Before you begin any
research on the Internet, consider studying one of the guides or
tutorials found in the Reference
Room - WWW Research. It won't take much time, and the
results of your research will be substantially improved.
In addition to checking out the Researcher's
Toolkit and more specifically, the Search
Engine Guide for your Web research, you can also search
the Schaffer Library Catalog, which includes a variety of Web material
such as Web sites, e-books, and e-journals.
For a comprehensive guide to Web searching, see Search
Engine Showdown. There you will find the latest information,
including special features, evaluations, reviews, statistical analysis,
news, and search strategies.
Schaffer Library Catalog
Two of the most effective types of searches in the Schaffer Library
Catalog, Web resource title
and keyword searches, are
explained below.
If you are looking for a particular Web site, search by title.
Select a title search in the Schaffer Library Catalog and
enter the name of the Web site:
If you are not certain of the title of the Web site, or you are
interested in resources pertaining to a particular subject,
select a keyword search in the Schaffer Library Catalog.
Then enter the phrase "internet resources" in quotation
marks and the topic
that you are looking for, joined by the term and. Sample
keyword searches in the Schaffer Library Catalog:
"internet resources" and poe
"internet resources" and canada

Search Engines - Search engines use 'robots' or 'spiders' to dig through the World Wide
Web. They then build a database index using terms, words, or even full
text of the documents looked at by the spiders.
Directories - Directories are categorized, 'reviewed', searchable lists of web sites
and will find you a good site to begin research. They usually index whole
sites rather than specific documents. To find specific sites use a search
engine or meta-crawler.Multiple
Search Engines - Multiple Search Engines or Meta-crawlers are a class of search tools that use several search
engines at once to find results. This is about the most comprehensive type
of search that you can do. Because, however, you are using several search
engines, you have fewer 'features' to enhance your search! Deep Web Search Engines* Complete Planet - The
most complete listing available of "surface" Web search
engines and "deep" Web searchable databases; tips,
tutorials, and guides; and links to other Web sites where you can
learn more about searching or the operation of search engines.
ProFusion - a directory
of over 10,000 databases, archives, and search engines that contain
information that traditional search engines have been unable to
access.
*(read
White Paper on the Deep Web)
Other Search and Information Tools
Best Information on the
Net - An electronic reference shelf from St. Ambrose University.
InfoMine - Over 20,000+
Academically Valuable Resources arranged by headings. Both browsable
and searchable.
InFoPeople's
Best Search Tools Page (California State Library) Search
interfaces for a small group of the "best" search engines,
with links to a comparison chart and a quick guide for formatting
searches.
Virtual
Reference Shelf Selected web resources compiled by the Library of
Congress.
Librarian's Index to the Internet -
Over 9,000 information sources selected by Librarians.
"Information you can trust."
Reference Room - Schaffer
Library's categorized Index of Online reference Sources
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