The Information Specialist's Guide to Searching and Researching on the Internet and the World Wide Web

by Ackermann,Ernes

• ISBN13: 9781579582890
• ISBN10: 1579582893
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781135967055
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-11-01
• Publisher: Routledge
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Written by a professor of computer science and a reference librarian, this guide covers basic browser usage, e-mail, and discussion groups; discusses such Internet staples as FTP and Usenet newsgroups; presents and compares numerous search engines; and includes models for acquiring, evaluating, and citing resources within the context of a research project. The emphasis of the book is on learning how to create search strategies and search expressions, how to evaluate information critically, and how to cite resources. All of these skills are presented as within the context of step-by-step activities designed to teach basic Internet research skills to the beginner and to hone the skills of the seasoned practitioner.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction to the Internet and the World Wide Web	1	(20)
About This Book	2	(1)
The World Wide Web as an Information Resource	2	(3)
Hypertext and Hypermedia	5	(6)
First Look at Using a Web Browser to Find Information on the Web	6	(5)
Key Terms and Concepts	11	(5)
Information Sources Available on the Web	16	(2)
Summary	18	(3)
Browser Essentials	21	(40)
Surveying a Browser's Features	22	(1)
Starting and Stopping the Web Browser	23	(1)
Exploring the Web Browser's Window	24	(12)
Using the Right Mouse Button	36	(2)
Getting Around a Page and the World Wide Web	38	(4)
Getting Help	42	(9)
Using a Search Engine	43	(8)
Using Bookmarks or Favorites to Keep Track of Resources	51	(7)
Working with the Netscape Navigator Bookmark List	54	(4)
Summary	58	(3)
Managing and Using Information from the Internet and the Web	61	(22)
Common Types of Files on the Internet and the Web	62	(4)
Considering Copyright Guidelines Before Sharing and Copying Information	66	(1)
Capturing and Using Text, Images, and Data from the Web and the Internet	67	(4)
Capturing and Downloading Statistical Tables into a Spreadsheet or Word-processing Document	71	(7)
Capturing and Downloading Images into a Word-processing Document	74	(4)
Procedures and Steps for Managing Internet and Web Information	78	(5)
Using the World Wide Web for Research	83	(35)
Browsing the World Wide Web: Using Directories	84	(7)
Using a Directory to Browse for Information	86	(5)
Finding Information Gems in Virtual Libraries	91	(8)
Finding Resources in a Virtual Library	94	(5)
Searching the World Wide Web: Using Search Engines	99	(12)
Using Boolean Search Operators	102	(4)
Using Phrase Searching to Find Information	106	(5)
Using Several Search Engines Simultaneously: Meta-search Tools	111	(5)
Using a Meta-Search Tool to Find Information	113	(3)
Summary	116	(2)
Directories and Virtual Libraries	118	(26)
Characteristics of Directories	119	(3)
Browsing and Searching Directories	122	(3)
Two Major Directories and How to Use Them	125	(10)
Yahoo!	125	(7)
The HotBot Directory	132	(3)
Virtual Libraries: Directories with a Difference	135	(8)
The Argus Clearinghouse	136	(4)
The Librarians' Index to the Internet	140	(3)
Summary	143	(1)
Search Strategies for Search Engines	144	(27)
Search Engine Databases	145	(1)
Search Features Common to Most Search Engines	146	(5)
Output Features Common to Most Search Engines	151	(1)
A Basic Search Strategy: The 10 Steps	152	(17)
Search Strategies in Northern Light	153	(7)
Search Strategies in Infoseek	160	(4)
Search Strategies in MetaCrawler	164	(5)
Summary	169	(2)
Using Search Engines	171	(22)
Search Strategies in HotBot	172	(8)
Search Strategies in AltaVista's Simple Search Mode	180	(5)
Using Search Engines for Specific Information	185	(7)
Finding Specific Information in Excite	186	(6)
Summary	192	(1)
Specialized Databases	193	(28)
Overview of Specialized Databases	194	(1)
How to Find Free Specialized Databases	195	(1)
Using Specialized Databases	196	(24)
Searching MEDLINE	197	(8)
Finding Company Information	205	(10)
Searching for United States Supreme Court Opinions	215	(5)
Summary	220	(1)
Searching Library Catalogs	221	(24)
Overview of the Development of Online Catalogs	222	(1)
Characteristics of Online Library Catalogs	223	(1)
Ways to Find Library Catalogs	224	(20)
Using Libweb to Find a National Catalog	225	(6)
Using LIBCAT to Find Special Collections	231	(7)
Using webCATS to Find Special Libraries	238	(6)
Summary	244	(1)
FTP: Searching Archives, Downloading Files	245	(26)
Understanding the URL Format for FTP	246	(2)
Downloading a File by Anonymous FTP	248	(5)
Retrieving a File by Anonymous FTP	250	(3)
Locating FTP Archives and Other Sites for Finding Software	253	(1)
Downloading and Working with Files from Software Archives	254	(12)
Downloading and Installing Software from a Software Archive	259	(7)
Using an FTP Client Program	266	(3)
Summary	269	(2)
Finding Email Addresses, Phone Numbers, and Maps	271	(17)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using These Services	272	(7)
Finding an Individual's Email Address, Mailing Address, and Phone Number	274	(5)
Privacy and Ethics Issues	279	(6)
Searching for a Business Address, a Phone Number, a Map, and Driving Directions	280	(5)
Keeping Current: White Pages and Map Web Services	285	(1)
Summary	286	(2)
Searching Email Discussion Group Archives and Usenet Newsgroup Archives	288	(28)
Email Discussion Groups	289	(11)
Finding a Discussion Group	295	(5)
Usenet Newsgroups	300	(12)
Searching Usenet News Using Deja.com	307	(5)
Etiquette in a Discussion Group or a Usenet Newsgroup	312	(2)
Summary	314	(2)
Evaluating Information Found on the WWW	316	(23)
Reasons to Evaluate	317	(1)
Guidelines for Evaluation	318	(18)
Using a URL and Search Engines to Investigate a Resource	321	(10)
Applying Guidelines to Evaluate a Resource	331	(5)
Information on the World Wide Web About Evaluating Resources	336	(1)
Summary	337	(2)
Citing Web and Internet Resources	339	(14)
URL Formats	340	(2)
Styles for Citing Web Resources	342	(9)
Information on the Web About Citing Electronic Resources	351	(1)
Summary	352	(1)
Putting It All Together: A Sample Research Project	353	(28)
Finding Resources for a Research Paper	354	(27)
Search a Directory to Find Resources	354	(6)
Find and Search a Specialized Database	360	(3)
Formulate and Submit a Search Query to a Search Engine	363	(5)
Locate and Search a Library Catalog	368	(4)
Search a Usenet Archive	372	(2)
Evaluate the Resources Found	374	(3)
Cite the Sources in a Bibliography	377	(4)
Appendix A Annotated List of Selected Search Tools	381	(15)
Appendix B Selected Directories	396	(10)
Appendix C Virtual Libraries	406	(5)
Appendix D Ways to Stay Current	411	(4)
Appendix E Privacy and Security on the Internet and the Web	415	(11)
Glossary	426	(8)
Index	434