Searching the Web

When one reference librarian interviewed here was asked for Albanian food recipes, he went online and faster than you can say "mama mia, that's a spicy goat milk" (in Albanian) he was rewarded with a menu for a four-course meal. As librarians and patrons get connected in record numbers, both need to learn the swiftly evolving rules for gathering information on the web, and Searching the Web offers a solid mix of general search strategies and more refined methods for narrowing one's focus using Boolean logic. In addition to providing real-life Internet search examples from librarians in the field, the program also outlines how to use standard principles of librarianship in the new reference environment, including tips for re-framing questions for the reference interview, evaluating the veracity of information found on the web, and features to look for when selecting search engines (quality of indexing, frequency of updates, etc.). A good introduction, sure to be very useful in staff training. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)