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ThePortal > Library > Internet Search Strategies
 

Internet Search Strategies: Tips for searching the Internet effectively

Internet searching is useful for finding information such as:

  • a specific fact
  • current event
  • biographical information (especially living authors)
  • an obscure topic
  • exploring topics, especially if using a search engine with clustered results
  • geographic 
  • government information

Helpful Hints:

  • Search for your keywords using a combination of browsing and searching.
  • Search for web information after finding library books and articles, so you will be able to recognize reputable information, terms and experts in the field you are searching. 
  • Use LC Subject Heading books for a vocabulary list. 
  • Start your search with broad terms then refine your focus following your results. 
  • Search "exact phrase" using double quotes.
  • Good search engines list the results in relevant order with a summary and the URL.
  • Advanced searching allows Boolean searching of OR (broadens) AND (narrows) NOT (further narrows) or provides search limits by domain, date, or file type (pdf, word, ppt). 
  • Metasearch engines such as Dogpile.com or alltheweb.com search across many engines in one search.

The Quality and accuracy of the Internet is not regulated.
View the web page as you would an infomercial.
To evaluate the value of a source:  

  1. Note the purpose of the web site by its domain: .com=commercial, .biz=business, net=network (edu, org, gov is preferred).
  2. Look for credentials or qualifications of the source on the home page. 
  3. Evaluate the web information against your previous library research.
  4. Check currency by noting the posting date or dead links.

Cite Internet sources according to your assigned style manual, noting:  

  • The author's name (if known)
  • The full title of the document
  • The title of the complete work if applicable
  • The date of publication or last revision
  • The full http address (URL)
  • Date of visit

Ex: Smith, John P. "A Look at Words." Time. 1996.http://www.fakeit.com/source.html (12 July 1996).

For additional help: Internet Tutorial http://www.internettutorials.net/ 

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