our search strategies and opinion on information sources. It's interesting to note how many of us are likely never able to view highly sensitive and classified information only accessible to few users on the internet. Overall, the possibilities of finding information among millions of sources and sites are endless and it's up to how we use search strategies and concepts to find what we're looking for.

Taylor Goodbody (90)

2023-04-24 01:23:08 UTC

This multi-layered gif/meme perfectly encompasses my feelings towards search and the information landscape after taking this course--mind-blowing! Over the past few days, the folks I was with on a trip kept mentioning the "ever-expanding universe." At one point, we even went down to the shoreline and star-gazed. I sat and listened to my friends wax on about the immeasurable, unfathomable size of the universe and our insignificance (while also acknowledging how we treat each other is what truly matters in the grand scheme of things but I digress!) As time goes on, the more we learn about the world and each other. And more to learn means more to potentially record, preserve, and/or search for one day. See? Ever-expanding! Also a hefty load for information professionals.

Biggest ahas were certainly plentiful: the significance, helpfulness, and trustworthiness of LibGuides; Google is good, but it can't search the entire web (and certainly not all the information that exists in the world); the surface, deep, and dark layers of the web, and the non-nefarious reasons some people might need to access the dark web; database navigation tips and tricks; the power of crowd-sourcing and coordinating with colleagues across fields, locations, and languages. The list really does go on and on!

I used to think that starting a search with Google was some shameful, novice practice that should be kept hidden from my superiors to appear more professional. But knowing that it's ok and even helpful to start with Google has been a massive relief and changed how I approach search. Speaking of Google, I used to think that Google's filtering options were limited to Web, Images, Shopping, Maps, and other common tab found at the top of the results pages. Google Tools, Advanced Search, and Google Books have also had a huge impact on how I use Google to my advantage.

Josh Maybrook

2023-04-24 01:31:42 UTC

The modules about using Google more efficiently stood out to me because Google is such a ubiquitous presence in the information landscape. Christopher Brown’s Harnessing the Power of Google was full of useful tips about using Google’s advanced search features such as site specific searching, phrase searching, and searching by file type. It also pointed out some of the limitations of Google such as the fact that Google usually doesn’t allow users to see beyond the first 1,000 results. I was also impressed by the capability of Google Images to translate foreign language text.

This course has taught me that ethical concerns permeate every aspect of information science. As Safiya Umoja Noble said in the presentation that we watched in week 7, “technology is a social construct.” As such, information tools such as algorithms can often reflect societal discrimination against marginalized groups. Eli Pariser’s TedTalk from week 6 was a potent reminder that algorithms can create filter bubbles for users that shape their perceptions and opinions, sometimes in troubling ways. It’s not only well-known companies like Google that are problematic. Amanda Ros’ 2019 article “The Bias Hiding in Your Library” pointed out how societal discriminatory language is embedded in library classification systems, while the 2018 documentary Paywall explained how the academic publishing industry is controlled by a handful of powerful corporations. It’s up to information professionals to educate themselves about these ethical concerns and find creative ways to offset the negative impact of bias and discrimination.

Throughout the semester, the terms “tool” and “toolkit” were used to describe the concepts we were learning about. These metaphors are particularly significant to me since I worked for many years as a carpenter and cabinet maker. I find it useful to view the information landscape as a workshop or construction site, and information professionals as skilled workmen. The quantity and quality of the tools being used will directly impact the speed with which the project is completed and the satisfaction of the clients. Similar to a carpenter’s tools, in order to utilize databases, artificial intelligence, and Google effectively, one must practice until the use of these resources becomes second nature.

Shannon Perkins (90)

2023-04-24 01:53:50 UTC

Over the course of the semester – I have learned a great deal but when thinking about this class I find myself returning to the breakthrough I had about what it means to be a librarian. Although it does not seem like it on the surface, especially to the people who use information services, a librarian is a lot like an experts in every other field. A librarian knows from their training and experience not only what to search for, but what not to search for, how to search, and where to search to find answers quickly. A librarian knows how to bring different skill sets and tools that they bring to each presented task. In my head I always equated this relationship to a plumber or a mechanic. Each of these professionals brings a lot of tools to the job site but often does not need to use all of them. In diagnosing the situation a librarian can make adjustments to fit the job in front of them. As an example, knowing that a simple thing like the word “stocks” could have very different connotations and search results depending on where you look can make a gigantic difference. A librarian knowing that there is a database dedicated to silent film in a specific time period could cut down the hours a researcher would have spent digging. In the world of mechanics or plumbing, the right person can save a client a great deal of time, effort, and stress through the benefit of their experience, an a librarian is no different.

