Google Scholar vs. Library Scholar
Google Scholar, while a substantive supplementary research tool, does not provide the same quality in terms of relevance for many research topics, compared to subscription databases and the library catalog.
Abstract
Abstract How does the content of Google Scholar, a.k.a. “Schoogle,” compare to that of subscription databases and the library catalog? Five sample research topics indigenous to undergraduate libraries were searched in Google Scholar, the College of Charleston online catalog, EBSCO's Academic Search Premier database, and a subject-specific subscription database. Points of consideration included document type, availability of full-text materials, local availability of materials (either in print or online), and relevance of materials to the research topics. Results showed that Google Scholar, while a substantive supplementary research tool, does not provide the same quality in terms of relevance for many research topics.