Web Wise Guide to Searching
Evaluating what you find
Evaluating Internet Resources
You've found a page, but is it any good? Consider the criteria provided here and on the related pages linked from this guide.
Evaluation of Information Sources
An extensive listing of pages detailing criteria for evaluating web pages. Includes a listing of criteria used by specific guides, like the selection criteria used by the Librarian's Internet Index.
Parsing the URL
One of the simplest ways to find information you can use to evaluate a site.
Citing what you find
Citing Electronic Documents
Some assume that uncredited material on the web is 1) in the public domain and 2) doesn't require a citation. They would be wrong. This page provides guidance on citing electronic documents and links to other guides, some on specific styles of documentation.
More information on searching
The following provide helpful information relevant to Web searching tools.
Domain Name Services
From IANA, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. Provides useful information about generic domain categories and country codes; knowing about these can help you target your searches.
Google's Better searches. Better results.
A .pdf guide to some of the modifiers you can use in Google searching. You can use these or try the Google Advanced Search to execute more sophisticated searches.
How to Choose a Search Engine or Directory
Helpful information from the SUNY Albany librarians. Provides listings of search engines by kinds of materials searched
and other features.
Search Engine Relationship Chart
From Bruce Clay Inc. Internet Business Consultants. Shows who gets what from whom, in terms of results.
Search Engine Showdown
Created and maintained by Greg Notess, Reference Librarian at Montana State University-Bozeman and author of many books, articles, and pages, including Government Information on the Internet.
Search Engine Watch
A newsletter and guide to searching the Web. Edited by Danny Sullivan, Internet consultant and journalist.
Tool Kit for the Expert Web Searcher
Created by Pat Ensor for LITA, Library and Information Technology Association, a division of the American Library Association.
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Selective web guides
The following sources offer access to sites that have been selected by librarians, educators, and information professionals. They are often helpful if you are finding too many pages using standard search tools, or are not finding material of substance.
Infomine
Sources selected and categorized by librarians to meet the needs of users at the university level.
The Internet Scout Project
One of the best-known guides to quality information on the Web, especially of potential use to students and educators.
The Scout Report Archives include over 13,000 evaluative entries on websites in all subject areas, and is searchable.
Librarians' Internet Index
A searchable annotated collection of resources selected by librarians. Although sites are selected primarily for the general public, many are of use to those in higher education as well.
The WWW Virtual Library
Started by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of html and the web itself, and now administered by Gerard Manning. Sections of the WWWVL are maintained by volunteer experts.
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Tutorials: teach yourself even more
Bare Bones 101
"A basic tutorial on searching the Web" from Ellen Chamberlain, Head Librarian at the University of South Carolina Beaufort Library.
Evaluating Websites
A tutorial from the University of Wisconsin System Women's Studies Librarian's Office.
Finding Information on the Internet
A tutorial from the University of California, Berkeley. It includes a guide to The Best Search Engines and the popular Googling to the Max workshop.
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And as always, if you need help, ask a Reference Librarian.