Library Home » News » Collection Development

Internet 101/102: Untangling the Web

welcome | bibliography | glossary

a. web directories | b. search engines | c. specialty tools | d. library databases

How can I search?

"The problem usually wasn't getting access to information. It was to stave off drowning in it."
--character of Jen Wolling in Earth, by David Brin

There are 3 basic ways to search the Internet for web sites/pages:

1. Type in known addresses in the Netsite/Address box of your browser.
2. Browse by subject through collections of web sites/pages using web directories.
3. Search by keyword on the web at large for web sites/pages using search engines.

Two handy pages you can refer to while using web directories and search engines:

• Search Tools Chart @ http://www.infopeople.org/search/chart.html
• Search Engines Quick Guide @ http://www.infopeople.org/search/chart.html

What are some other ways to search the Internet?

As the Web grows, information becomes much harder to find. Specialty tools which serve specific needs/subject areas have become one of the newest ways to search the Web. Also, UTSA community members may search for research articles via the many commerical Internet databases the library subscribes to.

Things to consider...

• The exponential growth and ultimate size of the Web v. the ability of directories and search engines to keep up-- For more info., see "Search Engine Sizes" report at SearchEngineWatch.com.
• The need to plan your search-- think about the broad subject areas involved, which specific search terms to use including synonyms, broader, narrower, related terms. Your choice of vocabulary may greatly influence the type of hits you retrieve.

Where's the best place to start?

• Is your topic is narrowly focused?
  • Then a search engine might be your best choice.
• Is your topic fairly broad and unfocused?
  • Then a web directory might be your best choice.
• Do you need to find periodical articles and more scholarly types of materials?
  • Then library databases would be your best choice.