Adopting Google Scholar

The library community is divided between those who welcome Google Scholar and those who reject it. A recent study conducted at the University of California (UC) reveals the varying attitudes of librarians toward Google Scholar. Some believe that it is a great tool and promote it actively, whereas others do not use or recommend it and prefer their institutional databases, which they describe as "reliable" or "real". In many cases librarians use Google Scholar as an additional resource when they are looking for old materials, Web materials not found in the institution's databases, or materials that relate primarily to interdisciplinary topics. According to some, the fact that Google Scholar provides links to the UC SFX link server (UC-eLinks) makes it even more valuable. A number of librarians also recommend Google Scholar to non-affiliated users, who have no access to the institutional databases. Librarians who find Google Scholar useful are trying to figure out ways to instruct patrons about when it is appropriate to search in Google Scholar as opposed to the institution's databases.

Google Scholar is clearly gaining patrons' attention at university libraries, and librarians are responding accordingly. At UC some librarians include Google Scholar in the curriculum of classes that they teach or provide explanations to patrons at the reference desk. The Los Angeles campus (UCLA) Web site offers instruction on Google Scholar, search engines, databases, and the research process. By comparing searching in Google Scholar to searching in PsycINFO, the site enables users to figure out what they win and what they lose with each of these resources. In addition, the UCLA Web site provides a comprehensive explanation about using the school's SFX link server from Google Scholar.

Other institutions post pages with frequently asked questions about Google Scholar, such as the page on the Web site of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, which states, among other things, that "While we encourage you to try Google Scholar, keep in mind that this software is 'in Beta.' Beta status indicates that Google Scholar is still in development, and you may therefore encounter some inconsistencies or peculiarities. You may wish to supplement your research by searching some of the many other databases found on the 'Find Articles and More' page".