Web Resources

The Internet provides an enormous number of resources and search options. It is fast, easily accessible and effective. However, not all Internet content is completely reliable. Always remember to evaluate Internet sources. When you obtain the search results try to limit them to authoritative websites with .edu (educational institutions websites) or .gov (governmental websites) domain extensions, if possible. While searching also think of specific words, names, abbreviations or acronyms associated with your topic. Search for societies, organizations, or groups that might have information on your subject on their websites.

Since there aren't many free online databases available on the Internet, your local public library may be of great help. The Vancouver Public Library (VPL) has a vast selection of online databases, and if you have a library card you can easily access them even from your home on your personal computer. Here is a link to the VPL website, where you can read about how to obtain a library card and how to use it in order to gain access to VPL web resources. You will also be able to find useful links to some free online resources on the Dorset Library website.

Searching the Internet
It is very helpful to start your Internet search from a search engine website. There are many search engines, such as:

Google , Yahoo!Search , Ask , Bing

Each search engine has its own syntax for advanced search:

Google Search Basics , Yahoo!Search  Search Tips , Ask Advances Search Tips , Bing Search Help

There are also search engines of search engines, which are called Metasearch Engines. Metasearch engines enable users to enter search criteria once and access several search engines simultaneously. This saves the user from having to use multiple search engines separately. Here are some Metasearch engines that you can find on the web:

Mamma , Clutsy , MetaCrawler , HotBot

Here is another very helpful website ipl2: Information You Can Trust . It features a searchable, subject-categorized directory of authoritative websites; links to online texts, newspapers, etc.