LBCC LIBRARY COMMUNITY UPDATE LCU 7 February 24, 2003 by Henry DuBois

Steer Clear of the Internet When Doing Research?

Unreliable, biased, opinionated information, sources that change and can't be easily verified-- that's what some have come to expect of the web. It's this expectation that's prompted some faculty to advise their students to look elsewhere when they're looking for data to support their research. Good advice? "Yes and no," says LBCC Systems Librarian and Library Webmaster Paula Nielson. "It's absolutely true that the Web contains information that can be misleading and inaccurate; for the vast majority of Web sites there's no way to gauge the truth of the information or the care that was taken in compiling it." Does this mean that every Internet site is suspect, that none should be trusted or consulted by students? Or is there a way to have confidence that Web-based information used in papers or projects is authoritative? The only game in town… "Many of the Library's most respected reference works (indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias), as well as many of its best known academic journals, now are available to LBCC students and faculty, 'anytime, anywhere,' from any Web-accessible computer," Nielson points out. "In some cases these information resources are available in traditional print form also, but more often the only way to consult them is through the Library's Web site over the Internet (http://lib.lbcc.edu)." Some of the best information sources aren't free… The Library has assumed the substantial cost of subscription to these excellent and carefully researched resources, continuing a long tradition of providing the campus community with quality information that can be consulted quickly and easily. Students and faculty have come to realize that information from Web-based sources, such as ProQuest, Health Reference Center, Literature Resource Center, and ERIC, is trustworthy. They know, too, that the free Web sites found on the Library's recommended list of Internet Resources (http://lib.lbcc.edu/liblink2.html) and the Librarian's Index to the Internet also are good places to conduct subject-specific research. So, approach the Web with caution, but look to the Library for the best information resources, be they physical books and journals or virtual ones. For more information contact: Paula Nielson pnielson@lbcc.edu (562) 938-4914 or Marion Hinton mhinton@lbcc.edu (562) 938-3129