Information Sources and Searching on the World Wide Web

Citation

Kerr, M. (2002), "Information Sources and Searching on the World Wide Web", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 36 No. 3, pp. 206-206. https://doi.org/10.1108/prog.2002.36.3.206.1

The authors have targeted this book at students of library and information science for whom the idea of structured searching may be a comparative novelty. The secondary audience identified by the authors is the practising information professional who, although probably widely experienced in structured searching of online databases, is likely to be self‐taught when it comes to searching the Web. This book fulfils a useful role for both these audiences, as well as end users in general.

The first two chapters are an introduction to the Web in general and searching in particular, covering Boolean and field searching as well as truncation, proximity searching and other specific search techniques.

Chapter three introduces search engines and explains at some length how they operate, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Distinguishing between general and specialist search engines, we are given features tables for ten leading services, and the chapter summary includes a useful checklist of tips for effective searches.

Chapter four introduces Web directories such as Yahoo and LookSmart, as well as the WWW Virtual Library and the Argus Clearinghouse. Since the book’s publication, this latter resource has ceased to be maintained, although the resources and indexing structure are still as relevant as they ever were.

Subject gateways are examined in chapter five, with several well‐known sites analysed – OMNI, SOSIG, Biz/Ed and EEVL for example. Each is described with a list of the essential features and subject coverage. NOVAGate and BUBL are also covered in a section on General Subject Gateways, and the chapter concludes with a longer list of the specialist sites.

Chapter six looks at online reference services, from Ask A Librarian and AskMe.com to Britannica Online and Internet Library for Librarians. The authors highlight the benefits of these to end users who can access information from the comfort of their desks.

“Electronic journals”, the subject of chapter seven, highlights the difficulties in trying to cover such a vast subject in a relatively small book. Three pages on the process of publishing, access and aggregating journals on the Web seemed a little too limiting. The library and information science student audience may find that information sufficient to provide a background overview, but there is a need for more in‐depth discussion of formats and access methods than is included here. Again the authors cover a range of services, providing features tables for each, so the astute reader can fill in some of the gaps by correlating the features listed with the introductory pages to the chapter. A closing page covers the concept of e‐books, again perhaps enough for first thoughts, but leaving room for further research, which of course may be the whole idea.

Chapter eight looks at digital libraries, with a brief definition and description prior to illustrating the topic once again with some examples and features tables. Once again the chapter summary provides a useful checklist of essential features.

The ninth and final chapter, “Issues and trends”, summarises the possible future for some of these areas, and the authors call for enhanced investment and training in the sector to enable the library and information professional to keep up with the rapid development being made in this field. The references are accompanied by a Web site listing and there is an index.

The nature of the medium means that new resources appear, old resources vanish, and almost all resources evolve during the writing and publishing of a book such as this. This is not a criticism of the book, just an inevitable caveat that a definitive printed reference work is a virtual impossibility. That said, this title gives a useful overview of the range of resources available, and provides a good grounding on the techniques and principles involved in information retrieval on the Web. For its intended audience, this is an excellent overview of the diversity of resources available and being developed; there will be a wider readership who will also find much of use and interest here.