Although the World Wide Web is user friendly, we want to send you home with these materials as reminders of how you can most easily find the resources that will be useful to you. The Internet changes continuously, so some techniques may evolve or change. These guidelines should assist you as you grow more sophisticated about using this invaluable resource. The Newark Public Library also issues lists of interesting Web sites on a variety of topics. These subject guides are also available on the Library's Web site (http://www.npl.org/Pages/InternetResources/index.html#guides).
We hope that you will enjoy all the resources of The Newark Public Library. The Internet opens a new universe of knowledge supplementing the fine collections of books and other media, the programs and exhibits, and the help that librarians provide to people each day. Ours is the Information Age, and The Newark Public Library is your partner in exploring it.
What Is the Internet?
What Is the World Wide Web?
The Internet Explorer Screen
Understanding Addresses/URL's
What Is a Search Engine?
The Newark Public Library's Search Engine Guide
A Few More Tips...
Evaluating Internet Resources
Glossary of Internet Terms
What Is the Internet?
The Internet is sometimes referred to as a "network of networks."
These networks are made up of computers connected to each other by cables,
satellite links, and telephone lines. The Internet is a global network of
computers connected to each other to share information. All computers on
the Internet operate by the same protocols, or rules, which make it
possible to communicate with each other and to exchange files. The Internet
supports the World Wide Web, telnet, file transfer, email, and other
"tools." With millions of web pages worldwide, the Internet is a
resource that you are likely to find valuable.
What Is the World Wide Web?
The World Wide Web (WWW) is the part of the Internet that utilizes hypertext
(see Glossary) for linking files, or documents.
The Web allows users selecting or activating a hyperlink to jump from
one resource to another. Links may be represented by an underlined
word or phrase or by a graphic, or icon.
An activated hyperlink requests a Web page by sending a message to a remote computer that stores the file. A copy of the file is sent to your local computer. Programs for using the World Wide Web and for displaying Web pages are called browsers. Microsoft Internet Explorer® and Netscape Navigator® are two popular browsers capable of providing text, images, and sound.
The Title bar gives the title of the page currently in view.
The Tool bar consists of buttons that you can click as follows:
The Address box shows the address (URL) of the site in the Content area (see below).
The "e" icon, which sometimes turns into a globe, tells you that Internet
Explorer is loading the pages you have requested. (See also Status bar.)
The Content area shows the web page given in the Title bar and Location box.
The Status bar indicates the status of connecting and loading operations.
The Horizontal scroll bar permits you to move right and left to see additional text and images.
The Vertical scroll bar permits you to move up and down.
Protocols are the tools used to store and transfer data on the Internet.
Domain is the suffix and usually specifies the type of organization sponsoring or the
geographical location of the resource.
Just as a subject search in a catalog guides people using a
library, a subject directory directs you to where you want to go on the
World Wide Web. An example of a subject directory is
the Subject Guide
on the Newark Public Library's Web page; another
is Yahoo. Sophisticated
subject directories allow you to move through layers of categories to
arrive at increasingly specialized sites. In Yahoo, for instance, you can
browse categories in its "Recreation" section to move into its "Automotive"
area and then study the "Autos" sites pointed to for "everything you need
to buy a car." Some users say that subject directories allow them to
locate information that they did not even know they needed until they found
it.
The Web index engine searches within sites for words matching you
r
request. AltaVista
and Excite are examples of this means of locating sites
about highly specific topics. Generally you use a form to type keywords
(the words that are key to describing what you are seeking), click on a
"Search" or "Go for it" button, and the engine locates Web sites meeting
your criteria. A search using the keywords "patents" and "Newark" will lead
you to the page in the Newark Public Library site about finding patents in
this depository. Advanced search options allow searches for phrases or limiting
to specific domains.
A metasearch engine, such as Metacrawler, simultaneously searches
several search engines for keywords that you choose. The advantage to
metasearches is, of course, speed. Advanced searchers, however, may prefer
the precision of using search engines one at a time so as to take advantage
of the special features that differ among the many search engines.
The Internet Explorer Screen
The Back button takes you back to the previous page you were viewing.
