Google Government Gaps

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Is your search engine finding the government information you need?
Posted December 17th, 2007 by Blake
Government Docs
Internet

Freegov pointed the way to an OMB Watch report [PDF] that highlights "a critical gap in online access to vital government information." In an examination of Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Live and Ask and the search function provided by USA.gov, they confirmed that many of these searches miss critical information simply because of the manner in which the government agency has published the information.For example:• A search for “New York radiation” does not find basic FEMA and DHS information about current conditions and monitoring.

A search to help grandparents with a question about visitation of their grandchildren in any search engine does not turn up an article of the same title located on the Web site of the Administration for Children & Families.

They have several recommendations for the federal government. Each of these would encourage greater accessibility of government information by making it more searchable.

As budgets shrink in libraries, depository institutions are hit hard by a need to supply information and still deal with cutbacks. In my last term in library school I had the privilege of sitting in on a government docs class. The instructor was first class teacher and vet of many years experience. During that term, (he worked at another library too) he lost his entire staff and was then demoted. The truth was it was shattering to watch. He is a guy with a great attitude and passion for his work. After leaving the class he invited some of the students to work on a project based on the work in our class. But I will never forget how even as a pro, it can cut you in half when the plug is pulled.

I think the question here gets back to some of the limits of giant search engines. Most can spit out tons of info, but the quality is generally uneven. Most searchers are rather unschooled in evaluating material and know little about search techniques.

This is a chance for librarians to get back into the game. Why not building search engines better than Google? Why not lead the information boom? I know there are a lot of points between here and there, but it is worth talking about? Right?

Any thoughts?


Here is the link to the story: