Online Librarian
Carl
Google www.google.com
Founded: Menlo Park California (September 27, 1998)
What THIS SITE IS:
Google is one of many search engines available and because of its overwhelming popularity it has almost become synonymous with the Internet. Two Stanford students began the Google search engine in 1996 as a graduate research project. Soon after Google took off and now, according to Nielsen NetRatings, is used in virtually half of all Internet searches. The Google brand has expanded vigorously and now includes products far beyond a mere search engine, such as email (gmail), directory, online documents & spreadsheets, etc.
Positives: Simple interface; relatively large search results; consistent innovation and development of new and interesting products
Negatives: Search Engine results are not evaluated for quality; popularity and ease of use can obscure search limitations, see Research Beyond Google
Who SHOULD USE THIS SITE:
Those searching for common topics, those beginning an exploratory first search, or those who are looking to take advantage of Google’s specific search features (e.g. advanced search) or products (e.g. gmail). It is important to keep in mind that while Google’s coverage is broad it can lack precision for uncommon or specific topics. And like practically all search engines it does not rank sites by quality nor does it take into account the deep recesses of the invisible web (the topic of the invisible web to be covered in a future article).
Librarian Note: Library professionals will appreciate this site for its ability to quickly generate answers to ready reference questions and to be used to orientate or inform searchers about a novel topic. Other useful tools (calculator, dictionary, etc.) and multimedia search capacities (pictures, videos, etc.) can be helpful as well.
Interesting FEATURE:
One of the most powerful ways to search with Google that is often overlooked is the use of Google Syntax. Searching this way can be done using the Advanced Search or by directly keying what Google calls “search operators" in the search basic window.
For instance, say you want to use the Google Search Engine to find information about prairie dogs but you only want see what the National Geographic web site has to say on the topic.
As an example type prairie dog site:nationalgeographic.com in the basic Google search window.
The results of prairie dog site:nationalgeographic.com would be a search only within the www.nationalgeographic.com website for the subject of prairie dogs. This formula of search term(s) site:web_site_to_be_searched.com can be used for any subject and any site. Also note that these search operators can be used to limit and control searches by site, by format, and a whole assortment of other parameters and functions, see Google Syntax for more options.
Bottom LINE:
Google is simply the best freely available general-purpose search engine on the Web today. (In addition it offers a wide variety of tools, software, and multimedia)
Helpful LINKS:
Instruction/Tutorials/Features
Google Guide
Google Cheat Sheet
Google Products
Extras
20 Great Google Secrets
Official Google Blog
Unofficial Google Forum
Librarians
Google Librarian Central
Google as Ref Desk Tools (Ready Reference)
Any QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to make a comment by clicking on the comments link below or if you prefer to reach me by email.
Carl
Google www.google.com
Founded: Menlo Park California (September 27, 1998)
What THIS SITE IS:
Google is one of many search engines available and because of its overwhelming popularity it has almost become synonymous with the Internet. Two Stanford students began the Google search engine in 1996 as a graduate research project. Soon after Google took off and now, according to Nielsen NetRatings, is used in virtually half of all Internet searches. The Google brand has expanded vigorously and now includes products far beyond a mere search engine, such as email (gmail), directory, online documents & spreadsheets, etc.
Positives: Simple interface; relatively large search results; consistent innovation and development of new and interesting products
Negatives: Search Engine results are not evaluated for quality; popularity and ease of use can obscure search limitations, see Research Beyond Google
Who SHOULD USE THIS SITE:
Those searching for common topics, those beginning an exploratory first search, or those who are looking to take advantage of Google’s specific search features (e.g. advanced search) or products (e.g. gmail). It is important to keep in mind that while Google’s coverage is broad it can lack precision for uncommon or specific topics. And like practically all search engines it does not rank sites by quality nor does it take into account the deep recesses of the invisible web (the topic of the invisible web to be covered in a future article).
Librarian Note: Library professionals will appreciate this site for its ability to quickly generate answers to ready reference questions and to be used to orientate or inform searchers about a novel topic. Other useful tools (calculator, dictionary, etc.) and multimedia search capacities (pictures, videos, etc.) can be helpful as well.
Interesting FEATURE:
One of the most powerful ways to search with Google that is often overlooked is the use of Google Syntax. Searching this way can be done using the Advanced Search or by directly keying what Google calls “search operators" in the search basic window.
For instance, say you want to use the Google Search Engine to find information about prairie dogs but you only want see what the National Geographic web site has to say on the topic.
As an example type prairie dog site:nationalgeographic.com in the basic Google search window.
The results of prairie dog site:nationalgeographic.com would be a search only within the www.nationalgeographic.com website for the subject of prairie dogs. This formula of search term(s) site:web_site_to_be_searched.com can be used for any subject and any site. Also note that these search operators can be used to limit and control searches by site, by format, and a whole assortment of other parameters and functions, see Google Syntax for more options.
Bottom LINE:
Google is simply the best freely available general-purpose search engine on the Web today. (In addition it offers a wide variety of tools, software, and multimedia)
Helpful LINKS:
Instruction/Tutorials/Features
Google Guide
Google Cheat Sheet
Google Products
Extras
20 Great Google Secrets
Official Google Blog
Unofficial Google Forum
Librarians
Google Librarian Central
Google as Ref Desk Tools (Ready Reference)
Any QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to make a comment by clicking on the comments link below or if you prefer to reach me by email.
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