The Internet is another place you can GO to find information. The Internet is a
worldwide network of large computers. Information is available on computers connected to this
network. The Internet allows you to use a personal computer to connect to and use information
on this network. Anyone with access to the Internet can publish information on it.
The WWW is the most important tool to USE to find information on the Internet. On
the WWW you GET web pages that contain information. Databases for articles are beginning to
be made available on the WWW, but they cost money. Many libraries are beginning to subscribe
these electronic databases on the WWW and make them available for their users.
There are 3 major tools to USE to identify and locate information:
1. Library Catalogs
2. Abstract & Indexes
2.1 Print abstracts & indexes
2.2 Electronic databases
3. World Wide Web
1. Library Catalogs
List materials found in the library.
Describe each item and tell where it is located.
Most libraries have an online catalog in which the information is entered into a
computer.
Some libraries also have a card catalog in which the information is typed on 3 X
5 cards and arranged alphabetically in file drawers.
2. Abstracts & Indexes
are sources used to identify citations in periodicals and newspapers.
are found in two formats:
2.1 Print abstracts and indexes
are available in many subject areas
are found in bound volumes
Each volume covers a certain period of time.
2.2 Electronic databases
are available in many subject areas
include information only from 1960 to the present
include just a summary of the article, but some include the full text
as well as a summary
3. World Wide Web
is a popular way to explore the Internet
contains only a small portion of all information available in libraries.
Information on the WWW is organized on web pages.
The first page in a set of web pages is called the home page.
Anyone with access to the WWW can create a web page and publish information
on the Internet.