Comportamento informacional em tempos de Google

Abstract

The Internet has been widely regarded as information source; especially by digital natives. Once the Web is mostly explored and mediated by the search engines, Google sparked interest as it stood out as favorite by users and leader of the segment in question. Based on a Clinical information Approach theory that works the affective and symbolic use of information by the subject a parallel on theschool library and Google search engine, as information channels, was drawn. The goal was to verify what image and concept the digital natives make of these environments and how they are related to the search, selection and use of information. In a balanced perception, it was made an attempt to observe the changes that Google has fostered and put into action, on these three aspects: the personal relationship with information, research habits and the school library environment. Field workinvolving non-participant observation and application of interviews with students and school employees took place. The students responded three interviews at different times: a general, to understand their connection and affinity with Google and the library; a second, following their search process to verify their methods and a last one, to compare the previous results and check how scholarly research was actually produced. The results show that Google is, in fact, funded on youngsdaily lives. Regarding the library, it was found that it is no longer considered as source of information for them. However, it was noted that digital technologies and facilities brought by Google alone arenot deliberative for the library use or misuse. There were indicators related to schools characters, to the performance of teachers and to the family context. It was found appropriated to conduct studies toindicate the users profile and information behavior (also with teachers) in order to infer in which new areas information skills can (and shall) be developed and worked by the librarians.