Advanced Guide to Searching Advanced Guide to Searching the Internetthe Internet

Think about the best way to Think about the best way to find legal informationfind legal information

Three ways of locating information Three ways of locating information on the interneton the internet Use a search engineUse a search engine Use a subject directory eg Emalus Use a subject directory eg Emalus

library’s ‘Recommended Internet Links’ library’s ‘Recommended Internet Links’ pagepage

Search specialized databases (the Search specialized databases (the “invisible” web)“invisible” web)

Recommended Search Recommended Search StrategyStrategy

1.1. Analyse your topic to decide where to beginAnalyse your topic to decide where to begin 2.2. Select key words and phrases that are Select key words and phrases that are

relevant to relevant to your topic your topic 3.3. Pick the right starting place to begin your Pick the right starting place to begin your

research research (search engine, directory, or invisible (search engine, directory, or invisible web)web)

4. Use the “advanced search” screen and “search 4. Use the “advanced search” screen and “search tips” tips” advice available on most good websitesadvice available on most good websites

4.4. Learn as you go and vary your approach with Learn as you go and vary your approach with what what you learn. Don’t persist with any strategy you learn. Don’t persist with any strategy that that doesn’t workdoesn’t work

The Emalus Library internet The Emalus Library internet directory ‘Recommended directory ‘Recommended

Internet Links’Internet Links’

Cont ..Cont ..

Example: international law and Example: international law and treaties on the ‘Recommended treaties on the ‘Recommended

Internet Links’ pageInternet Links’ page

Why use the ‘Recommended Why use the ‘Recommended Internet Links’ pageInternet Links’ page

All websites have been selected for their All websites have been selected for their quality and authority from reliable quality and authority from reliable sources sources

The directory focuses heavily on The directory focuses heavily on websites that are of particular relevance websites that are of particular relevance to the Pacific Islands and Vanuatuto the Pacific Islands and Vanuatu

The directory focuses heavily on The directory focuses heavily on websites that are of particular relevance websites that are of particular relevance to the USP teaching programme.to the USP teaching programme.

It is internationally recognised It is internationally recognised as an excellent subject as an excellent subject

directorydirectory

More recommended internet More recommended internet subject directoriessubject directories

Pacific Legal GatewayPacific Legal GatewayPacLII’s gateway to Pacific legal informationPacLII’s gateway to Pacific legal information

Law links onLaw links on Librarians' Index to the InternetLibrarians' Index to the Internet – – http://lii.orghttp://lii.org Well organised and well maintained subject guide. Well organised and well maintained subject guide.

SosigSosig Law Gateway Law Gateway – – http://www.sosig.ac.uk/law/http://www.sosig.ac.uk/law/ Web based database of legal information sources on the internet. Web based database of legal information sources on the internet. 

WeblawWeblaw – – http://weblaw.edu.auhttp://weblaw.edu.au

A co-operative indexing project from Australian Law Librarians.  An A co-operative indexing project from Australian Law Librarians.  An excellent annotated directory of  internet sites by topic.excellent annotated directory of  internet sites by topic.

      WORLDLIIWORLDLII - - http://http://www.worldlii.orgwww.worldlii.org

The World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII) is a free, The World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII) is a free, independent and non-profit global legal research facilityindependent and non-profit global legal research facility

Recommended general search Recommended general search enginesengines

Google / Google scholar Google / Google scholar Ask.comAsk.com Yahoo!SearchYahoo!Search

*Google alone is not sufficient. Even though probably *Google alone is not sufficient. Even though probably the biggest search engine, studies show that less than the biggest search engine, studies show that less than half the searchable web is fully searchable in google.half the searchable web is fully searchable in google.

Tip 1: Use the ‘advanced search’ option with ALL Tip 1: Use the ‘advanced search’ option with ALL search engines to refine your searchsearch engines to refine your search

Tip 2: Become familiar with your search engine by Tip 2: Become familiar with your search engine by looking at the ‘Advanced Search Tips’ pagelooking at the ‘Advanced Search Tips’ page

Ask (Advanced) - ExampleAsk (Advanced) - Example

ResultsResults

Yahoo!Search (Advanced) - Yahoo!Search (Advanced) - ExampleExample

ResultsResults

Google (advanced) - Google (advanced) - ExampleExample

ResultsResults

AlwaysAlways read the Search read the Search TipsTips

… … and Help informationand Help information

Googling to the maxGoogling to the max

Google is the biggest search engine Google is the biggest search engine database in the worlddatabase in the world

Google ranks pages on three criteria:Google ranks pages on three criteria: Popularity – based on the number of links Popularity – based on the number of links

to a page and the importance of the to a page and the importance of the pages that linkpages that link

Importance – traffic, quality of linksImportance – traffic, quality of links Word proximity and occurrence in resultsWord proximity and occurrence in results

Google tipsGoogle tips

Use the advanced search screenUse the advanced search screen Use quotations when searching a phraseUse quotations when searching a phrase Type your search terms as a statement Type your search terms as a statement

not as a question. (Google will try to not as a question. (Google will try to match the words that you have entered.)match the words that you have entered.)

Google can search more than just Google can search more than just documents. Explore the Google site to documents. Explore the Google site to search for maps, news, images and search for maps, news, images and photographs, books, music, videos, blogs photographs, books, music, videos, blogs etc.etc.