My final takeaway and probably my favorite is to remain intellectually curious. I am reminded of the quote, which I am paraphrasing, that others like to find, while librarians like to seek. I was amazed as we want through our “Voices of Search” discussions how quickly the guests were able to wear different hats. Probably my favorite was Raven Fonfa, who is not a foodie but ended up working for the Culinary Arts Academy and advising students from around the world on the subject. Through practice and good fundamentals, a librarian can thrive anywhere they want to go. I may not immediately need all of the skills I learned in this class this semester but I am happy to have the knowledge to use them when the need arises.

Debra Canzano (90)

2024-04-27 22:26:00 UTC

My biggest takeaway this semester was the need for improved information literacy. Information literacy comprises a crucial set of abilities required to find, evaluate and use information effectively. As library professionals I believe we are tasked with teaching people these skills and giving them the tools they need to search for information and obtain viable results. I think the key for the future will be, “how can we teach information literacy to people of all ages and tailor it to specific needs and wants?” The answer to this and other questions regarding the future of search lie in our ability, as librarians, to always be curious, skeptical and resourceful in our searches. Another big takeaway for me from this class was that we have to be vigilant not only in continuing to learn ourselves but also to be a force for good with the people we serve. I learned in this class that it is ok to question things and it is imperative to check your sources and sometimes be cynical. I enjoyed many of the activities we completed but the most impactful for me were the ones that were people driven including, the Voices of Search Interviews and the Database of the Week presentations. I always feel that I learn the most and have the best recall when another person teaches me or tells me something first hand. I was a search novice at the beginning of this class and with all of the search skills and tools we learned, I can now say that I am a satisfactory searcher. Although at times this semester I felt like I was walking through a maze, confused and not sure which way to go, I made it to the end and gathered lots of really good things along the way.

Kaitlyn Lopez (90)

2024-04-28 21:26:42 UTC

To say the information landscape looks vast would be the understatement of the semester! To me, the information landscape looks a lot like a mine field filled with hidden dangers buried beneath the surface that can be quite difficult for the untrained eye to spot and navigate through. From misinformation and fake news, to disinformation, malinformation, hoaxes, propaganda and more, the information landscape can be a tricky field to navigate. But ultimately, I’ve chosen this gif of Evelyn Carnahan, librarian, explorer, and egyptologist from The Mummy film series to represent my sentiments towards the information landscape and my zealous confidence in navigating through it. In a scene, Evelyn drunkenly explains, “Look, I…I may not be an explorer or an adventurer, or a treasure-seeker or a gunfighter, Mr. O’Connel, but I am proud of what I am.” To which he asks, “And what is that?” and Evelyn boldly declares, “I…am a librarian!” Pursuing a Masters Degree in Information / Library Science is no easy feat! It takes perseverance, focus, determination and requires students to attack a demanding workload head on, mastering complex new search skills and navigating unfamiliar databases. However, I am already witnessing the fruits of my labor and seeing myself become a better librarian with each and every course. The various Voice of Search discussions speak particularly to what I am trying to explain. It was fascinating to see the various avenues librarians have taken in their professions and while they may not be the doctor, or the engineer, programmer or researcher, the skills they present are strong and specialized. I encourage all of us to be like Evenlyn, and be very proud of our interests, accomplishments and careers; we should be proud to be librarians!

Meghan Cummings

mac883 — 2024-04-29 01:12:45 UTC

Search means getting my newly equipped search tool belt and exploring, comparing, evaluating, and enjoying the process of looking for information. This semester, I learned to be mindful of my experience navigating a database. How does it work? What do I like about it? What would I change? I search in a new, enlightened manner. Technological advancements will continue, and as librarians, we are tasked with the continued job of being a conduit for our clients and the information they desire. The process of getting the information has drastically changed, yet the principles of finding relevant and reliable data are the same. It is wonderful and fascinating. There is a need for information search literacy because while there are endless possibilities to search, there are pitfalls and icebergs to navigate. Thankfully, we are now equipped with 'some secret strategies for serious searchers' (Valenza, J.), and at times, satisficing will do! Regardless of the number of results, it is only helpful if relevant. As information searchers, we will use our best search practices and rely on friends to guide us. I plan to stay flexible and curious and enjoy the amazing advantages of the wealth of information at our fingertips.

