WHPL Internet and Searching Basics

Internet and Searching

http://www.westhavenpl.org/

Web Browser: Internet Explorer

URL- AddressNavigation-Back & Forward

Search Box

W W WWeb page – a single document or page on the world wide web.

Website – a group of related web pages with a common address.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)The address that connects you with a website.

Parts of the URLhttp://www.westhavenpl.org/

http:// = protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocolwww. = World Wide Webwesthavenpl = domain name.org = domain type

Domain Types.com = commercial.org = generally nonprofit organizations .edu = higher education.gov = U.S. government agency

Search EngineDefinitionA website that indexes billions of pages and sites on

the world wide web.

Examples

largest

a Directory – organizes by subject

Microsoft product

a metasearch engine

Just to name a few!

Search Engines

http:// www.google.com

http:// www.yahoo.com

http:// www.bing.com

http://www.dogpile.com

How to Search• Search Box

Easy but returns LOTS of results!

Modifying Results Boolean Operators

Definition: A way of combining words to make your search more

specific.

AND

OR

NOT

AND+ will narrow by specifying that ALL words

must be present in the search results.

France +travel

OROR will broaden by specifying that EITHER

word must be present in the search results.

France OR travel

NOT- will narrow by specifying that ONE word

must be excluded in the search results.

France -travel

Modifying Results Quotation marks “ ”

Creates a phrase search with the exact words in the exact order.

Advanced SearchGoogle, Dogpile, and other true search engines

allow you to use parameters to help adjust your search.

Evaluating Websites

1. AccuracyWho wrote the page? Can you contact them? What is the purpose or why was it created?

2. AuthorityWhat credentials are listed for the author(s)?What institution publishes this? Check the domain.

3. ObjectivityHow detailed is the information?Why was this site created?Does the information show a minimum of bias?

Evaluating Websites

4. CurrencyWhen was it created?When was it last updated?Are the links current and live?

5. CoverageWhat is the intrinsic value of the information?Is the material in-depth? Is the information provided cited?Is the information free?

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)The address that connects you with a website.

Parts of the URLhttp://www.westhavenpl.org/

http:// = protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocolwww. = World Wide Webwesthavenpl = domain name.org = domain type

Domain Types.com = commercial.org = generally nonprofit organizations .edu = higher education.gov = U.S. government agency

Adapted from “Google, Yahoo! and More…” deerfieldlibrary.org