Search Strategies

Search Strategies


Choosing Keywords:
  1. Use unique words
  2. Searching is multi-step process -- keep revising your search and trying new keywords
  3. Narrow your search by using more than 1 keyword
  4. Use capital letters for proper nouns and names
  5. Check spelling, try both Canadian and American spelling
Boolean Searching -- is a complex search using operators such as 'and', 'or', 'not', and 'near' that define the relationships between the terms in your search
For example: renaissance AND sculpture

Some search engines will accept + and -
For example: cloning -.com to eliminate the .com web sites from the results list.

Searching for the Grail? Power Searching with Digital Logic
http://fromnowon.org/jan98/searching.html
10-step tutorial on successful strategies.

Noodle Tools, Choose the Best Search for Your Purpose
http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html

KidsClick!--Worlds of Web Searching
http://www.rcls.org/wows/

Net.TUTOR
http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

Search Engine Watch
http://www.searchenginewatch.com

Sink or Swim: Internet Search Tools & Techniques
http://www.sci.ouc.bc.ca/libr/connect96/search.htm

Spider's Apprentice
http://www.monash.com/spidap.html

Beginner Internet Tutorials, University of Albany Libraries
http://library.albany.edu/internet/