[BC] libraries vs on-line research

[Donna Halper]

>Barry wrote--
>         The problem - well known to those who actively
>         use the web for research - is the tremendous
>         amount of mis-information that is spread on
>         so many websites.

Amen to that.  I was just working on a journal article, as I proceed slowly 
towards my PhD, and it just amazes me how one erroneous "fact" is quoted 
thousands of times in cyberspace by people who NEVER checked the original 
to see if that's what it really said.  Partisan websites and broadcasters 
do this all the time-- and before the flame wars begin, I say again that 
BOTH sides do this-- cherrypicking "facts" to make their case and then 
assuming nobody will check the original.  It's a real problem for those of 
us who want to do fair and accurate research.

As has been said elsewhere, the big issue is still the haves versus the 
have nots.  Many libraries in rural and poor parts of the country cannot 
afford all the fancy-shmancy databases with the newspaper full-text 
information, and as a result, students who use those libraries are behind 
in doing their research, while students from wealthier neighbourhoods can 
get full-text of many major newspapers and magazines, which helps them do 
their school-work (assuming they don't plagiarise... sigh...).