This week I'm playing catch-up to get my progress through 23 Things up to speed. I was happy to see that Google was the topic for Week 2, and even happier that I was able to learn something new about a favorite utility.
Like many people, I use Google in some form nearly every day of my life. I use its email and chat to communicate for work and with friends and family, I use its search function nearly every time I'm beginning an exploration of a new topic or need information on a location or event, and I use its "Documents" feature so that I can access important information remotely and collaborate with others. And that's just the beginning! I could go on and on about the things I use Google for, but instead I'll talk about the things I learned this week, and conclude with some thoughts about Google's usefulness in public libraries.
Google Sites: How have I never used Google Sites before? I've created websites on my own in the past. And, since the rise of classy, free blog hosting and template options, I've relied on these when I needed to put content online. But after a brief examination, Google Sites looks like a great option for entry-level users who want a simple way to put information online. One of the neat features here is the compartmentalization of templates into categories based on how a user might want his or her site to function.
Google Uncle Sam: This is another new one on me, and I'm glad that I know about it now. There are all kinds of reasons why a patron might want to search government sites and publications, and I really, really like the idea of being able to direct users to a resource that will take them only to government-created and approved information. There's just too much misinformation on the Web that might be turned up in a typical Google search; being able to weed out unreliable information by limiting a search to government publications is a fantastic option!
I would direct interested patrons to numerous Google resources, depending on their needs. I prefer Gmail over other available email options and would recommend it to most users; despite the fact that it may offer features that are above and beyond what an entry-level email user might need, I would still suggest it to the vast majority of patrons, especially since a Google account enables access to so much more than just email. Public library users - particularly those who regularly visit the library to work on ongoing projects - are in a position to benefit from Google Documents' storage capabilities, since the need to carry (and remember!) a disc or flash drive when visiting the library is eliminated. And Google Books (which has helped me immensely in my own research) has a huge range of potential applications for library users, particularly since it might allow users to locate books using terms not covered in the library's cataloging.
As with any resource, the usefulness of each of Google's services varies depending on an individual user's needs. But Google offers several excellent starting points, whether a user is looking to be more productive or organized, communicate more easily or effectively, locate appropriate information, or pursue recreational interests. I'm not trying to sound like an advertisment for Google's services, but the company's products form such an important part of today's online universe that I can't help feeling as if understanding and being able to utilize them is a key part (and useful indicator) of an individual's internet literacy.
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