Albert Einstein once said, "I don't need to know everything, I just need to know where to find it."
In the age of Google, Einstein's quote rings doubly true. We have all the information at our fingertips, but it's getting harder and harder to navigate through the ocean of content.
There are, however, some ways to weave through information’s endless stream. Searching properly is a skill that takes time, multiple iterations, and some tricks as well as so-called “hacks” – such as using specific Boolean operators or using direct quotes in one’s search.
The marriage between information seeker and the right article or document is a magical one, but it requires refinement and patience, especially when Google can pull over 500,000,000 results in 1.2 seconds.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library can help the everyday Googler become better and more efficient in their efforts through an introductory “So you think you can Google?” workshop. Taking place virtually on Wednesday, March 30 at 4:30 pm, this workshop will help internet users learn practical research skills as well as Googling skills. It will also teach novice and intermediate Googlers to be phenomenal detectors of bias online – especially when they need to interrogate the article their friend just sent them over instant messaging.
Being a wizardly (re)searcher does not require a magic wand – but it helps to learn a few “spells” to crack Google open and to get straight to the source you are looking for.
