How to Access Information

FREE Web(Google, etc.)

• Results from general search engines

• Results can be from virtually anyone, anywhere (hobbiest? or scholar?)

• Results can be accessed by anyone with the Internet

• Makes the individual solely responsible for determining whether the info is accurate.

Invisible Web(database subscriptions)

• Results not “seen” in the free web.

• Results have been through an editing process (scholars)

• Most can only be accessed via a paid subscription to certain databases

• Helps the searcher insure all info is accurate.

When it’s OK

• Searching for popular culture/current news

• Looking for multimedia regarding a particular subject

• Shopping• Searching for personal

use• Searcher is an expert on

topic, can evaluate effectively for accuracy

When it’s NOT

• Searching for purely academic results

• Looking for primary sources and documents

• Searching for photos, etc. that are not in the public domain

• Searcher is a novice to the subject and needs assistance in finding authentic information

NO

How Search Engines Work

• Crawler-Based- Create their lists automatically by “crawling” the web and people sort through the results.

• Human-Powered Directories- Depends on humans to write a short description of the site to be added to the directory.

• Social Search-NEW Determines relevance based on the contributions & interactions of users.

The BIG Four

• Google- Crawler-based service is the top choice for most searchers. Tons of features: blogs, scholar, images, books, maps, etc.

• Yahoo- Web’s oldest directory & now integrates a crawler. Becoming more of a media company than SE.

• Windows Live Search (MSN Search)- Prides themselves on being “more precise”.

• Ask.com (AskJeeves)- Let’s you use “natural language” to ask questions & provides the right answer.

Meta-search Engines

Searches are sent to several SEs all at once and blended onto one page.

• Dogpile- Customizable listing.• Kartoo- Shows the results with sites being

interconnected by keywords. • SurfWax- "SiteSnaps" feature, you can preview any

page & see where your terms appear in the document. Allows results to be saved for future use.

Get the most out of your search

• Use "phrase searching" whenever possible • Try a title search for subject focus • Limit to .edu or .gov to exclude most ecommerce

sites

• Use link search to find who links to a specific page

• Use the advanced search forms, or at least look to see what it offers. They often include ability to limit search to title, a specific domain, or do a link search.

Cool Tricks and Tips

• Google synonym finder- – Syntax is: ~word

• Example ~obesity ~kids

Will retrieve obese, diet, weight, diabetes, overweight, childhood, child, children, youth

• Fill in the blank- – * can be used as a fill in for any words you

may have missed.

Learn the Language

• Boolean Searching refers to how multiple terms are defined in a search.– http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html

Not all searches are the same

Try to use a new one each month so you can familiarize yourself with the features of

each, you’ll be surprised at the different results each will present!

www.Thumbshots.org

Organizing

• Delicious- Store and organize all of your bookmarks, share with others.

• Rolloyo- Create a customized search engine.

Invisible Web• Have a plan.

– Develop a question– Create a list of Keywords

• Depending on the Project/Question use Simple Search or go directly to database

• Use the Databases search options– World Book Online– Ebsco– Student Resource Center

• Narrow results with sidebar• Check your search history• Ask the Library Media Specialist. That’s why we’re

here.

Finding free databases thru Google

• Use Google and other search engines to locate searchable databases by searching a subject term and the word "database". If the database uses the word database in its own pages, you are likely to find it in Google.

• Examples: – plane crash database – languages database – toxic chemicals database

Finding Books

• Features of Card Catalog– Basic Search– Power Search

– Visual– Copy Categories– Search other LSR7 libraries

• Destiny Quest – new feature

Works Cited

"Invisible Web: What it is, Why it exists, How to find it, and Its inherent ambiguity." The Library-University of California, Berkeley. 14 Jan. 2009 <http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/InvisibleWeb.html>.

Notess, Greg. "Advanced Internet Searching Seminar." Search Engine Showdown: The Users' Guide to Web Searching. 14 Jan. 2009 <http://searchengineshowdown.com/strat/advancedsearch.shtml>.