Someone on one of the list-servs I subscribe to brought up this very interesting article, re: Google and the value of libraries:
"Without an IPO price, or even an accurate number of shares, it's hard to say how much Google is worth. But based on the information provided, analysts predict that Google will be valued at $22 billion to $28 billion." [ article ]
"My guess is about 300 years until computers are as good as, say, your local reference library in doing search," says Craig Silverstein (Google director of technology). [ article ]
So, Google is worth $22 billion to $28 billion, but it will be about 300
years before they are as good as your local library and its librarians in
doing research.
So, what are libraries worth? What is a librarian worth?
The National Training Center and Clearinghouse offers free classes on the use of a wide variety of databases and other resources from the National Library of Medicine (including PubMed). The classes are conducted at numerous sites throughout the country with dates listed as far ahead as December. And, if you'll allow me to mention again, the classes are completly free.
| Categorized in: Form: Workshop , Library: Government , Process: Reference , Topic: Gov DocsThe National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has recently released it's annual survey on starting salries by academic major. Though the survey refers specifically to undergraduate majors, it is heartening to note that Information Science students should expect to receive an average salary of around $41,000. As I'll soon be graduting with my Masters in Information and Library Science (hire me!), that means I should be expecting what, $60,000?