What is the hardest thing about finding information?

The hardest thing about finding information and doing research on a topic is finding information that will really help me in terms of the relevancy to my topic. This summer, I will be working on my Extended Essay for IB, which will require a TON of information... but what would I even narrow my topic of perfect pitch down to? and how will I find enough relevant information? Often times, finding a good topic is the most difficult part for me. So far, this library course has helped in terms of showing me how to narrow things down. The plagiarism was a good overview, but it's stressed so much in the IB program that I am sure to always double check my citations. Also, the false information was mostly common sense; I went to Challenge School for Elementary school and we had a technology course that stressed the importance of false information on the internet. Although it may have helped some people, it is already stressed so much in the kind of work I do. I think it would have been more useful if we had gone more into depth on research help. For example, in research papers or papers in general, I have trouble with thesis statements and finding topics. Although thesis statement is more english than library, a small overview may have been good. Also, finding a topic is crucial to a paper - without a topic, what can we do? Also, a good paper is generally not too broad. My topic of perfect pitch would be far too broad for the kind of paper I am writing about. Exploration on how to find different branches of topics would have been helpful.

Since everything is on the internet, I don't need books... right?

I would slightly agree and slightly disagree with this prompt. As with the problem we encountered on the first library research assignment, it is evident that books are available on the internet. I think that technology is truly changing the way things are. I believe books are helpful when looking for solid research because, as we talked about today, there is so much false information on the web. However, the books are available on the internet, and that also changes the necessity level for books. Also, the term books is very general. Do you mean just books in libraries/books that we can have in person or books online or just books anywhere? If anywhere, then yes, of course we need books. Books are quintessential for research support, etc. However, if the question applies only to libraries or books in person, then I don't think they are very necessary; this is only because they are available online. Books are also much more reliable sources than just internet sources. The most interesting examples to me were all the emails that were forwarded to you; they showed how easy it is for information to be altered or false information to be spread. In this age of technology, people can honestly hack into websites and change whatever they feel like. Therefore, we really have to be wary of what information we use on the internet. I think it's really important to utilize books, but in the library setting, I see the library as an opportunity to have access to the resources and quiet time to study. However, if these resources are all available on the computer (books, not just online resources), then I think books in hand are not as important. As long as one has the book, that is. This is also a reason for so many bookstores closing down; all books are now available online,and it is much more convenient, although it demonstrates how lazy we are..

Librarians?

I think librarians help people in the library with finding books and educating people on how to utilize resources such as online databases. Every time I have been taught database usage tips, it has been from a librarian. I think they organize the library as well so that people can find things more easily. I think it would be really cool if librarians started being more technology oriented. Although things are changing and technology is becoming more integrated, I think that technology today is crucial to library research, etc. I think the library of the future might be all technology-based. For example, because so many people are accessing or buying books through the internet, many bookstores are closing down. Therefore, because we are so reliant upon technology, I believe the switch may happen. I think librarians also generally help students like us learn how to write a good paper. When doing any research paper, a librarian has always helped me. For example, we learned plagiarism; this is QUINTESSENTIAL, especially since there are so many ways in which we can plagiarize. Plagiarism could jeopardize our future in college because the consequences in college are so severe. I know that I accidentally cited a source wrong, and my teacher informed me that it would be considered plagiarism. The course on plagiarism was very helpful. Lastly, I think the library of the future might have more access to anything in the world; any book, any website, etc. I think that would be really interesting and helpful. For instance, if I was writing a paper about Australia, if I had access to materials that they have in Australia, like primary sources, then it would be very helpful. 

College?

I hope to study psychology when I go to college because it is a subject I am very interested in. I am in IB psychology currently and love it. Although psychology is of very big interest to me, I am also largely interested in music. I play the piano, guitar, violin, drums, bass, ukulele, and a little bit of a lot of other instruments. I always grew up around music and have grown to love it more than anything. Although I love music, I don't quite believe it is the best choice to take as a route in my life. The Pre-Collegiate program is helping me achieve my main goal of solidifying what I want to do. This summer, with the health program, I am able to see the basis of what a health career education may be like. In the fall, I will hopefully be taking a music course so that I can see what the basis of that education may be. Through both these opportunities, I will be able to see whether I find a health education or a music education more interesting. I am slightly hesitant to go into music because several music majors I have talked to have told me that they have lost a lot of the love they previously had for music. Although I do not believe this could possibly happen to me because music means something completely more than just something I love, I am still reluctant to take that chance. Overall, this program will help me to establish my future.