Volume 44, Number 5 - September/October 2020
EDITORIALFrontLines Page 4 Online Searcher will soon be in two places at once: With this issue, we are introducing a PDF version. The magazine will still be available in print, so you have the option of PDF or paper. By Marydee Ojala DEPARTMENTSPage 7 Search Engine Update By Greg R. Notess Page 30 Conference Corral ALA Virtual, SLA InfoTrends, and the ICTeSSH Inaugural Conference FEATURESPage 9 The Sound of Music in Search: Google Sound Search, Shazam, and SoundHound Ever stumbled over a piece of music you can't recognize or got a song stuck in your head and you can't remember the details? The ever-inquisitive Sophia Guevara has some suggestions. She's discovered three search tools that use technology to identify music and sounds them out to see how well they detect various music genres. This brings an entirely new perspective to the "hum a few bars" approach to music searching. By Sophia Guevara Page 12 International, Global, Worldwide: Country Research Sources A starting point for international research projects is frequently learning about individual countries or regions of the world. Librarian Sarah Jane Davis explores several good sources for country data that originate with the CIA, the BBC, the World Bank, and others. To round out country research, she recommends delving into recent news to bring country profiles up-to-date. Having a "think globally and act locally" mindset is an asset for those doing international research. By Sarah Jane Davis Page 17 AI Is Changing Legal Research Dominated for decades by search behemoths such as Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg, legal research is being drastically changed by AI technologies. These three leading companies are busy acquiring nimble AI start-ups and developing new capabilities in-house. Search is being downplayed in favor of direct provision of answers; predictive analytics guides many aspects of legal work; and visualization adds a new dimension to research. By Barbie E. Keiser Page 25 Libraries have always collected and disseminated information relevant to cultural heritage and scientific advancement, but today, issues surrounding sustainability present challenges to traditional library services. Tamir Borensztajn believes that rethinking the tools we use and the services we deploy is essential. The notion of "open," in its broadest sense, removes barriers across the technology and information ecosystem. Open and unbiased access to information is a clear mandate for libraries. By Tamir Borensztajn COLUMNSInternet Express Page 32 A Tool for Change: Technology and Activism in the Year 2020 Technology has been at the core of activism in 2020. Carly Lamphere examines how social media and other tech tools have been serving as a cornerstone in the social justice reform movement, helping to disseminate information and enabling a worldwide audience to organize rapidly. By Carly Lamphere InfoLit Land Page 36 Living in pandemic times led Bill Badke to reflect on information literacy challenges and their effect on students, faculty, and, well, pretty much everybody. The information chaos evident today highlights our collective inability to intelligently navigate an information glut. By William Badke Technology and Power Page 39 The Allure of Charismatic Technologies Particularly in these pandemic times, when work and school abruptly ceased to be in person, the allure to embrace technology as the answer to a wide variety—perhaps all—problems is enticing. Bohyun Kim has some cautionary words, noting that the same technology can be used to foster both good and bad behaviors. By Bohyun Kim Metrics Mashup Page 42 Manifestos, Declarations, and Metrics, Oh My Recent statements about best practices and responsible use of impact metrics are meant to caution against all decisions being data-driven without a full understanding of the situation. Elaine Lasda examines several manifestos and declarations that appeal for fair play in the research ecosystem. By Elaine M. Lasda Hard Copy Page 45 Recommended Reading on Electronic Resources Librarians, Scholarly Communication, and Digital Libraries By Jennifer A. Bartlett Online Spotlight Page 48 Working from home provides opportunities to rethink our daily activities, reevaluate our information sources, and reconsider how we present research results. By Mary Ellen Bates |
