Search results

The purpose of this paper is to propose a practical plan for finding free specialty databases and search engines that access the Deep Web, the hidden part of the internet that offers a greater quantity and quality of information than the regular web.

The author presents a self‐paced, adaptable worksheet of Deep Web search techniques. An explanation is provided for the utilization of general search tools to identify other, more specialized search tools. The techniques therein build upon searching methods suggested by previous authors.

The techniques facilitated the process of finding specialty tools.

The article helps librarians compile toolkits of specialty databases for use in serving their patrons. Reference librarians with collection responsibilities can expand their libraries' collections at no cost by identifying free web databases. In developing countries, librarians without access to subsidized collections of databases can use the practical advice in this article to find free databases for their patrons. In addition, virtual reference librarians can use the techniques to discover databases that they can recommend to patrons in the absence of print reference books.

The article illustrates an alternate, vertical strategy for web searching as opposed to the conventional, horizontal strategy of web searching. While other authors have already suggested some of these techniques, this article further develops these methods, synthesizes these ideas into a plan, and includes more techniques for Deep Web searching.

This paper aims to present recently published resources on information literacy and library instruction through an extensive annotated bibliography of publications covering all library types.

This paper annotates English-language periodical articles, monographs, dissertations and other materials on library instruction and information literacy published in 2017 in over 200 journals, magazines, books and other sources.

The paper provides a brief description for all 590 sources.

The information may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.

This paper aims to provide an introductory overview and selected annotated bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy across all library types.

It introduces and annotates English-language periodical articles, monographs, dissertations and other materials on library instruction and information literacy published in 2014.

It provides information about each source, discusses the characteristics of current scholarship and highlights sources that contain unique or significant scholarly contributions.

The information may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the most popular places, gadgets, searching tools and techniques adopted by users of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (DYSPUH & F), Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, while searching electronic information resources (EIRs).

A survey was conducted with the help of a structured questionnaire used as a data collection tool.

It is found that department/office chamber (42 per cent), hostel (29 per cent) and home (26 per cent) prove to be the most popular places of access. Majority of users use laptops to access and read EIRs. Among all popular platforms, users of DYSPUH & F library prefer to use “search engines”, and “Google” proves to be the number one search engine. Majority of users search the information through “title” followed by “keywords/subject terms”. The users are not yet well-versed with most of the advanced search techniques, as less than half of them are able to use only Boolean operators, and less than 10 per cent of them claim to know other search techniques. Majority of users have learnt to use information search and retrieval skills through self-study.

Only one agricultural university of northern India was surveyed; hence, the results cannot be generalised for the entire northern region of the country.

The findings will help the library authorities to see what are the prime areas of concern so far as the search discourse and accessibility of e-resources is concerned.

No such survey has been conducted in the University till date.

Sources of information and other opportunities available via the Internet are increasing exponentially. This comes with the steady increase in Internet use for education, marketing and commercial trading, and in government for communication of information to citizens. Using the action research cycle of planning, acting, recording and reflecting, this article introduces a model for an approach to Internet searching and use. The model is a conceptual framework for Internet searching that will help people to overcome the challenges of working within an environment that is subject to continuous change, both in the forms of technology used and in the content that is available through the Internet. Our model encourages the searcher to use action research principles to enlighten their searching, reflecting and learning about new techniques as the tools that they use change around them. Our model should prove valuable to educators, researchers and consultants to inform their own practice as well as for use in the educational environment.

This paper documents the continuing relevance of facet analysis as a technique for searching and organising World Wide Web based materials. The two approaches underlying WWW searching and indexing – word and concept based indexing – are outlined. It is argued that facet analysis as an a posteori approach to classification using words from the subject field as the concept terms in the classification derived represents an excellent approach to searching and organising the results of WWW searches using either search engines or search directories. Finally, it is argued that the underlying philosophy of facet analysis is better suited to the disparate nature of WWW resources and searchers than the assumptions of contemporary IR research.

The Internet and related information services attract increasing interest from information retrieval researchers. A survey of recent publications show that frequent topics are the effectiveness of search engines, information validation and quality, user studies, design of user interfaces, data structures and metadata, classification and vocabulary based aids, and indexing and search agents. Current research in these areas is briefly discussed. The changing balance between CD‐ROM sources and traditional online searching is quite important and is noted.

Even though use studies of card catalogues are quite rare, use of online public access catalogues (OPACs) has been extensively investigated since early 1980s. Yet there are not many attempts to conduct comparative studies highlighting the differences in use of card catalogues and OPACs of the same library and user population. This paper reports an attempt made to study use of the OPAC of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) library and compare the results with the findings of the study of use of card catalogue of the same library conducted 17 years ago. The paper not only brings various aspects of user behaviour about OPAC but also depicts the differences in user behaviour as well as the effects of technological changes from card catalogue (manual system) to OPAC (automated system).

