Many people believe that searching the Web is as easy as typing a few terms into a box and clicking the search button. Like magic, in a matter of seconds, links to precise, accurate, and current answers will appear. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The term “search” is very broad and means different things to different people. For some people it means using an engine like AllTheWeb or Teoma. For others it includes the use of a Web directory focused on a specific topic. For some, search means utilizing not only Web engines but also specialized databases that may contain geographic data, full-text articles, or government information. Another major issue for the searcher is where to begin. Questions revolve around what each resource does and does not offer. Which is most likely to hold the information I need? How often is the database updated? Can I limit my search to a particular format? Can I change the number of results I see on a results page? What advanced features are available? Knowing where to find this information and then how to apply it can help the Web searcher avoid coming face-to-face with massive amounts of aggravation and wasted time. Complicating the situation is that as already large Web engines, directories, and databases get larger, it is becoming much more challenging to find what you’re looking for. While the retrieval technology is getting better, to find information effectively your search skills must not only be up-to-date, they must be constantly improving. The good news is that with just a little education and guidance, searching, retrieving, and accessing material on the Web can become easier. Having these skills will make you a better student. Knowing how to save search time will make you a more valuable employee. An essential guide for anyone who conducts research on the Internet—including librarians, teachers, students, business professionals, and writers—this fully revised handbook details what users must know to take full advantage of Internet search tools and resources. From emerging search tools Ask.com and Windows Live to standbys Google and Yahoo!, the major search engines and their myriad of services are thoroughly discussed. Recent additions to the Internet realm—RSS feeds, podcasts, alert services, wikis, and blogs—are explained, as well as tried-and-true search tools, including web directories, newsgroups, and image resources. For those with little to moderate searching experience, friendly, easy-to-follow guidelines to the world of Web research are provided, while experienced searchers will discover new perspectives on content and techniques.

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