| How to: Find Web Resources |
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 |
