MedlinePlus Challenge

First, I would like to say it is a pleasure to get together for the LATI face-to-face meetings. Now to the challenge, Google search vs. MedlinePlus; MedlinePlus is one of our information resources listed on our databases so I always feel at ease knowing that I am giving reliable information. I searched the general topic of breast cancer and then more specifically tumors. Google responded with 54,900 hits in .30 seconds! The top ten included 4 .com, 1 .gov, and 5 .orgs. The hits were well documented, many journal articles, while a few required registration to the site. The first general hit did seem appropriate for a patient without the "oncology jargon" the other sites had. The Google site was useful, but I do prefer MedlinePlus. The information and links are plentiful and well organized. The resource is well documented and the information valid and screened. I think it is especially important to lead a patron to MedlinePlus first so they are receiving accurate information.

Chicken Truck, Chicken Truck, Just My Luck!

A patron came in yesterday and asked for a book about housing chickens. I'm not thinking that would be a common question for urban or suburban libraries, but in Carroll county it is. All of our books are in the hands of poultry keepers accross the county, I told her about my "chicken tractor" that I made out of old cron crib panels. Yum, egg omelet with a little fresh asparagus tips.

Spring Crops!

I can't imagine anything tastier, asparagus, watercress, and rhubarb, after winter and a dreary spring!