• Each search engine creates a database by using computer programs called spiders or robots to gather Web pages

• The pages are indexed 

• Search software enables user to query the index, returning results in order ranked by relevance and popularity

• Require knowledge of advanced search features and techniques to guarantee good results

• Remember to read the search engine's help pages!

Recommended Search Engines:

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Directories 

• Topical lists of selected WWW resources, hierarchically arranged 

• Rely on people for selection and control of the included resources

• Contain links to specialized databases and subject guides

• Collaborative in nature; the public can submit sites to these collections

• Some resources are rated and reviewed

Some examples:

Open Directory Project (http://www.dmoz.org) - Comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) - Free-content encyclopædia

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Virtual Libraries

• Directories that contain very selective resources 

• Link to specialized databases and subject guides

• Contain reference works like dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, and so forth 

• Usually organized by professional librarians or subject matter specialists

Some examples:

BUBL Link  - Selected Internet resources covering all academic subject areas

The Infography - Superlative sources of information about a subject selected by scholars

Internet Public Library (IPL) - Information sources selected by the University of Michigan School of Information
 
Librarians' Index to the Internet  - Well-organized links to reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected Internet resources

Library Spot  - Virtual reference resources for topical information

Resource Discovery Network - High-quality Internet resources for further and higher education

Virtual Learning Resource Center - Quality information for college academic projects

World Wide Web Virtual Library - Links for particular areas maintained by subject matter specialists

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Specialized Databases 

Congressional Research Service Reports - Congressional Research Service reports on the Web

Creative Commons - Content that can be re-used without rights-clearance

OAIster - Collection of academically-oriented digital resources

Policy Bot - Studies and commentaries from think tanks

PubMed - National Library of Medicine's archive of life science journals

Scirus - Scientific information

SMEALSearch - Academic business documents

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Discussion Groups

• Joining an email discussion group is a good way to locate peers, post questions, and offer advice. 

  Access CataList (http://www.lsoft.com/lists/listref.html) - Locate groups you might like to join

  Search Google Groups (http://groups.google.com) - Search discussion group and Usenet archives.

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The Deep Web, Invisible Web or Closed Web 

The Deep Web refers primarily to content residing in databases that can only be retrieved by direct query of the database.

Complete Planet - http://www.completeplanet.com
The Invisible Web Catalog - http://www.profusion.com
The Invisible Web Directory - http://www.invisible-web.net

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Search Techniques

Here are some resources to help you develop good search techniques:

Using the World Wide Web for Research

Common Search Features of Search Engines and Other Databases

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Evaluating Resources 

Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources - Outstanding bibliography developed by Nicole Auer, a librarian at Virginia Tech

Evaluating the Quality of Information on the Internet - Law librarian's checklists for information evaluation

Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools - Cornell University Library

A Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web - Ithaca College Library

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Citing Resources  

When using Web resources to support your research, you must cite them as you would any printed book or journal article.  Buying the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (ISBN 1-55798-791-2) is recommended; these APA guidelines are also useful.

APA Documentation - University of Wisconsin Writing Lab

Citation Style Guides - APA Style Bibliographic Citation Guide from Seattle Community Colleges libraries

Citing Resources in Print, Electronic, and Other Formats  - From Simpson Library at the University of Mary Washington

Documentation in APA Style - University of St. Thomas Libraries

Online! Citations Styles - Using Principles of APA Style to Cite and Document Internet Sources

Using American Psychological Association (APA) Format - Purdue University Online Writing Lab

How to site articles from specific databases:

InfoTrac Databases

LexisNexis

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Managing Information

Managing information refers to the following types of skills and techniques:

• copying information from the Web, including images
• downloading information, such as spreadsheets and other files

These resources will help you with these skills:

How to Capture a Graphic on the Web to a Diskette

Managing Information Found on the Internet and the World Wide Web

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