Comparing Know It Now 24 x 7 to KSU Ask a Librarian

I asked the following question of both the Know It Now 24x7 and the KSU Librarian:

Question: My husband and I are looking to raise Scottish Highlander Cattle and are interested in information about this type of breed

Workgroup: knowitnow – www.knowitnow.org

This is the conversation you had with the Know It Now 24 x7 agent (if requested, they will provide you with a transcript of the converstation via email)

[10:50:57 AM] Rhonda has joined the room[10:50:58 AM] librarian80 has joined the room[10:50:59 AM] Rhonda: My husband and I are looking to raise Scottish Highlander Cattle and are interested in information about this type of breed.
[10:51:11 AM] librarian80: Hello. You've connected to your 24x7 online reference service staffed by librarians across the state. Please wait one moment while I take a look at your question. [10:51:39 AM] librarian80: Please hold while I endeavor to locate any online information pertinent to that breed of cattle for you.
[10:51:55 AM] Rhonda: thanks
[10:52:07 AM] librarian80: http://www.midwesthighlands.org/
[10:52:40 AM] librarian80: There is an accredited organization/society for the promotion, breed and care for this breed here in the US
[10:53:38 AM] librarian80: Apparently they thrive on grass and there are a number of health benefits that the society is promoting
[10:53:56 AM] librarian80: Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef

Grass-fed beef tastes the way good beef should: rich and earthy. Women's Health Magazines presents an excellent article on grass-fed beef - why it is better for you, how to prepare it, and where to find it.

Read more...

Grass-Fed Highland Beef

Grass-fed Highland beef is, as a general rule, healthier, more humane, and more environmentally sustainable than typical grocery store beef from a feed lot. The same would hold true for grass-fed dairy and poultry. Grass-fed beef is usually lower both in overall fat and in saturated fat. A sirloin steak from a grain-fed feedlot steer may have more than double the total fat of a similar cut from a grass-fed steer. However, the USDA grades beef in a way that rewards meat containing extra fat.


[10:54:23 AM] librarian80: http://www.midwesthighlands.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=5&id=27&Itemid=41
[10:54:28 AM] Rhonda: did you pull this info from the website?
[10:54:40 AM] librarian80: That page gives a listing of farms in Ohio that raise cattle.
[10:54:41 AM] librarian80: Yes
[10:54:45 AM] librarian80: Thanks for using our service. Come back again if you need any thing else
[10:54:48 AM] librarian80 has left the room

My interaction with the Know It Now 24 x7 librarian was short and to the point. The librarian provided the same website that I found useful in my research. I was disappointed that the librarian ended the call abruptly and did not ask if she/he provided the information I was looking for. I have used this service in the past and have discovered the results you receive will depend on the time of day, day of the week and the librarian who answers your question; some are more thorough, courteous, have training, work at a larger library and overall are familiar on have to provide good customer service. Individuals using this type of service need to keep in mind that this service is to give you a starting place to search for the information not to necessarily give you the answer.

Workgroup: KSU – Ask a Librarian – http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10599

I sent my question to the librarian and the first thing she asked me was “what kind of material are you looking for?”. Once I told her the information I needed she then asked me if I could wait a few minutes. I received two websites from her and she acknowledged that she could not find any books or journals. At the end of the transaction she thanked for using the service, but to come back if I needed additional information.

I was extremely pleased with my interaction with the librarian. She was courteous and thorough in her research.

Overall, I found using both services were helpful, but neither did as thorough job looking for resources as I did when I answered the same question in assignment 4. In my research process I had to siphon out the material that did not meet my needs while both librarians just provided me with websites that were a good starting point in my research process.

In the future I will use these services to assist me as a place to begin in my research process. However, keeping mind that I might not get all the information that is available.