The
World Wide Web is a vast, confusing, unorganized resource!
Yet,
it has changed the way information is obtained and will remain an
essential element in all libraries. The advantages of the web outweigh
its flaws. When users learn the true nature of this important resource
and how to search it effectively, they will excel in navigating
the information maze!
Advantages:
The
web provides free access to an infinite amount of information.
Users
can obtain both scholarly and personal data with anonymity.
The
web constantly grows as does the amount of scholarly sites, many
journals offer free access to articles, proceedings, and reviews.
The
web expands scholarly inquiry by providing easy access to societies,
conference proceedings, papers of leading intellectuals and study
aids.
The
web serves as a valuable starting point for researching any discipline.
Searching
Tips:
Authority
is essential
The
biggest problem on the web is its lack of authority. Checking for
the sponsor is important. A good site will include a site ID that
makes this clear. If a site ID is not present, users must be wary
of the information's veracity. Anyone can put up a site. Misinformation
on the web represents a problem of information age.
Not
all search engines are created equal
Users
should rely upon search engines to navigate through the web. These
attempt to provide the organization that is otherwise nonexistent.
Yet, search engines have different rules and provide different results.
Yahoo and LookSmart
are subject guides. Internet Service Providers, such as AOL
and AT&T have their own own
subject guides as well. These are useful for browsing, but search
engines are better.
My
favorite search engine is Google,
the librarian's choice. AltaVista,
Excite, HotBot,
and Lycos are also useful. Many
combine the features of a search engine and subject directory. As
they search the web in different ways, using more than one engine
will ensure better recall. As in databases, specificity leads to
the best precision. Therefore, using the most unique words and putting
quotes around phrases will produce results.
The Web caters to simplicity
Searching
the web requires knowledge, but traditional searching techniques
are not employed. Keyword searching drives the web. Yet, entering
the authority heading for an author, a complete title or a Library
of Congress Subject Heading will be effective.
Web
Sites change constantly
The
web is always changing. A web site found today can disappear tomorrow
or look completely different. Users should not rely upon any information
remaining the same and always retrieve it immediately. Search strings
may obtain far different results when attempted at another time,
but they are still worth remembering.
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