Do you know Eurêkoi, this free public service that answers all your questions? From the most complex to the most unusual, the librarians behind the service try to answer them as precisely as possible. We tested it and the results are astonishing.
With tools as powerful as Google or ChatGPT, all the answers to your questions seem to be found in no time. But do these answers always meet your expectations? Despite all the recent advances, no tool is yet capable of understanding all the subtleties of a query and constructing a clear and, above all, documented summary.
More precise and more reliable than an algorithm, the Eurêkoi teams respond free of charge and in just 72 hours to all your questions, from the most crazy to the most complex, in various fields such as science, history, economics. or even literature. How ? Thanks to a large squad of experienced librarians. We challenged them and the result is surprising.
At Eurêkoi, no robot, but real librarians
Launched under the name Bibliosésame in 2006 then renamed Eurêkoi in 2015, this public service is as surprising as it is practical. Every day, 600 librarians trained in documentary research answer Internet users’ questions by providing a series of references and varied resources (articles, books, audio and video content). No subject frightens them, not even the most technical ones. The only limitations: they do not deal with medicine or specific questions of law. They are neither a doctor nor a lawyer.
These documentary search experts do not simply aggregate the first results provided by Google. They browse much more specific resources such as paper journals, electronic databases (sometimes under subscription), or even press aggregators.
In addition, their in-depth knowledge of information portals, but also of open archive platforms disseminating scientific articles, allows them to cross-reference the results of their research and further refine their bibliographic recommendations.
Within a maximum of 72 working hours, their response is sent directly by email and includes a summary response accompanied by the documentary sources deemed the most relevant in the matter.
Eurekoi also gives very good advice on books and films. Give librarians examples of content you loved, and discover the gems they unearthed especially for you. Unlike Google, they don’t limit themselves to the latest and most popular releases, but really adapt to your tastes.
We tested Eurekoi for you: the results are clear
In order to fully understand the added value of such a service, we decided to put it to the test with three questions. As promised, the response arrived directly in our email box and it was a big surprise.
The librarians have carried out remarkable in-depth work, supported and enriched with varied and above all very qualitative sources. Here’s how they approached each of our questions.
Has streaming killed cinema?
It is difficult to provide a firm and rapid answer as this question is so vast. To lay the first stones of their reflection, the librarians relied on numerical data. They then got their hands on official studies, carried out by the CNC, the IFOP and Xerfi, and were thus able to highlight the first trends.
Unsurprisingly, video on demand (SVOD) services are experiencing growing success, while cinemas are increasingly neglected.
But beware of jumping to conclusions! Librarians have understood this well; the question turns out to be more complex than it seems. This is why they tried to understand why spectator behavior has evolved and what are the respective strengths and weaknesses of streaming and cinema. Criteria of accessibility, comfort, immersion, sociability then come into play, i.e. elements that are ultimately very personal and which can evolve over time.
Determined to explore the issue even further, the Eurêkoi teams relied on legal texts, articles, video interviews and even essays to provide us with the best possible insight. They then focused on the reasons which explain the current coexistence between streaming and cinema in order to determine whether these two sectors ultimately compete or support each other. A beautiful presentation, well developed and highly sourced, which will delight the most curious as well as students looking for specific information.
Between 60% and 80% of insect biomass has disappeared in recent decades: what does this mean for our future?
After culture, it’s time for science. We confronted them with a specific question, which required specific skills. To answer this, librarians have opted for an academic approach. They begin by verifying the hypothesis according to which the biomass of insects has indeed fallen, and attempt to estimate to what extent, based on empirical studies to support this.
To go further and identify the main causes of this decline, experts are multiplying research reports and scientific journals. But here again, they do not simply synthesize the first readings they come across. After multiplying the sources, they alert us to the difficulty of actually measuring “ the extent of the phenomenon » and relay the questions of several recognized researchers in the sector.
But these first difficulties do not stop them. The Eurêkoi team continues to explore the issue and aims to understand the causes of this massive disappearance of insects. Intensive cultivation, pesticides, global warming, urbanization, everything is reviewed, this time with the support of books, podcasts, specialized webzines and even documentary films.
But then, what impact will these developments ultimately have on humans, agriculture and biodiversity? To answer this, librarians give the floor to academics at the Ministry of Ecological Transition. But for all that, no cliché or personal point of view appears in this summary, which ends with some wonderful reflections on possible solutions to slow down this phenomenon, as well as a reminder of the policies already in place in France.
I want to master English in a month maximum, what method and books do you recommend?
This is a problem that many people who want to master English ask themselves. Not without humor, the librarians in charge of the request remind us that miracles do not exist: “ We all dream of learning at night using electrodes, it seems ambitious to say the least, if not unrealistic. “. They also warn of the promises made in this direction by certain training organizations.
However, through this presentation, they attempt to provide a pragmatic solution for learning English in a minimum of time. And the approach depends closely on your objective. The learning method and the time required will indeed not be the same whether you need to speak the language of Shakespeare for professional or personal purposes.
Eurêkoi experts review different situations and offer books for each profile, from the most novice to the most experienced.
Face-to-face or online training, mobile applications, workbooks, pocket books, YouTube videos: there is something for all tastes and needs, whether you are looking for daily sessions of a few minutes or intensive programs.
And to improve both his ear and his diction, the librarians list some TV channels, radio stations, as well as themed podcasts. Perfect for improving your skills while having fun.
And you, what question is burning on your lips? Thanks to its team trained in documentary research, Eurekoi has everything it takes to feed your curiosity. Because if the internet is full of information (more or less qualitative), finding the most relevant information and having good resources requires specific technical skills. This is real work for librarians.
Moreover, Eurêkoi regularly updates its website, in order to enrich it with questions most likely to interest a wide audience, such as: Who invented chess? Why not send radioactive waste to the sun? How many words does the French language include? Your biggest questions may have already been answered and published on the Eurêkoi website. If this is not the case, you can submit them in a few clicks, for free, and without prior registration.
Some links in this article are affiliated. We’ll explaine everything here.