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Comparing old library card catalogs to online search changed how I teach research
Back in 2005 at the public library in Des Moines, I taught a class on finding sources using the paper card catalog. We had to flip through drawers, write down call numbers, then walk the stacks. Last month I did the same lesson with the same students' age group but using the library's database portal. The difference wasn't speed, it was that kids actually asked follow-up questions online because browsing suggested related topics. The physical cards forced you to know what you wanted before you started, which made folks give up faster. Has anyone else noticed that older tools taught patience even if they were slower?
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