Book Review on 'Google Search Secrets' to MyLISA Members

Hi Friend, 

Sometime feel, should I write (blog) or not ! But, later realize it is good to have someone who only listen and will not revert back...like...so keep blogging. It was not a good Sunday yesterday, came to know about sudden demise of our staff member - Mangalamma's husband in the morning. After paying last respect...came home...got irritated with TV shows... so, thought of sharing some thoughts shared during the book review presented to MyLISA members on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Mysore University Library, University of Mysore, Mysuru (Namma Mysuru)... Dell supported a lot.

Like to share with you...

'Google’ has become synonymous with ‘Search Engine’ claiming 68% of stake globally in the search engine market. It is common to say ‘Google it’ if you could not recall or reply for a query raised. The inclusion of the word ‘Google’ as verb in Oxford English Dictionary demonstrates the company hold on both information. Having understood the presence of the Google, the rich features available makes us think - Are we really using it fully to meet our information needs? This can be answered after reading the book ‘Google Search Secrets’ by Christa Burns and Michael P. Sauers, published by Neal-Schuman – An imprint of American Library Association (ALA) in 2014. 

As librarian, having experienced Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) to fetch information from our libraries, the search experience in Google helped us to understand the magnanimity of search engine and its capacity to crawl the depth of Information Ocean. This was only possible after examining the features listed in ‘Google search secrets’. Earlier experiences were restricted to first two pages of the search results and blaming Google for not getting right information. This book make us laugh at our foolishness of not knowing – how to ask Mr. Google?

‘There is a method in madness’ true to this saying ‘there is a method to ask Mr. Google’ this methodology is unveiled by Christa and Sauers in a step-by-step approach in the form of Chapters. The uniform methodology in organizing the content, style, explanation, examples shared under basic and advanced search functionality, and use of feature - are easy to navigate and greatly helps the reader to structure the learning. 

Let me discuss on Chapter 1, 2 and last chapter Tips and Tricks. Any reader who wishes to get familiar with Google, these chapters are recommended. These 3 chapters are like ready reckoner for such users. It helps the reader to understand Google, the basic search strategies and common techniques. To put it in a nut shell, the 3rd chapter makes a good quick guide to search Google more effectively, for any information user. 

The contents on Google Images, Google Videos, Google News, Google Maps, Google Blog Search, Google Scholar, Google Patents, Google Books, and Google Alerts, discussed from Chapter 3 to 11, is systematically organized in tune with Chapter 1 and 2. The explanation with appropriate screenshots, simple English, examples and uninterrupted flow to different flavors of Google Inc., makes users to understand Google beyond normal web-browsing. 

As a librarian, I lot of expectations from the authors who are librarians. An introduction about how Google searches i.e. search mechanism or search strategy; and a brief on search engine and indexing mechanism, would have added more food for thought to the readers in understanding Google better. This may help the reader to think like Google. 

The book would have more appealing if the authors had adopted a case study approach in solving effort for a literature review or any assignment, which can bring the academic community more closer to Google. The screenshots in some instance could have been avoided, instead the author could have given web links as followed in International Student Edition format. The key aspects which I am totally disappointed is about abruptly closure of each chapter and the book itself. Authors being information professionals, they would have shared more resources and given directions at the end of each other towards the next. This aspect is totally neglected. 

Overall it was a nice journey to know Mr. Google in a systematic manner. A good book for any Information Literacy Program. I expect a much updated book with new tools and techniques from the authors at the earliest.



Friend, Happy Learning...!!! and many thanks for listening...No More to Key!!!

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