Last year I was researching material on Mills Observatory in Dundee. First port of call was Wikipedia, of course. It soon became obvious that all the results on Google were the source of the Wikipedia page. So, down to the Central Library. First difference was a friendly (they are all friendly) librarian who knew exactly where to look to get me what I needed.
Second difference was the wealth of documents, newspaper articles, chapters in local history books and brochures dating back to 1935 absolutely none of which the internet has any idea even exists.
But by far the greatest difference from a mere online search was a compiled book of newspaper clippings in whose pages was the actual sheet of paper which had been attached as a signpost to the gate at the bottom of the hill on the Observatory's opening night.
Rely on online sources only and you'll miss out on a huge range of knowledge and not even know that you're doing so.
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