Alma Barrios

2024-04-29 02:47:03 UTC

Before the start of this semester my favorite class has always been Cataloging and Classification: However, this class has changed it. I would say that they are tied for first. This course has taught me a great deal about a multitude of topics. This class does not focus on just teaching for us to learn instead it focuses on students applying gained knowledge in real life.

I found the various Voice of Search to be inspirational. The many guests taught me that I should pursue to my heart's desire to obtain as much knowledge as possible. I also gained confidence as many of the guest started in different fields and moved to their current place of expertise.

Before this class, I had a very limited knowledge on initiating a search query. In high school and college, I was just taught Boolean searches (AND/OR) but this class has taught me so much more. The search activities have taught me how to clearly apply these different methods that I was previously unaware about. While I am sure I might forget the more complex ones, I will definitely remember the ones I have used the most in this course as I felt that I was effective.

One of the biggest takeaways from this class is learning about open access databases. I am so used to seeing a paywall and it surprising to know that there are sites that offer information for free.

This course has also taught me something that no other course has covered and that is AI. Before this class, I never thought that I would use any AI tools but now I have two accounts: one with ChatGPT and one with Gemini. As technological advances are being made, I found it pleasantly surprising to find that this course covers a wide range of AI tools and that the professor encouraged us to use it out of school work as it has many benefits.

Mekhala Iyengar

2024-12-11 23:36:27 UTC

When I picture myself in the information landscape, the above gif/metaphor comes to mind. The gif is from the famous Studio Ghibli Film, Kiki's Delivery Service. Just like Kiki I think a lot of information professionals don't have a grasp of the information/ search concepts and skills when they start out as novice searchers or professionals. However, over time with more experience, knowledge, and skills, locating information doesn't seem that tedious. We eventually learn to get a grip on the broom (or information landscape)

One big take away from this course is Virginia Tucker's talk and article. In her video, she mentions that a expert searcher combines all the different thresholds of search. The process of concept fusion highlights that searchers need to visualize, dance, and engage with the different processes of the search landscape. Being curious to learn more and broaden one's information knowledge will indeed benefit librarians and information professionals! As Karen Markey rightly states: "Stay a student and keep learning!"

Emma Huegi

egh43 — 2025-04-21 16:58:14 UTC

Looking at everything we have learned this semester, I realized how relevant all of these skills will be to be as a future librarian. The search activities are something that have truly helped me become more comfortable with search and how to access information. Even though there were some that were hard, it helped me to use what I have learned and prove to myself that I know how to use these new skills. I really enjoyed the databases of the week because I was able to learn from my peers as well as provide my own tutorial.

Throughout the semester I enjoyed listening to the different Voices of Search. Hearing real experiences from other librarians was a great way to understand the profession and how all of them have their own unique experiences. I enjoyed hearing about how all of these information professionals’ paths and what their career is like. One of my biggest takeaways from this semester was truly understanding search and databases. I did not realize, but before this class my experience was limited and I was really only familiar with using different variations of EBSCOhost. Having knowledge in a variety of databases and resources has helped me to understand how to perform a good search when it comes to any kind of research. This knowledge will help me as a future school librarian in so many ways.

When thinking of the information landscape, I think of an open field with all kinds of doors. There are so many possibilities and ways to go about searching. This is something that I was able to learn and really understand from this class. When thinking about this image representation, I think that it is important to just keep opening doors. You will keep discovering more as you go and the possibilities can seem endless.

Eva Stewart

evastewart — 2025-04-21 22:52:01 UTC

The information landscape is a dense forest with many trails, some that may lead to the same place, and many others that will take you in different directions. You can certainly just start hiking, but it’s helpful to first consult a map, have a plan, and maybe check for breadcrumbs along the way.

I used to think I was an excellent searcher. And that most databases were relatively similar. And now I realize I will forever have new things to learn because search and information are forever evolving. I leave this class with hands-on skills, tools, strategies, and vocabulary to not only continue growing my skills but to start utilizing them to help others. The few new resources to add to my portfolio are a nice bonus, too.

