Searching the Internet

Using Search Sites

Structured Index or Keywords

• Libraries use a structured index, with a controlled vocabulary. Catalogers decide what words should be used to describe and index a work. This is call a taxonomy.
• Internet search tools use computers to log keywords. Anyone can assign words and descriptions to their works. This is called a folksonomy.

Knowing What You are Looking For is Important

• Brief or in-depth information.
• Develop appropriate concepts or keywords.
• Homework for a child, personal interest, professional level.
• Narrow or expand the scope.

Search Engine Logic

• AND - Use this to limit the search.  This is the default for most search tools.
• OR - Use this to expand your search.
• NOT or the Minus Sign (-) Use to exclude sites that use a word.
• Phrase Searching - Put the search in quotes. Searches for "wisconsin rapids" will find only that phrase and not every document where the words appear separately.
• Natural Language - Most search sites do not do a good job with natural language, though some have tried.
• Key Tips - Spell it right. Skip capital letters. Watch for stop words, which may not be searched. Stemming (Israel can retrieve Israeli or Israelite). Know "sponsored results" from actual results.

How to evaluate the results

Purpose

• Audience - Consider the intended audience of the page. Does this mesh with your needs? 
• Source - Is the author/producer  identifiable? Do they have expertise on the subject?
• Sponsor/location of the site - Examples: .edu for educational or research material; .gov for government resources; .com for commercial products or commercially-sponsored sites.  ~NAME in URL may mean a personal home page. 

Content

• Accuracy  - Don't take the information presented at face value. Be aware of point of view . Source of the information should be clearly stated, whether original or borrowed from elsewhere 
• Currency  - Look to see if site has been updated recently, as reflected in the date on the page, and if material contained on the page is current. 

Where to Search - Types of Search Tools

Search Engines
Search engines are powered by automated web crawlers that try to visit every page on the Internet by following links. The crawlers note the location and key words of a page, building a database of keywords and pages. This database is what is searched. The results are then ranked by to try and list the most relevant pages first. Since most people only look at the top ten listings, ranking is important. The keywords on a page can be accurate or misleading, visible or hidden. Most search engines will highlight or promote sites that pay them. No search engine actually searches the entire Internet. 

• Alta Vista - Very large. Includes a translation feature.
• Google - The winner, but not the only option
  • Image searches.
  • Advanced searches (Help)
  • Safe search

Subject Directories
In a subject directory, sites are assigned a subject by humans within a hierarchy. This adds the ability to drill down to a subject, while combining similar sites for ease of use. Searches cover a site's title, keywords and subject. 

• Open Directory Project - Used by many search engines as a source.
• Librarian’s Index to the Internet - This subject guide is like a subject directory, but includes only the best and most useful sites. It is a great gateway to the Invisible Web.

The Invisible Web

• An estimated 80% of Internet content is invisible to search tools, including Google.
• Video, audio or graphics pages, which have little or no text.
• Special formats, such as PDF, Flash.
• Contents of databases.
• Real time content (news).
• Blogs (DailyKos) and Discussion Boards, such as  Sleepnet)
• Dynamically generated content, which changes daily and differs by user. Amazon, ebay. 
• Fee based sites.

Some Invisible Sites

McMillan's databases - Millions of magazine and newspaper articles, complete U.S. Census records, e-books, downloadable audiobooks, recommended fiction, literature research, business information and more

Arts & Entertainment  - The Internet Movie Database - The Internet Movie Database currently covers over 150,000 movies and is expanding continuously. The All Movie Guide is similar. Artist Direct  - Link to discographies, artist biographies, tour information, fan web pages and more. The All Music Guide is similar.

Books & Libraries - BookFinder.com - Use this site as a first stop to search for used, rare and out-of-print titles. Amazon also sells used book, but has fewer collectibles.

Consumer - Kelley Blue Book  - Provides pricing and value information for new and used cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft, and snowmobiles. The N.A.D.A. Used Car Guide  and Edmunds are similar.

Government & Politics - Thomas - The Library of Congress has compiled this complete guide to Congress, including past and pending legislation.

Health - Healthfinder - From the U.S. national government, a very good place to start. The Mayo Clinic is another trusted source. Medlineplus Tutorials - Interactive health tutorials explain diseases, tests and surgical procedures.

History & Genealogy - Family Search - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' (aka Mormon or LDS) genealogical site. Social Security Death Index - The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a searchable database of over 82 million records created from SSA payment records.

Home & Garden - AllRecipes.com - Actually 23 different sites, such as ChickenRecipe.com, CookieRecipe.com and ThanksgivingRecipe.com. Each site has daily suggestions and a top ten list, plus conversion and substitutions.  Realtor.com - Find information about homes for sale around the country or next door. 

Jobs & Careers - Wisconsin JobNet  - Links to Wisconsin and some Midwest jobs in private sector, searchable by geographic region or type of job.

Law  - Wisconsin court records - Circuit court and traffic violations.

News & Media - NewsDirectory.com & News and Newspapers Online  - Two different sites with different approaches to reaching newspapers online. 

Telephone/Address/E-mail - Switchboard - A national white pages with more than 90,000,000 names of businesses and people in the U.S. searchable by name. Businesses are also searchable by category. Telephone Directories - A world wide listing of phone books, arranged by country. Some sites do not have English instructions.

Travel -  MapQuest! and Maps on Us - Excellent mapping and routing service with detailed maps and driving directions. Yahoo! Maps and Google Earth (requires a download) let you add in satellite images.

Shopping - In addition to Amazon and eBay, consider trying MySimon (for prices) and Epinions (for reviews).

This page is located at www.mcmillanlibrary.org/programs/searching.html