Davidson College Library              Searching the Web

Tools & Tips

Uses of the Web Where to Start Directories Search Engines The Invisible Web Web Evaluation

Step 1: What kind of information do you need to find? Is the Internet likely to be an appropriate source of information for your topic? The Web can be a good source for: News and current events Government information Company or product information Information related to popular culture The "Free" Web is not always a good source for: Copyrighted articles and books Web versions of traditional print sources Databases and indexes Some types of primary sources and historical data Step 2: Begin your research at the Library Good starting points include: The Reference Desk. Stop by the desk (check hours) E-mail us (ReferenceDesk@davidson.edu) Call us (704.894.CHAL or 704.894.2425) Schedule a research consultation The Library Catalogue Books, videos, CD-ROMs, and information about the journals, magazines, and newspapers to which we subscribe. "Starting Points" Databases Articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers. Examples include InfoTrac OneFile and Academic Search Elite. Indexes & Databases Information about subject-specific databases. Reference Tools Links to useful, authoritative sources of information. Step 3: Use a Web Directory If you don't find what you need at the Library Web site, consider using a Web directory to locating information. Tips on using Web directories: Directories are best for broad topics or for locating information about popular subjects. Many directories are compiled by human beings, not by computers, so your search results are more likely to be relevant. Directories are smaller than search engines, so they are not always the best choices for narrowly-defined topics. Good starting points include:. Librarians' Index to the Internet InfoMine Yahoo Britannica Online (Search the "Internet Guide") Step 4: Use a Search Engine Do you need more information? Try using a search engine. Tips on using search engines: Search engines can be helpful when you are looking for information on a very narrow topic because they index more pages than directories. You will retrieve more pages with a search engine, but not all of the pages will be relevant. No search engine indexes the Web comprehensively. Search Tips: Choose the most specific terms possible ("jack russell terriers" instead of "dogs") Enclose phrases in quotation marks ("cold war"). Mark required words with a plus sign (+). Exclude words by inserting a minus sign (-). Don't forget to read the "Help" screens! If you don't find useful information within the first 20-40 hits, revise your search or use a different search engine. Good starting points include:. Google See also Google Scholar for scholarly literature. AlltheWeb HotBot Teoma Yahoo! (Note: the Yahoo! search engine differs from the Yahoo! directory.) Search engines for U.S. Government information: FirstGov Metasearch engines: Vivismo EZ2Find Webcrawler Step 5: Search the "Invisible Web" Not finding what you are looking for? Do you need additional information? Try searching the "Invisible Web," the information in Web-based, searchable databases that search engines and directories often miss. Tips on searching the "Invisible Web": Many Web directories list searchable databases; try them first. You can also find some searchable databases by using a search engine. Entering your broad topic and including the word "database" often works (Example: food additives and database). Tools that list searchable databases: The Invisible Web Directory Direct Search Complete Planet

Step 6: Evaluate What you Find Be sure to evaluate the information you glean from the Web. This is an important step in the research process! How to Evaluate Web Resources For additional help and suggestions, contact Susanna Boylston, stop by the Reference Desk (check hours), or schedule a research consultation.

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