Explore the different search Explore the different search optionsoptions

More..Google…More..Google…

Including Google Scholar –Including Google Scholar –academic materialsacademic materials

Example from Google Example from Google scholarscholar

Google “special” searches and Google “special” searches and shortcutsshortcuts

“ ““ “ : always use quotations to search a phrase: always use quotations to search a phrase -- hyphen: always hyphenate a word that is hyphen: always hyphenate a word that is

sometimes hyphenated eg. same-sex searches sometimes hyphenated eg. same-sex searches same-sexsame-sex, , samesexsamesex and and same sexsame sex

~ ~ synonyms: let google “think” of synonyms eg. synonyms: let google “think” of synonyms eg. ~youth finds youth, juvenile, adolescent~youth finds youth, juvenile, adolescent

IntitleIntitle: Requires terms to appear in the title of : Requires terms to appear in the title of the document eg.intitle:”global warming”the document eg.intitle:”global warming”

AllintitleAllintitle: Requires all terms to appear in the title : Requires all terms to appear in the title of the document eg. Allintitle: traditional of the document eg. Allintitle: traditional knowledge intellectual property pacificknowledge intellectual property pacific

Exampe: Exampe: allintitleallintitle

More google shortcuts..More google shortcuts..

Site:Site: used to search within a particular used to search within a particular site eg. Site:un.org “discrimination against site eg. Site:un.org “discrimination against women”women”

Inurl:Inurl: requires terms to be in the url eg. requires terms to be in the url eg. Inurl:usp forsyth will find all references to Inurl:usp forsyth will find all references to Forsyth on websites with usp in the url.Forsyth on websites with usp in the url.

Filetype:Filetype: only searches particular types of only searches particular types of documents eg. Filetype:ppt “legal documents eg. Filetype:ppt “legal research” will locate power point research” will locate power point presentations on legal research.presentations on legal research.

Movie:Movie: only searches movie reviews! only searches movie reviews!

Example – filetype:pptExample – filetype:ppt

And more google shortcuts!And more google shortcuts!

Use google as a calculator eg. 6*2Use google as a calculator eg. 6*2 Use google to find maps eg. Use google to find maps eg.

Map:”port vila”Map:”port vila” Use google as a dictionary eg. Use google as a dictionary eg.

Define:”mens rea”Define:”mens rea”

Example: dictionary searchExample: dictionary search

Searching the “invisible” Searching the “invisible” webweb

The “invisible” web is estimated to be two to three times bigger The “invisible” web is estimated to be two to three times bigger than the “visible” webthan the “visible” web

The invisible web consists of a vast amount of documents that are The invisible web consists of a vast amount of documents that are contained within searchable specialised databases that are not contained within searchable specialised databases that are not themselves linked web pagesthemselves linked web pages

You need to identify these databases and search on them rather You need to identify these databases and search on them rather than via google. These databases include subscription only than via google. These databases include subscription only databases (eg. Lexis) but also freely available databases (eg. The databases (eg. Lexis) but also freely available databases (eg. The Emalus Library’s ‘Pacific Law Journal Index’)Emalus Library’s ‘Pacific Law Journal Index’)

Identify ‘databases’ on the invisible web by using specialist Identify ‘databases’ on the invisible web by using specialist subject directories (such as the Emalus ‘Recommended Internet subject directories (such as the Emalus ‘Recommended Internet Links’ page, Sosig, Weblaw etc), studying major internet sites in Links’ page, Sosig, Weblaw etc), studying major internet sites in your area of interest or by including the word ‘database’ or ‘index’ your area of interest or by including the word ‘database’ or ‘index’ in your search. Eg. “human rights” databasein your search. Eg. “human rights” database

Example: “human rights” Example: “human rights” databases on the invisible webdatabases on the invisible web

Evaluating web pagesEvaluating web pages

What can the URL tell you? – is this a personal website?What can the URL tell you? – is this a personal website?

What type of domain does it come from? eg. .com indicates it is a What type of domain does it come from? eg. .com indicates it is a commercial site whilst .edu indicates it is an educational sitecommercial site whilst .edu indicates it is an educational site

Is there any information on the webpage on who published the materials or Is there any information on the webpage on who published the materials or information about the authors of the website itself? – can you trust the information about the authors of the website itself? – can you trust the information on the website?information on the website?

Is the page dated? Is it up-to-date?Is the page dated? Is it up-to-date?

What are the authors credentials on the subject? – are they an expert?What are the authors credentials on the subject? – are they an expert?

Are sources documented with footnotes and verifiable references?Are sources documented with footnotes and verifiable references?

Are there well annotated links to other sources on the topic?Are there well annotated links to other sources on the topic?

Do other reputable sites link to this webpage?Do other reputable sites link to this webpage?

Final commentsFinal comments

““garbage in garbage out” – computers do not think so how garbage in garbage out” – computers do not think so how you structure your search will determine the effectiveness you structure your search will determine the effectiveness of your search resultsof your search results

Be critical of what you find on the internet and verify the Be critical of what you find on the internet and verify the authority, reliability and currency of all materialsauthority, reliability and currency of all materials

Do not rely solely on one search tool such as Google. Do not rely solely on one search tool such as Google. Make use of 2 or more search engines, relevant internet Make use of 2 or more search engines, relevant internet subject directories and explore the invisible web subject directories and explore the invisible web

Search the databases in the invisible web that you have Search the databases in the invisible web that you have access to via your USP library ‘Law Resources’ website access to via your USP library ‘Law Resources’ website (Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford Reference Library, (Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford Reference Library, Westlaw, Lexis, Pacific Law Journal Index etc.)Westlaw, Lexis, Pacific Law Journal Index etc.)