Google has just launched the Google Librarian Central. It's basically a weblog that they're using to talk at librarians. I say 'talk at' since comments are not enabled. Perhaps I'm just being ultra cynical, but I think this is just another marketing exercise by Big G. They certainly don't appear to have any interest in librarians who are not US based either, which annoys me.
I've tried to be a little more upbeat over at Search Engine Land, but it's rather hard.
I find it quite amazing that there has been no response from 'Librarian Central' to all this hoo-ha. Having just read 'Naked Conversations' (yes, I'm very late the the party) it is really quite baffling that they've not even managed to post a "we are listening, honest!" response. Still, I suppose there is not all that much at stake for the big G.
At the same time I am acutely aware that as a profession we are easily riled by these things.
Posted by: lo_fi | January 20, 2007 at 07:01 PM
Well, the fact that there isn't a reply seems to confirm my point that Google simply wants to talk AT us, rather than with us. Though since we're not in the US I don't think they're interested anyway.
I don't think it's so much us as a profession though... if anyone says that they want to engage and have a conversation and then chooses not to, I think it's reasonable to feel somewhat agrieved about it!
Phil.
Posted by: Phil Bradley | January 22, 2007 at 11:28 AM