I'm looking for information on my topic. How do I find...

Why should I use web sites?

• Web sites are a great source of information about organizations and institutions and government generated statistics and reports. They are also useful for comparing popular perceptions to scientific research findings.
• The free web contains a vast collection of resources - some worthwhile and others worthless.
   

How do I find good web sites?

TIP: Make sure you have found a good source of information: Evaluate your information.

Major Web Search Engines
 

Expert Subject Directories

These specialized directories contain web sites selected by people who know the subject. For some types of searches they can help you target a specific category of information quickly and accurately without having to wade through many irrelevant sites. Subject directories can have broad coverage like dmoz or the Librarian's Index to the Internet, or can be quite specific.

Use the following to help identify appropriate expert subject directories:

Subject Guides	These guides are prepared by Vanderbilt subject librarians and can help you identify websites, books and other resources about your topic.
Reference Tools	Find links to dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference materials on the web (includes links to Vanderbilt-only resources).

Where can I find out more about web search tools?

Search Engine Watch is an excellent resource for learning how search engines work and getting tips for improving your search results.

Prepared for the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Vanderbilt University

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to MIT Libraries for granting permission to modify and use their "Information Navigator" tutorial.