Continuing the librarian-as-superhero theme, our Professor of Media in the Division of Information & Media Studies, Tara Brabazon, has an opinion piece in the latest Times Higher (“Boomers in thrall to a Wiki Universe” – page 14) in which she describes librarians as “the Jedi knights of the modern age”.
Professor Brabazon has written extensively on the subject of education, the uncritical adoption of ICT-based ‘learning platforms’ in HE, and the importance of the role of librarians in guiding students (and others) through the information landscape. Publications include ‘The Google Effect: Googling, Blogging, Wikis and the Flattening of Expertise ‘ published in Libri in 2006, Digital Hemlock and her recently published follow-up book, The University of Google, described by Professor Frank Webster of City University as: my book of the year for 2007[...] It will have a huge impact on everyone in higher education, helping those suspicious of new media to formulate their criticisms and those eager to adopt it better placed to introduce it appropriately.
