Short description:

This book discusses how libraries can go beyond Google's basic search and Scholar functions to expand services for their patrons. Respected authorities reveal the expanding variety of new Google applications developed in the past few years, many of which have not received wide attention and are as yet not often used in libraries.

Long description:

In only a few years, Google has become an authoritative provider of multiple products which have changed the digital information landscape. This book discusses how libraries can go beyond Google?s basic search and Scholar functions to expand services for their patrons. Respected authorities reveal the expanding variety of new Google applications developed in the past few years, many of which have not received wide attention and are as yet not often used in libraries. Applications explored include Google Co-op, Google News, Google Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Calendar, and Google Talk. 

This book also discusses different important aspects of the company?s expansion of functions, such as the failure of the Google Answers experiment, the broad variety of free Google applications that librarians can use to collaborate, and the success of Google?s Blogger, among others. A helpful chronology of Google?s growth is provided, as well as comparative analyses between various Google functions and other functions that are currently available. The book is extensively referenced.

This book is an invaluable resource for academic librarians, public librarians, school librarians, library science faculty, and special librarians.

This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Library Administration.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: Using Google Applications: Expanded Tools for Libraries  William Miller 2. Google: A Chronology of Innovations, Acquisitions, and Growth  Richard Robison 3. Thinking Inside the Box: Comparing Federated Search Results from Google Scholar, Live Search Academic, and Central Search  Rachel Cooke and Rebecca Donlan 4. It?s All Academic: Google Scholar, Scirus and Windows Live Academic Search  Lyle Ford and Lisa Hanson O?Hara 5. Join the Conversation: Show Your Library?s Google Scholar and Book Search Expertise  Luke Vilelle 6. The Triumph of Expediency: The Impact of Google Scholar on Library Instruction  David Ettinger 7. Worth the Price? Virtual Reference, Global Knowledge Forums, and the Demise of Google Answers  Kay Cahill 8. Google and Collaboration  Carrie Newsom and Kathryn Kennedy 9. Scheduling Smorgasbord: Google Calendar and Key Contenders  Sara Davidson 10. Blogger: Your Thoughts Here  Tricia Juettemeyer 11. Blogger, WordPress.com, and their Pseudoblog Alternatives: A Comparison of Focus, Features, and Feel  Robert J. Lackie and John W. LeMasney 12. Libraries and Google Co-op  Maha Kumaran and Dawn Bassett 13. A Squatter on the Fourth Estate: Google News  Jim Galbraith