Why should you use the library?
- Not everything is on the internet. There are many materials you won't be able to find using a standard Google search.
- Not everything on the internet is free. Some materials, like journal articles, exist behind a paywall.
- The internet is not very organized, but the library has Research Guides to direct you to the best resources.
- There is no quality control on the internet.
- Sources on the internet can be harder to locate or verify.
- Historical documents aren't always available online.
- Library online resources are available 24/7.
- The internet is a mile wide and an inch deep. There might be many websites about a topic, but they all have the same information. For a varied and more in-depth analysis, try some of the library's books or article databases.
- You're already paying for the library through your tuition, so get your money's worth!
- Real live people can help you use our library.
List adapted from Navarro College Libraries
What about Google?
There are times when Google is a completely acceptable tool for finding information. Librarians do still use Google- we just know when it will be the most effective.
When to use Google/ the Open Web:
- To explore an unfamiliar topic and find background information;
- To go to a specific website;
- To find current government forms and data;
- To find information about a unique or new topic;
- To find multimedia materials;
- To answer a quick question; and
- To find information for personal use.
When to use Library Databases:
- To find journal articles;
- To find news articles, both historical and current;
- To find scientific data, methods, and protocols;
- To find in-depth, factual information on complex topics; and
- To find historic documents and archives for research.
