1. Chapter 13. When and How to Use the Internet as a Reference Tool Presented by: Steph Mikitish Original Presentation by: Uma Hiremath and Kay Cassell

2. Use of Internet Reference Public use of Internet is very high. –Pew Internet Research Center StatisticsPew Internet Research Center Statistics Institutional provision of Internet access is very high. –Rutgers University Library BudgetRutgers University Library Budget Reference librarians’ adoption of the Internet as a ‘full-fledged reference tool’ is relatively low.

3. Nature of Internet Reference Strengths  Ease of use  Currency of information  Audiovisual value add-ons  Exclusive coverage of some information  Interactivity  Convenience of simultaneous usage  Seemingly infinite scope

4. Smoke Stick Google Yahoo Bing Ask Dogpile

5. Nature of Internet Reference Weaknesses  Lack of quality controls  Onus of evaluation on user  Weak grasp of subject overviews  Overwhelming results  Expectation of free full-text information  Spotty coverage of historical material  Volatility

6. Martin Luther King Jr. Google Yahoo Bing Ask Dogpile

7. Successful Internet Reference The Internet is surfed. It should be searched. Five steps to a successful search are:  Ask yourself if the Internet is the right medium  Select the right search tool  Craft the right search terms  Use the right search operators  Evaluate the search results

8. Right Medium Is the Internet the only resource to use Is the Internet the best resource to use

9. Right Internet Tool Search Engines  Examples: Google, Yahoo!, Ask.com, Bing Metasearch engines  Examples: KartOO, Dogpile, Clusty Subject directories  Examples: Infomine, Librarians’ Internet Index/Internet Public Library, Resource Discovery Network/Intute

10. Right Internet Tool Search Engines  Examples: Google, Yahoo!, Ask.com, Bing Metasearch engines  Examples: KartOO, Dogpile, Clusty (Yippy) Subject directories  Examples: Infomine, Librarians’ Internet Index/Internet Public Library, Resource Discovery Network/Intute

11. Right Search Terms Draw up a hierarchy or search terms Explicit recognition of alternate spellings and syntax or terms Resolve generic terms by adding context

12. Right Search Operators Check ‘Help’, ‘About’, or ‘Tip’ icons provided by each engine. Get familiar with time-saving devices peculiar to each engine. Get comfortable using:  Boolean operators  Truncations  Wild cards  Quotation marks  Proximity matrices  Parentheses  Plus/minus signs

13. Evaluate Search Results-1 Authority  Well-known authorship  Accountability of authorship  Affiliation of author  Responsible hyperlink leading to site  Author motivation  Level of expertise exhibited by author

14. Evaluate Search Results-2 Reliability:  Sponsored by known entity  Clarity of the ‘About Us’ information  Clarity in contact information  Indicative URL  Contextual value of URL  Accuracy of information  Well documented and fully cited  Evidence of shoddy writing (typos, grammar)

15. Evaluate Search Results-3 Currency:  ‘Last updated’ information  ‘Last modified’ date  Copyright dates  Statement of updating schedule  Currency of dates and events described  Evidence of multiple dead links

16. Web Site Quality Evaluation Tool Developed by Dr. Claire McInerney & Nora J. Bird –Lite Version (2000)Lite Version (2000) –Full Version (2007)Full Version (2007)

17. Examples Mayo Clinic RYT Hospital

18. Rutgers Library Toolbar Deep Web –Article References –Book Lookup –Magic “Scholar” Button