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Federated searching: is the death toll sounding for information literacy?
Federated search technology provides library users with an avenue to locate information in a similar way to Google search. It answers many a frustrated, time pressured users? prayer by allowing them to search across multiple information resources at the same time. As library professionals, should we embrace this technology and celebrate the simplicity of this search mechanism and the release of information, or should we cringe in fear and write the obituary for information literacy and life long learning? This paper explores whether the introduction of federated searching could affect the development of information literacy skills in library users, what impact it will have on the way information literacy is currently taught and provide an insight into the advantages and disadvantages of using federated search technology in a university library environment. Paper presented at NLS2006, The John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW, Sydney, Australia, December 1-2 2006.