Google data in another role.....

As reported in a NY Times article, Google data will play a role in an upcoming obscenity trial in Florida. Obscenity laws typically use "community standards" to define what is obscene. (In library school, we learn about the 3-part "Miller test" for defining obscenity.) In the Florida case, the defense will use publicly available Google search data to argue that since residents of Pensacola, FL are more likely to search for terms such as "orgy" than "apple pie" or "watermelon", then by extension a Web site of sexual material is within the community standards of acceptable behavior.

It's interesting to think of all the varied ways in which search data can be used to identify norms and trends or justify actions......

Research methods, information literacy, librarians...

"Research methods 'beyond Google'" (Inside Higher Ed, June 17, 2008) looks at the need to improve undergraduate students' research competencies. Although 'born digital', undergraduate students often lack the library and research skills necessary for academic success. Initiatives at Cornell University and the University of California at Berkeley seek to address this need. The Cornell Undergraduate Information Competency Initiative, and the Mellon Library/Faculty Fellowship for Undergraduate Research at the U of CA Berkeley are collaborative initiatives between teaching faculty, librarians, and IT personnel. Smaller scale projects could be undertaken in any setting...

Peru - web 2.0 presentation; google workshops

While in Peru, I presented at the "I Seminario Internacional de Bibliotecologia e Informacion" hosted by ICPNA (Instituto Cultural Peruano Norte Americano), a bi-cultural institution that was celebrating its 70th anniversary with various events. My presentation was entitled "Google y Web 2.0 en la Biblioteca." I also conducted two 3-hour workshops on advanced Google search tips and tricks. I think all went fairly smooth and ICPNA, particularly the library director, is to be congratulated for all the great work in pulling together a conference which will hopefully become a regular addition to the library and information science field in Peru.

mobile phone search, services

An article this week in USAToday -- "Are Google, Yahoo the next dinosaurs?" -- looks at the future of search on mobile phones and wireless technologies. The mobile environment is vastly different from the desktop and may require a different model and/or different technologies. The size of a mobile phone screen limits the amount of both information and advertising that can be displayed for any one search. Desktop search technologies crawl the entire web and a simple search can produce thousands of results -- not practical for the mobile environment. Google and Yahoo are taking different approaches in their quests to dominate the growing mobile search market.....

global food crisis resources

This entry from ResourceShelf (a newsletter for information professionals) provides a great list and summary of resources covering the current global food crisis. Included are links to information and reports from the FAO, USDA Economic Research Service, USAID, ReliefWeb, the International Food Policy Research Institute, Congressional Research Service, and the World Bank.

The energy crisis has only intensified the food crisis, particularly in developing nations...