1. Internet Search Tools
Bonnie R. MacGregor San Jose State University School of Library Information and Science LIBR 204: Reference Services Pathfinder Presentation May 11, 2008

2. Introduction
There are many ways to search the Internet. Learning how to control the number of websites that are retrieved is a useful skill in controlling information overload.
Audience and Information Needs:
Improving the environment benefits us all. Ways to improve the environment are numerous. Everyone can contribute and there are several changes one can introduce into ones lifestyle, that can have positive impacts on the earth. Readers concerned with environmental issues show an interest in locating information about renewable energies and incorporating such technologies into one’s lifestyle. Readers need general information about renewable energy technology, capabilities, and history of use. They may also wish to seek information about where to find such resources, do-it-yourself manuals, or need current governmental information. Overall an environmentally conscious audience will need general information about the many issues surrounding renewable energy technology.
Goals for Presentation:
The goals for this presentation are to introduce search portals that can be considered when users are searching for information on the Internet. This presentation will introduce search engines and search directories to the audience that will assist users in locating information on the Internet. To begin, the presentation will explore the characteristics of using a search engine and a search directory. Secondly, the advantages and disadvantages will be explored in using each Internet search tool and finally the presentation will conclude with orienting a user to the basic processes of using these different search tools matching their information needs.
Use of Presentation:
This presentation will be geared toward a general audience. The presentation will take a step-by-step approach to all topics discussed and will be targeted toward an audience that has some previous knowledge and experience with using the Internet. This production will last approximately 20 min. The presentation will be accompanied by an outline of written text as well as PowerPoint presentation slides in the company of visual images and text.
Outline of Presentation
Slide One: Creator Information
Slide Two: Introduction
There are many ways to search the Internet. Learning how to control the number of websites that are retrieved is a useful skill in controlling information overload. This skill is also useful in continuing to develop information literacy skills. How to use the Internet as a reference resource is essential in developing information literacy skills. Information literacy is defined as a set of abilities enabling individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the capacity to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information” (Cassell & Hiremath, 2006, p. 273). This presentation will orient a users with using search engines and subject directories on the Internet. We will discuss the key characteristics of each, the advantages and disadvantages of using these two different search tools and discuss how evaluate the authority and reliability of information found on websites

3. Topics of Discussion 1.) Search Engines 2.) Search Directories
Slide Three: Topics of Discussion
Topics under discussion include knowing which Internet search tool to use in the initial stages of searching for information, and the difference between using a search engine such as Google, verses using a search directory also known as a “webbibliography” like the Librarians Internet Index, to locate information. We’ll explore the inherent characteristics of each tool and orient a user to the basic processes of using these different search tools.

4. What are Search Engines?
Slide Four: What is a Search Engine?
What is a search engine? A search engine is designed to search for information on the World Wide Web. A search engine is a searchable database of Internet files collected within a computer program. Search engines attempt to find and index as many sites as possible with the help of web crawlers or spiders. These web crawlers constantly look for web pages that they do not already know about and are not already in their index. When crawlers find a new web page they collect the information they need for the index, and then come back to the search engines database and add the new page to the search engine’s collection. Search Engines grow automatically as a result of these crawlers or spiders. Each search engine is designed differently, so the programs that tell what a web crawler should do and where to find information is different. A search engine allows users to enter keywords relating to a topic and retrieves information based on those keywords entered that have been indexed within individual web pages.

5. What are Search Directories
Slide Five: What is a Search Directory?
Subject directories or subject guides are collections of web sites that have been reviewed and arranged into subjects by people rather than by a computer. A Subject directory is like a giant catalog of numerous websites. These websites are collected and organized by people also known as subject experts. Subject directories select and classify resources into subject categories and sub categories which are highly organized structures that are searchable for users on the web page’s interface.
Two types of subject directories exist. Academic/Professional directories like the “Librarians Internet Index”, which are directories that support research and scholarly activities, and commercial directories like the Yahoo Directory, which are directories that contain links to a wide range of topics/interests and tend to emphasize entertainment and commerce, not necessarily academic topics.

6. Key difference?
What is the Main Difference between Search Engines and Search Directories?
The main feature that distinguishes search engines from subject directories is how the websites in their databases are gathered and organized.
Slide Six: Main Difference of Search Engines and Search Directories
The main feature that distinguishes search engines from subject directories is how the websites in their databases are gathered and organized

7. Advantages of Search Engines
Vast range of media and mediums
Easy to use
Easy to Access
Fast and Powerful
Currency of Information
Slide Seven: What are the Advantages of using Search Engines?
Advantages of using a search engine include the ability to access a wide range of informational resources, not just websites. Search engines covers a vast array of topics involving many interests and mediums, from the most general, to very specific information needs. Information found on the Internet is value for its currency. New Information is constantly being produced and can be published on the Internet very quickly. Powerful search engines like Google can offer many search limitations that will increase better recall of precise information being relayed back to the user.

