Biblioteka akademicka wobec wyzwań użytkowników „generacji Google„

Abstract

Over the last several years, academic libraries have acquired new patrons who are of the same age as the Internet. They grew up having unlimited access to information. These young people are called the “net generation”, “digital natives”, “thumb generation”, “Google generation,” etc. Research findings indicate that the strong point of the “Google generation” (GG) is their high skill in using computers and other electronic tools, while their weak point is inability to process information: to search, select and evaluate. The weakness of GG in using information is a challenge for the librarians and and invitation to act. Their activity should include training courses or workshops devoted to the following topics: information literacy, training in information search and evaluation, and applying information. The emergence of the “digital natives” generation does not forecast the end of libraries, but opens new opportunities for the libraries to play an important role in forming the knowledge society.