Information Retrieval in 2011

I’m currently teaching a module to our MA Information Studies students on information retrieval. We spend quite a lot of time using mainstream databases such as Dialog and Factiva but we’re also looking at ways of retrieving information from the main social networking sites such as Twitter, blogs, LinkedIn and Facebook. While Dialog and Factiva are the best tools for many information requests, I’m increasingly struck by how much useful information there is on some of the social networks. I think information professionals will increasingly have to be aware of the value of these sites and be able to use some of the tools for extracting information. I’m looking forward to developing this module over the next several years as new tools for making sense of the social web emerge.