Debunking Library Myths
I have Google, I’m good!
Dr. Sabrina Saunders
Library CEO
Ashley Prince
Library Specialist - Tech Programmer
How often do you turn to Google for quick answers? As trained librarians, the BMPL team recognizes the growing demand for instant information. Here's a little secret: we use Google too. Questions like "Which Ian Fleming book came first?" are perfect for Google. But when we delve beyond dates, names, and places, the reliability gets much more subjective, even downright dangerous. We all know Fake News is a real concern. It comes in various forms. Some fakes are easy to spot, but others are deceptively convincing. Just like you get fake emails, articles resembling peer-reviewed journals are crafted to push products. Videos and endorsements are "Deep Faked," either to market items or to ridicule individuals. Some of the authorities we believe are newscasters are prolifically writing or blogging as fact, when, in fact, it's opinion—and crucial to remember, it's an opinion for which they're handsomely paid.
So how do you dig through the rhetoric to find the best product? Well back in the day we would go to a trusted source to read reports on the comparator products before a large purchase. You can still do this with our Consumer Reports subscription. The DIY medical research than many of us do can be safely completed with our vetted journals and online resources such as Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine, which are written for the layperson to understand.
Yet, the real danger often hides beneath the surface of Google's search results. When you look up a topic, you're bombarded with tailored ads based on your browsing history. What appears might not always be trustworthy. While the first few results are usually labeled ads, the subsequent ones might lack clear origins or intentions. This raises concerns about cybersecurity with possible viruses, a paramount consideration. Your odds of falling victim to identity theft or cyberattacks far outweigh the likelihood of your car getting stolen or your house catching fire. We emphasize this, along with other tech-related topics, in our Wired Wednesday series and Ashley's Tech Drop-Ins.
So the next time you say, “Hey look that up on Google” make sure the info you are looking up is not content that ultimately matters to you and your family. For that, trust a professional and vetted content. Your library staff are here to assist and point you in the right (and safe) direction.
Read previous Debunking Library Myths. I’m not a library user! and How are digital collections impacting library usage?
