Reflection3

The statement that I found most interesting in Kuhlthau's research was this one:

"Advances in information technology, that open access to a vast assortment of sources, have not helped the user’s dilemma and may have intensified the sense of confusion and uncertainty. Information systems may intensify the problem particularly in the early stages of the ISP by overwhelming the user with “everything” all at once."

I will resist stating the obvious analogies to this class, (a little librarian humor) but without having taught recently myself, I have to say that this is a real eye opener for me moving forward. Several years ago in the library I taught in, the problem was the lack of good information. I will be on the look-out for this type of Information Technology dilemma, when students are in a state of confusion and uncertainty not because there is not enough information, but because there is too much. Kuhlthau states at the end of her research that "Increased uncertainty indicates a zone of intervention in the process of information seeking for information intermediaries." And this is why Librarians are still needed! Wading through the flood of information requires the power of a trained professional to guide the students to the distinguish between the useful and the useless.