Librarians = The Original Search Engine
You know those people behind the reference desk at the library… The ones you never talk to…
Turns out that these people are actually experts at finding information. I’m not talking about the superficial Google / Wikipedia search that you do for your school papers. I’m talking about searching professional databases, archives, and other ridiculously complicated and arcane sources of information.
EXAMPLE
You are writing a school paper about the “validity of scientific studies and claims involving food products”. You will search Google and get a bunch of articles about food giving you cancer.
If you ask a librarian, they will find you a scientific study from the 1950′s claiming that if your child drinks soda they will be more likely to fit in socially when they grow up.
CONCLUSION
The point is this… Don’t discount the expertise of those people behind the counter. Additionally, you should make it your mission to ask for their help more often. Believe it or not they love to help students, and they will invest a lot of time trying to find the resources you are looking for. It make them happy to help you, and it will help you get a better grade on your paper.
Ask a librarian for help! They are the original search engines.
