Google, Yahoo! and More…
Internet and Searching Basics
What is the Internet?
Definition
A 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 URL
http://www.deerfieldlibrary.org/
http://
= protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocol
www
= World Wide Web
deerfieldlibrary
= domain name
.org
= domain type
Domain Types
.com
.org
.edu
.gov
.fr
= commercial
= generally nonprofit organizations
= higher education
= U.S. government agency
= 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
Browser
Definition
A 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
Title Bar – displays the name
of the current web page and
browser.
Menu Bar – a way to give the
browser commands.
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.
Close Button – closes the
program.
Status Bar – displays the
current state of the web page.
Scroll Bar – moves the web
page up and down.
Parts of a Browser
Address/URL Bar – displays
the address of the open web
page.
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.
Stop Button– stops the web
page from loading or opening.
Home Button – The main
page of the website.
Search Engine
Definition
A 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
OR
OR 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 Search
Google, Altavista and Dogpile and other true
search engines allow you to use parameters to
help adjust your search.
Evaluating Websites
1. Accuracy
Who wrote the page?
Can you contact them?
What is the purpose or why was it created?
2. Authority
What credentials are listed for the author(s)?
What institution publishes this? Check the
domain.
3. Objectivity
How detailed is the information?
Why was this site created?
Does the information show a minimum of bias?
Evaluating Websites
4. Currency
When was it created?
When was it last updated?
Are the links current and live?
5. Coverage
What 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 Library
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Glossary.html
• Tutorials and Further Information
New User Tutorial
http://tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/welcome.htm
Stanford University Libraries
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/swain/internetguides.html
• Subject Directories
Internet 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 skills
Basic Computer Intro
Social Networks
Thank you!
Contact Reference for any further
questions or comments!
Direct:
847.580.8933
Email: reference@deerfieldlibrary.org