The Forward button takes you forward one page at a time.
The Stop button interrupts the loading of a site; click here when
Netscape
seems to be taking a long time connecting, and try again, if necessary.
The Refresh button retrieves the current page with any changes since its
original loading.
The Home button at the Newark Public Library displays the Library
's
home page.
The Print button leads you to a "dialog box" from which you select printing
options.
Understanding Addresses/URL's
Every file (or page) on the Internet has an address called a URL or Uniform Resource Locator. URL's
specify a file's unique location on a computer
connected to the Internet. In order to connect to a site, you need to type its
exact, error-free URL.
http://www.npl.org/Pages/AboutLibrary/hours.html
protocol host and domain name of computer directory file name
http retrieves a hypertext WWW resource
telnet allows "remote control" of another computer
suffix type example
com commercial cnn.com
gov government whitehouse.gov
edu educational rutgers.edu
net miscellaneous webspan.net
org non-profit organization npl.org
us United States state.nj.us
ca Canada radio.cdc.ca
What Is a Search Engine?
"Surfing" the Internet can introduce you to all kinds of interesting
sites. If, though, you are looking for specific information, a search
engine will help you to find it. Three kinds of search engines-the subject
directory, the Web index, and the metasearch engine-can assist you, each in
a different way. You will find all three on the Newark Public Library's
"Internet & Electronic
Resources" page.
The Newark Public Library's
Search Engine
Guide
| Name/Type | Phrase Searching | Proper Name Searching | +Requires -Excludes keyword |
Truncation: to get various endings |
Miscellaneous |
| AltaVista (engine) http://www.altavista.com |
Enclose words in quotation marks. | Use standard capitalization and enclose name in quotation marks. | Both | Use asterisk * |
Try the Advanced Search option for more precise results. |
| Lycos (engine) http://www.lycos.com |
No | No | - only | Use dollar sign $ |
Can also search for pictures |
| MetaCrawler (multiple search engine) http://www.metacrawler.com |
Searches several engines and directories simultaneously and then gives results. Advantage: speed. Disadvantage: different ways of searching each engine/directory means that the you may lose precision. | ||||
| Yahoo (directory) http://www.yahoo.com |
Enclose words in quotation marks | Enclose name in quotation marks | Both | Use asterisk * (via AltaVista) |
When Yahoo search retrieves nothing, query goes to AltaVista |
| HotBot (engine) http://www.hotbot.com |
Enclose words in quotation marks | Use standard capitalization and enclose name in quotation marks | Both | No | Note drop down menus for more options |
| WebCrawler (engine with directory) http://www.webcrawler.com |
Enclose words in quotation marks | Enclose name in quotation marks | No | No | Produced by America Online; when WebCrawler search retrieves nothing, query goes to Excite |
| Excite (engine) http://www.excite.com |
Enclose words in quotation marks | Use standard capitalization and enclose name in quotation marks | Both | Use asterisk * |
Offers "More Like This" Links |
| Infoseek (engine) http://www.infoseek.com |
Enclose words in quotation marks | Use standard capitalization and enclose name in quotation marks | Both | Use asterisk * |
Features natural language inquiry |
You can find sites in two ways:
Locate a specific word or phrase on a Web page with the Find feature.
In Internet Explorer: choose Edit, then Find (on this page); type in the word(s) you
are seeking, and press the Enter key. In Netscape: use the Find button on the
tool bar.
The specified word will be highlighted on the page.
Sometimes you may try to visit a site, only to get an "error message."
If, for
example, you read a message "Connection Refused by Server," translate this as a
busy tone.
You may wish to "call back" later, when it is less busy. "Unable to Locate Server"
may
indicate a temporary problem, but, if you try again and again without connecting, you may
conclude that the site is having technical difficulties or even that it no longer exists.
When the computer fails to link to the site that you want, try these ideas:
Printing can pose difficulties.
A Few More Tips...
Of course you can ask a librarian for assistance, but here are some extra pointers to guide you.
When a page seems to be loading very slowly-you can click
on the Stop button and try
reconnecting to it.
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http://www.npl.org/Pages/InternetResources/training.html ©2006 The Newark Public Library |
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