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It scares me to hear younger/newer librarians say that their print materials don't get used as much as their online resources. That's because they don't push students to do so. It's still quite often faster to find information in a book than online because search engines and even databases don't have the capability (yet) to be intuitive...to know what the searcher is really looking for. Looking up the same information in an index is very straightforward and quick. The upper school librarian and I have gotten the teachers in both our divisions to make it a requirement that students use at least one print resource for their projects (in middle school, I require 2). Faster, easier, cheaper doesn't mean high quality. In fact, if a student uses mostly Internet resources, the teachers can usually tell because the information is not as accurate. There are also increased instances of plagiarism, because it's so easy to copy/paste information from online sources. I'm all for accurate, authoritative, unbiased materials any day and it's not because I'm an old, stodgy librarian who doesn't like computers. I'm a computer geek and as bad as the kids sometimes about going to the computer to look something up, really quickly, but the idea that libraries need fewer print materials and more online ones is not acceptable, at least until the online environment can provide safe, high-quality, easy-to-find information. As far as the fiction issue goes, I will never want to curl up with a good computer and I hate paperback books. They get really ratty looking very quickly, whereas hard cover books are built to last much longer. I do agree that more focus is needed on teaching students how to determine what sites/information is "good" and how to do the best search possible. The internet is here to stay and I love it but it has a plethora of problems that need to be dealt with before it's as good an information provider as books are. Hopefully, I will not live to see the day when libraries have only electronic sources available! Thanks, Donna Knott Middle School Librarian The Lovett School dknott@lovett.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------