Reading Assignment #3

"The Infodiet" talks about the information literacy problem in the United States, but places blame on everyone for not compromising. This article blames database producers for being too focused on how much information they can fit into their database, and not enough on how they can make databases that are easier or more familiar to search like google. Students are also the problem because they have "infobesity," which is the over consumption of junk information. Like fast food, students have become addicted to ease and quickness when researching. This is why so many students have turned to google. On the other hand, libraries are like gourmet food, it may take longer to get but it is much better once you receive it. Many students are more interested in quick and easy searches that provide a lower quality of information. There fore it is the responsibility of database producers and libraries to come up with easier databases to search that still produce high quality information. Professors need to compromise with libraries and encourage students to use the library for research. Professors should require students to use articles from library databases as sources for their research. Some people think that research is not supposed to be easy. That the journey of research is part of the learning process. The problem with information literacy is there is very little compromise between database producers, libraries, professors, and students. Everybody needs to sacrifice a little whether it be the students time, or the libraries style of research.