Online Searches

• Search engines, (such as Google), take search terms and look for matches among millions of web pages.

• Software called spiders or web crawlers find the words on millions of web pages.

• Humans do not select these web pages.

• No search engine can search all of the web.

• For a thorough search use multiple search engines.

• You will need to critically evaluate web sites and web pages found this way.

Directories

• Information specialists select quality web sites for directories and arrange them by topic or category.

• Some directories are better suited for academic research.

• The Librarians' Internet Index is a very useful directory developed by the Berkeley Public Library. All websites accessed through this directory have been recommended by a librarian.

• The Internet Scout Project is another useful directory. It includes annotations that are both descriptive and evaluative. - you will need to create an account the first time you log on. 

Web Sites and Web Pages

• Web sites do not have to be edited and/or published.

• Anyone can create a web site.

• You need to ask: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, WHEN & HOW

• Who is responsible for the site? What are their credentials?

• What type of information is being given on the site?

• Where is this site operating from?
           Domains:   .com (business)
                                 .org (usually non-profit)
                                 .edu (educational institution)
                                 .gov (government)
                                 .net (internet organizations)
                                 .int (international)
• Why was this site created?
• When was the information on this site last updated?
• How is the information on this site displayed?