The purpose of this paper is to present the lessons learned and alternative methods used in teaching library and internet searching skills to adult learners, especially senior citizens, in a non‐credit course offered by the Michigan State University Evening College.

The paper sets out the specific considerations taken in designing and executing an information literacy course for adult learners, along with observations and reflections, are described in detail and supported with evidence from research on adult learning theory and pedagogy. Preliminary sections describe the background and initial planning of the course, while additional sections describe each lesson learned in detail, including alternative teaching methods used and evaluation and assessment techniques.

The paper provides essential tips and suggestions to consider when teaching library and internet‐searching skills to adult learners, such as “keeping it simple”, establishing a slower‐paced learning environment, and providing unique and engaging class exercises. Also reports on successful alternative and unique approaches used when teaching adult learners.

Most of the evidence provided is from general observations by the librarian/instructor over three years. More formalized testing needs to be applied to better assess student learning, along with comparison of results over several more years.

The paper is a highly useful source of practical information for librarians looking to teach unique user groups (adult learners, non‐traditional students, or senior citizens) information literacy skills, in a university setting and using new and engaging teaching techniques.

This paper offers innovative ideas and practical techniques using Breakfast at Tiffany's to use when teaching adult learners, especially senior citizens, information literacy skills.

This study aims to determine the influence of motivational factors: perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived enjoyment (PEJ) and perceived usefulness (PU) on utilisation of Internet health information resources among resident doctors in tertiary health-care institutions in Nigeria. The Internet has become a major source of health information for practitioners and the general public. Despite the availability of health information resources on the Internet, some resources are underutilised. There are numerous studies on Internet use among health-care workers; however, there is a dearth of information on motivational factors influencing utilisation of Internet health information resources among resident doctors in Nigeria.

A descriptive survey design was used. Total enumeration technique was adopted to cover 1,280 resident doctors in 13 tertiary health-care institutions in southwestern Nigeria. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire has four sections covering the demographic profile of the respondents, PEU, PEJ and PU. Four hypotheses were tested at the p < 0.0 1 level of significance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analysis.

There were more males (69.0 per cent) than females (31 per cent); respondents mean age was 34 years. The result revealed that PEU(r = 0.181, p < 0.01), PEJ(r = 0.166, p < 0.01) and PU(r = 0.121, p < 0.01) have significant relationship with utilisation of Internet health information resources by the respondents. Also, PEU, PEJ and PU collectively (F = 15.366, df = 3; 897, p < 0.01) have significant influence on utilisation of Internet health information resources of the respondents. Individually, PEU (B = 0.864, df = 897, t = 3.90, p < 0.01) and PEJ (B = 0.349, df = 897, t = 3.060, p [lt] 0.01) were found to have significant influence on utilisation while PU (B = 0.232, df = 897, t = 1.328, p > 0.01) does not significantly influence the utilisation of Internet health information resource of the respondents.

One major implication of this study is that system designers and web content developers should design programs and websites that are compatible with the user’s abilities. Medical librarians have a role to play in providing quality health content that is easy to navigate and pleasurable to use. Both the institutions and the government have a role to play in providing information and communication technology facilities to enable doctors access relevant health information resources easily.

Introduction of information literacy training in the residency programme or inclusion as a component of the continuing professional development will enable resident doctors to know relevant online searching tools and search techniques for accessing health information resources which will be useful to their work. This will in turn increase their PU of Internet resources. Health sciences librarians (medical librarians) in the various institutions/centres have a role to play in training resident doctors on how to access, retrieve and evaluate online health information. Librarians should also train resident doctors on how to search evidence-based Medicine resources such as the Cochrane Library and PubMed Clinical Queries and Critical Appraisal of the medical literature to make informed decision in the management of their patients and for research purposes. They should be trained on how to organise bibliographic references using reference manager tools such as Endnote, Zotero or Mendeley.

The social implication of this findings is that systems that are easy to use should be designed, so that doctors will be able to access relevant information for research and patient care for better health outcomes. The easier and enjoyable the system is to use, the more resident doctors will access and use health information resources to improve their service and save more lives.

This study examined three motivational factors (PEU, PEJ and PU) that influence the utilisation of Internet health information resources by resident doctors in tertiary health-care institutions in Nigeria. The result revealed that collectively PEU, PEJ and PU have significant relationship with the utilisation of Internet health information resources, but PEU and PEJ are the main drivers of use of Internet health information resources among the resident doctors studied. This study adds to the literature of motivational factors influencing utilisation of Internet health information resources by resident doctors in southwestern Nigeria. This paper is original because, to the best of our knowledge, there is no other study on motivational factors influencing Internet use among resident doctors in Nigeria.