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From Booklist - In this Internet age, database users soon learn how invaluable search strategies and effective search skills can be in the quest for information. This book suggests ways to obtain these skills while providing a general introduction to searching online environments. Starting with historical background, the author discusses database structure--records, fields, and indexes--and continues exploring basic search concepts, including Boolean logic, controlled vocabulary, proximity searching, and truncation. Subsequent chapters focus on commercial databases in specific subject areas. Other chapters examine information-seeking behaviors, reference interviews, database evaluation, and teaching others about databases. The content is practical, user-friendly, and enhanced by screen shots, exercises, and supplementary materials. Full of helpful advice and insightful commentary, this text is an outstanding reference tool. Sean Kinder
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From Library Journal - Since its first publication in 1994, this guide has been an essential tool for journalists, researchers, lawyers, professors, librarians, business executives, and students. The new edition has been updated by award-winning journalist Schlein to include tips and search strategies from 20 information industry experts. In the introduction, Schlein states that he aimed to make the work "considerably more global in focus," and in fact the title does not do it justice. This is more than an annotated list of thousands of web sites-it is a coaching tool that shows readers how to do comprehensive and reliable research in hundreds of disciplines, regardless of information container. Schlein explains when a particular set of data is best found on a free or fee-based web site. When no digital source exists, he refers readers to the "best" container, whether it is a print resource or a person. Unfortunately, this book does not explain where to find information about P2P (peer-to-peer) file-sharing systems such as KaZaA, so information about music research is scarce. Online music resources are better discussed in Chris Sherman and Gary Price's The Invisible Web. Another weakness is the lack of an accurate well-crafted index. Instead, the index functions as a keyword list and not a topic guide (e.g., "separated by adoption" and "minor traffic violations" are main entries and are not cross-referenced under their respective subjects). These faults aside, this work is still well recommended for all libraries because of its comprehensiveness; other similar works, like Reva Basch's now dated Researching Online for Dummies, are targeted to newbies and specific audiences.
Kara L. Giles, Dominican Univ. Lib., River Forest, IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The publisher, Prentice-Hall Career & Technology - "Internet Investigations" meets the needs of professors, students and others interested in learning how to use the Internet in career fields. This cutting-edge guide provides step-by-step, easy-to-follow practical information to help you begin using the Internet for finding valuable information.

Amazon.com - The authors--father-daughter private investigators--know from experience just how often people want to find family members, natural parents, old flames, old friends, deadbeat dads, witnesses, or missing heirs. Furthermore, they know how easy and inexpensive it is to conduct the search. Using CD-ROM databases, death records, military connections, and the Internet (with its listings by phone directory, alumni lists, and professional associations), they say you can find what you're looking for on your own. Following their instructions and using their comprehensive resources, you ought to be able to find anyone in no time.

Book Description - Offering the advice, insights, experiences, and encouragement would-be Internet entrepreneurs need to establish a successful independent research business, this book provides an insider's view of Internet businesses and their unique services. Eleven entrepreneurial super searchers representing a broad range of topic specialties and business focuses are interviewed. Also discussed are the details for getting started, developing a niche, finding clients, doing the research, networking with peers, and staying well informed about Web resources and technologies.  Provides an insider's view of Internet businesses and their unique services.

Amazon.com - Although this Dummies book is in the typical informal and irreverent beginner's style, even the most competent searcher will find it invaluable. Author Reva Basch has written the gold standard for books about online research. Wired magazine calls her "the ultimate intelligent agent" for a very good reason. Basch doesn't just give you information on search engines and how to use them. She takes you into the mindset of a professional Net cybrarian, sharing the essential truth about online research. (There is a huge difference between surfing and searching.) In chapters such as "Thinking and Working Like a Researcher," you learn what to do when presented with 42,178 hits--or worse, no hits at all--when using a search engine. Even when you hit pay dirt, Basch explains the importance of evaluating the information you find to make sure it's relevant and accurate.
Basch covers specialty search engines, subject-based catalogs, reference sites, online libraries, and for-pay information services. She takes you to the places where the experts hang out in newsgroups, mailing lists, and online conferencing systems. One especially helpful chapter deals with the mysteries of researching government, medical, and sci-tech information online. The discussion then moves to business-related research, online publications, and many other resources. Then she reveals that sometimes you have to go offline to get what you need and includes helpful print sources.

This terrific volume concludes with the famous Dummies "Part of Tens," including Ten Timeless Truths about Search Engines and Ten Clarifying Questions for Better Research Results. The accompanying CD-ROM has three bonus chapters: "Life Choices," about using the Net to find information on finding a college, a car, a job, and other necessities; "Recreational Interests: Hobbies, Interests, and Leisure-Time Pursuits"; and "Ten Simple Tune-ups for Streamlined Searching." A bonus section on Boolean searches contains one of the better discussions of that misunderstood subject. --Elizabeth Lewis

Book Description - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Search Secrets is a comprehensive guide to the Web's major search sites--as well as more specialized Internet searches--for all Web users. This book covers search secrets for all the major Web search sites: Alta Vista, Excite, Hotbot, Infoseek, Lycos, and Yahoo! Also learn to search for names, addresses, e-mail addresses, USENET newsgroup articles, files, business information, employment opportunities, and personal ads. Tips and advice help you fine tuning searches, perform advanced search operations, and develop information-retrieval strategies that go beyond simple Web-site searches.