Here's something I did find, which happens to be from Australia. It's a little old, 1999 - but still relevant IMHO. Peter Macauley and Jenny Addie, Collaborating to a Higher Degree.

End-user searching refers to the direct access to databases by researchers in contrast to the mediated searching normally carried out by a librarian or information specialist. Among information workers the term 'disintermediation' is used to describe the diminishing role of the intermediary associated with the electronic information environment (Edwards, Day & Walton, 1996, p. 357).

Some researchers, especially inexperienced ones, can fall into a common trap explained by Manoff (1996, p. 221): ‘Many users believe that if they have searched an electronic index they have searched the entire world of information. If it’s not in the computer, they assume that it must not exist’. This view is echoed by Herrington (1998, p. 383) who commented that ‘library users attribute much authority to information obtained from a computer; if it was created on a computer, exists in a computer, or came out of a computer, some will view it as more valid, up-to-date, and credible that a print format’.

Disintermediation can actually be a disservice to virtual library users. It lacks the human interaction and spontaneity of a real conversion or reference interview with an information professional and discourages users from seeking professional advice.

 

4:26:59 PM    Comments []  

I've been looking around the web for sources on information disintermediation. I still need to do some more digging, but I've found surprisingly little. Although the web is full of people who believe in information disintermediation - "I can find all the information I need directly on the web and don't need to use a librarian/lawyer/doctor or any other middle-person to help me" - but of course they don't use the disintermediation term. The attitude seems so pervasive that it's just a given, not a particular point of view which can be named (and then combatted/refuted). It is my purpose to identify instances of misguided information disintermediation - shed a little light on it and show it to be a fallacy! This is the beginning of my manifesto.

Thinking out loud, I can imagine that the Exploded Library will also point to information which cannot be found on the web. It will also point to instances of inaccurate information on the web. Don't get me wrong, I love electronic information and hate paper and plastic media (microfiche and microfilm). If I could wave a magic wand and copy all the world's information to the web, I'd do it right away. But I can no more do this than create world peace and happiness. So we're still stuck with paper and plastic for the time being - and unless we decide that the history (of anything) doesn't matter, it will never go away. Even when most current information is available on the web - that doesn't mean it will be easy to find. I would like to show instances of web information being difficult to find, when it is quite essential to work with an information professional.

3:34:45 PM    Comments []  

I wasn't able to make it to the AALL conference, but I just heard that one of the presenters said something good about our library's website - namely that most of the links are annotated. That's nice to know! I'm working on a new version and intend to keep it that way - I want the site to be "mystery meat" free.

My next project for this blog is to find some other sites/blogs that can supply me with some information relevant to the blerb at the top.

2:04:31 PM    Comments []  

Law News & the Blog Revolution - . . .No longer do I have to pray for useful commentary on things like the confirmation of a Fifth Circuit judge (I can read Howard and at least get pointers to good articles, if not first-hand commentary).  The Volokhs cover interesting socio-legal issues in language that anyone can understand, but which is at a level that invites discussion by lawyers.  For corporate law I can turn to Larry Sullivan, who covers Delaware law (which is the touchstone for much corporate law in this country).   Bill Altreuter reports heavily on legal events in the Empire State, and does so with style and wit.  The media can't keep up with this.  In fact, I predict that in about 3 years the mainstream media will rely almost exclusively on lawyer-bloggers to cover local legal events.  [Ernie the Attorney]

As somebody who is still quite new to the law blog scene, this summary is very helpful.

1:48:59 PM    Comments []