The Online Searcher's Companion

This is an interactive learning text on the basics of online searching, originally entitled "How to Succeed in Online Searching". Illustrated throughout with real examples and exercises, it assumes no knowledge on the part of the reader and gives hands-on advice on the basics of online searching, but should also act as a refresher to intermediate level searchers. It takes a step-by-step approach from physical access through formulating a search strategy before going online to Boolean operators, advanced database search techniques and Internet searching. Worked examples are used throughout to teach the principles under discussion. Contents include: history of online searching; how to physically access online hosts; the pre-search process; basic search techniques; advanced search techniques; full text searching; basic Internet searching; recall versus precision (quantity versus quality); and worked examples.