Google, Yahoo! and More… Internet and Searching Basics

What is the Internet?DefinitionA global collection of computer networks linked by

telephone, cable, satellites and wireless connections.

Uses• Communicating with friends and family• Shopping• Paying bills• Finding news and information

Unavailable (for free) on the Internet • Most full-text magazine and newspaper articles• Copyrighted information

Web What?World Wide Web – a service that

enables websites and pages to be available over the internet.

Web 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)Definition

The address that connects you with a website.

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

http:// = protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocol

www = World Wide Web

deerfieldlibrary = domain name

.org = domain type

Domain Types.com = commercial

.org = generally nonprofit organizations

.edu = higher education

.gov = U.S. government agency

.fr = France (websites originating in other countries often have an ending that corresponds to the

country.)

Links (Hyperlinks)

Definition Shortcuts to another web page.

Types of Links

Hyperlink/link

Button

Dropdown menu

BrowserDefinitionA software program that allows you to access the

Internet.

Software Programs

Internet Explorer or IE (Microsoft)

Safari (Mac)

Firefox/Mozilla

Chrome (Google)

Opera

Just to name a few!

Parts of a Browser

Menu Bar – a way to give the browser commands.

Title Bar – displays the name of the current web page and browser.

Minimize Button – makes the window smaller and sends it below the status bar while keeping window open.

Restore Button – returns the window to its previous size.

Status Bar – displays the current state of the web page.

Scroll Bar – moves the web page up and down.

Close Button – closes the program.

Parts of a Browser

Address/URL Bar – displays the address of the open web page.

Stop Button– stops the web page from loading or opening.

Back & Forward Buttons – Back Button points left and brings you to the last page visited.

Forward Button points right and brings you to the previous screen.

Refresh Button – reloads a web page.

Home Button – The main page of the website.

Search EngineDefinitionA website that indexes billions of pages and sites on

the world wide web.

Examples

largest

a Directory – organizes by subject

known for images and translations

Microsoft product

a metasearch engine

Just to name a few!

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, Altavista and Dogpile and other true

search engines allow you to use parameters to help adjust your search.

Evaluating Websites1. Accuracy

Who 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 Websites4. Currency

When 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?

Further Resources • Encyclopedias of Terminology

PC Magazine http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/

UC Berkeley Libraryhttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Glossary.html

• Tutorials and Further InformationNew User Tutorial

http://tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/welcome.htm

Stanford University Libraries

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/swain/internetguides.html

• Subject DirectoriesInternet Public Library 2

http://www.ipl.org/About.com

http://www.about.com

Topic Suggestions• Spring session is…

Goodbye Snail Mail – Hello, E-mail!March 11 3:00-4:00 pm

• Suggestions for Summer?Mouse skillsBasic Computer Intro Social Networks

Thank you!Contact Reference for any further

questions or comments!

Direct: 847.580.8933

Email: reference@deerfieldlibrary.org