Googling and Beyond: Googling and Beyond: Searching the Web EffectivelySearching the Web Effectively

N. Mellendorf, LibrarianN. Mellendorf, LibrarianMaine South High School Maine South High School Library Resource CenterLibrary Resource Center

Park Ridge, IllinoisPark Ridge, Illinois

How do search engines work?How do search engines work?Keyword SearchingKeyword Searching

• Any word on a page Any word on a page • Not the subject or content of a pageNot the subject or content of a page• Results: lots of irrelevant stuffResults: lots of irrelevant stuff

RankingRanking• How often a keyword occursHow often a keyword occurs• How often someone links to a pageHow often someone links to a page• Paid placement listingsPaid placement listings

The Invisible WebThe Invisible Web• Google indexes only 20% of the “visible” webGoogle indexes only 20% of the “visible” web• Dynamic vs. Static web pagesDynamic vs. Static web pages• Database pages or Password protected pagesDatabase pages or Password protected pages

Improve your searching #1Improve your searching #1

• ““Quotes” for exact phraseQuotes” for exact phrase• OR to allow any search terms OR to allow any search terms

Ireland OR Eire Ireland OR Eire

• AND or + to require all search termsAND or + to require all search terms Computers AND AppleComputers AND Apple Computers + AppleComputers + Apple

• NOT or - to exclude a search term NOT or - to exclude a search term Bush NOT IraqBush NOT Iraq Bush -IraqBush -Iraq

• CombineCombine ““Steroids” Steroids” andand “Football” “Football” notnot

“Baseball”“Baseball”

Improve your searching #2Improve your searching #2 Domains -- one type of siteDomains -- one type of site

• .edu - a college/university.edu - a college/university• .gov - a government site.gov - a government site• .org – an organization.org – an organization• Example: mythology site:eduExample: mythology site:edu

DefinitionsDefinitions• Define:ethnocentrismDefine:ethnocentrism

File types – one formatFile types – one format• PDF -- Adobe PDF documentPDF -- Adobe PDF document• xls - Excel documentxls - Excel document• ppt - PowerPoint documentppt - PowerPoint document• doc - Word documentdoc - Word document• Example: evaluating web Example: evaluating web

filetype:pptfiletype:ppt

Search the Invisible Web: Search the Invisible Web: DirectoriesDirectories

• Narrow your search Narrow your search from a broad from a broad categorycategory

• See how topics within See how topics within a specific area are a specific area are related related

• May suggest new May suggest new terms that are useful terms that are useful in conducting a in conducting a searchsearch

• May be subject or May be subject or organization specificorganization specific

Search the Invisible Web:Search the Invisible Web:Googling DeepGoogling Deep

Google ScholarGoogle Scholar• Peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, Peer-reviewed papers, theses, books,

abstracts, and other scholarly abstracts, and other scholarly literatureliterature

Google Books Google Books • Google Book Search index matches Google Book Search index matches

your search terms—you see “Book your search terms—you see “Book Results.” These links will lead you to a Results.” These links will lead you to a library or online store where you may library or online store where you may borrow or purchase the books.borrow or purchase the books.

Search the Invisible Web:Search the Invisible Web:Librarians’ Index to the InternetLibrarians’ Index to the Internet

Librarian-selected sitesLibrarian-selected sites Selection criteria: Selection criteria:

availability, credibility, availability, credibility, authorship, external authorship, external links, legalitylinks, legality

Evaluative criteria: Evaluative criteria: authority, scope and authority, scope and audience, content, audience, content, design, function, shelf design, function, shelf lifelife

Search the Invisible Web: Search the Invisible Web: InfomineInfomine

Includes databases, electronic journals, Includes databases, electronic journals, electronic books, bulletin boards, mailing electronic books, bulletin boards, mailing lists, online library card catalogs, articles, lists, online library card catalogs, articles, directories of researchers, and many directories of researchers, and many other types of information. other types of information.

Built by university librariansBuilt by university librarians

When to skip the Web altogether…When to skip the Web altogether… You need full-text You need full-text

articles from articles from magazines and magazines and newspapers: use a newspapers: use a subscription library subscription library database.database.

You need scholarly You need scholarly articles from peer-articles from peer-reviewed and academic reviewed and academic journals: use a journals: use a subscription library subscription library database or book.database or book.

You need an in-depth, You need an in-depth, original, narrative original, narrative treatment of a topic: treatment of a topic: use a book.use a book.