8. Disadvantages of Search Engines
Anyone can publish information on the Web; No quality control
Results are unorganized
Too much information presented can overwhelm users.
Slide Eight: What are the Disadvantages of using a Search Engine?
Search results will produce thousands of pages that are presented to a user, yet they will e presented in an unorganized fashion. It is up to the user to browse the results and select topics of interest. This can be overwhelming for a user. The results produced from a search engine are highly unorganized. This puts the responsibility on the end-user to organize the information they find. More importantly the end-user has the responsibility to determine the reliability and authority of web pages found. No one is evaluating the content of information on the Internet, meaning anyone can post a web page with correct information or incorrect information. The end-user needs to determine the authority of the web page, meaning they must understand who created it – a personal author, a organization or association, or a governmental branch. Understanding who created it will lead to greater understanding if the resource can be evaluated for reliability and accuracy of the information provided within that web page. Is the information within reliable – does it appear suspicious or biased

9. Advantages of Search Directories
Information is collected and organized by subject specialists, like librarians.
Users can browse categories and subcategories on topics of interest.
Easy to use
Best of the best resources are recommended.
Annotated descriptions of websites coverage are given.
Slide Nine: What are the Advantages of using Subject Directories?
Directories are highly valuable and useful to use in beginning research on a topic of interest. Directories act as a roadmap by suggesting the best resources to consult on the Internet that have been evaluated and recommended by subject experts, like librarians. Because sites have been organized by people, results produced will have a smaller selection of web sites than a search engine, so your searches. Search results may provide informational web pages that users were currently unaware of and the results produced from a search will included not only the sites URL address but also provide an annotation of the site, which briefly describes the scope of information covered on the website. Because subject directories are highly organized, searching for information is easy to do. Keyword searching is available on the subject directories web page, but they also offer a visual roadmap of topics that are organized into hierarchical categories and subcategories that can be browsed by a user, if they are unable to determine a topic or the keywords to use in a search for their information need.

10. Disadvantages of Search Directories
Indexing differences
Delays in adding new Web resources.
Commercial directories will have more advertisements.
Slide Ten: What are the Disadvantages of using Subject Directories?
Disadvantages in using Subject directories include indexing differences. Because information found on the Internet is organized by subject experts, these experts may index a topic or interest differently than how a user may define a topic or interest. This is important to acknowledge yet can be relieved by the user browsing the structure of the directory and can see how the subject experts have organized the information. There are delays in adding new sites to a directory. Unlike search engine crawlers, humans act as the crawlers for subject directories, therefore the labor, time, and effort put forth by the human crawlers can lead to delays in the constant updating of new resources found on the Internet. Results produced using a directory are often a smaller portion of what you would get using a search engine therefore its important to realize that you cannot get very specific with your searches, some subject directories may not have anything at all on your topic. With commercial directories like Yahoo, these directories are highly advertised and sites will be recommended dependant upon who pays the most to yahoo in order for their sites to be rank amongst the top results. These are not bad resources to use, but can suggest a bias portrayal of information being presented, so make sure you browse several pages of results.

11. Do you need specific information?
Use search engines when you have time to do an in-depth search. If you know what your looking for, use a search engine to provide detailed and accurate information about a specific topic.
Slide Eleven: Matching your specific information need with the appropriate search tool.

12. Do you need general information?
Use search directories when you don’t know exactly what your looking for. You can start with a broad general term(s) and continue to narrow your topic as your searching continues.
Slide Twelve: Matching your general information need with the appropriate search tool

13. Conclusion Recommended Search Engines: Google.com Ask.com Dogpile.com
Recommended Search Directories:
Librarians Internet Index
INFOMINE.com
Surfwax.com
Slide Thirteen: Conclusion
Knowing how to distinguish between search engine and search directories are important for users to understand for it not only increases their awareness about how to begin a search strategy when needing information, but also enhances their information literacy skills in the way users approach the initial search process. Understanding the complex amount of resources available to them, users should be able understand that while search engines will retrieve vast amounts of information, subject directories will retrieve limited but high-quality information that has organization and has been reviewed by subject experts.