One major Aha is that we cannot control where or how information is searched or used, but we must meet it where it is. At times, the amount of resources we had access to was overwhelming, and yet it is also up to us to continue to keep our fingers on the pulse in this same way, to be as knowledgeable as possible on what exists and how we, and our patrons, can best use the tools and resources at our disposal. Knowing what resources to use in what situations is an information professional’s superpower.

Search is important not only because it’s a way to access information or gain knowledge, but at its core it’s a way to build connection with the world around us.

Mariassa Quinn

mq164 — 2025-04-25 00:18:51 UTC

I have experienced many aha moments throughout this course. One major aha for me was just how much is out there. I used to think that there were only a few ways of finding information, but now I know that the more tools you have, and the more you understand how those tools work, you can get to an answer in many creative ways. When searching before I used to think that the information might not be there, but now I know that it's how and where you search for things that matter. There are so many apps and databases that I didn’t know existed before that might have helped with previous information searches.

I used to think that most librarian positions were similar but through listening to all the Voice of Search interviews, I was able to get a broader sense of the fields informational professionals work in and was fascinated by a few.

I imagine the information landscape as a city. Just as cities are always changing and growing, so too is the information landscape. Similarly a city is always busy, just as the search landscape is also always moving. There are different sections of a city, just like there are different types of resources for accessing information. In cities there is traffic, roadblocks and advertisements that can sometimes make it hard to get around, just like there are challenges finding accurate information. But there are also tools you can use to navigate around the city, and tools librarians learn to make search more effective.

As a future information professional, I see myself as a resident tour guide, someone who knows the city, and the tools that are best suited to help each person get around. They have an understanding of where information is housed and the different ways to access it. They also consider each person/situation and are able to appropriately match questions with resources that will not only help patrons to answer or meet their needs, but also help to understand themselves how to navigate better in the landscape.

To become this tour guide I will apply what I’ve learned by continuing my own search journey building skills- (using advanced search, boolean operators, exploring google books, lens, other databases) and practicing.

Jordan Aussicker

2025-04-25 15:23:48 UTC

When I imagine the information landscape, I imagine the various landscape scenes from the Lord of the Rings franchise. As viewers, we get to know the characters on a much smaller, more intimate level, but then the movie pans out to the larger journey as a whole--the mountains, plains, rivers (and more!) that they are traversing, and just how much is out of their control and unknown. I feel like the future of information is like this--while it can be overwhelming and unpredictable, and we can feel like we have no control over it, we can also be reminded that just one person (even as small as a hobbit) can make a difference.

Some of my biggest AHAs this semester were just how pervasive AI is in our current society. I'm no anti-tech person, but I do tend to avoid AI. So until I got to this class, I didn't realize how many facets of our society rely on and use AI as a tool. It's very interesting to realize, but also concerning to a degree when realizing the environmental, social, and ethical danger presented when AI is not used responsibly.

I also used to think that all databases were academic in nature, and therefore inaccessbible to most. Now I realize just how much is out there, even within my own library system! I had no idea PowerPA library resources existed (dozens of them!) to anyone who just had a library card.

I work as a children's librarian, so I already use a lot of these resources in my daily work. This past March, I even did an outreach presentation to the PTO of our local K-5 school to demonstrate what databases were available to families through the library! My work also includes a lot of social work, so I fully intend to expand my knowledge of available databases to get patrons who are in need the resources that will help them.

Thank you everyone for a wonderful semester, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

Grace Boyan (91)

gmb255 — 2025-12-14 14:48:41 UTC

This class helped me understand my own approach to search throughout my life, and made me realize I am, in my soul, a berry picking searcher, a la Marcia Bates. I prefer a meandering search path, wherein finding a new resource - a berry - opens up a path for finding even more resources. I think this natural approach to search really works for my own personal and academic research projects, when my time is not so limited. To me, the search information landscape is a big, beautiful field of ripe berry bushes in peak season, full of information just waiting to be found.

What this class has taught me, though, amongst many other things, is that there is not one single one-size-fits-all search strategy that will work in any situation. As an information professional assisting others with search, the berry-picking model might be too meandering and time-consuming. In those situations, using Command Line keywords and searches may be the most efficient for helping other users. In fact, command line searching was one of my greatest discoveries of the semester - it is not something that I had previous experience with, but that I have already found myself relying on. Another great part of this class, for me, was the different Voices of Search lectures that were shared every week - I loved learning about the different variety of careers information professionals can have, just based on the different industries or knowledge bases they serve.