Unit 2Browsing

Web Directories and Reference Sources

Unit 2Browsing

Web Directories and Reference Sources

Questions Questions

Use LC handout to answer:Use LC handout to answer:

(1) Topic(1) Topic Discipline Subject LC Code Discipline Subject LC Code

Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action _________ ______ _________ ______ ____________

(2) Connect: Library page (2) Connect: Library page HyperResearch HyperResearch Yahoo! Yahoo!

Use Yahoo’s Web Site Directory (scroll down) to find Use Yahoo’s Web Site Directory (scroll down) to find opposing views of vegetarianism. How many sites opposing views of vegetarianism. How many sites come up? __come up? __

BrowsingWeb Directories and Reference

Sources

BrowsingWeb Directories and Reference

Sources Browsing: 3 ways people searchBrowsing: 3 ways people search Web directoriesWeb directories

How directories workHow directories work Library reference sourcesLibrary reference sources

How reference rooms workHow reference rooms work Disciplines and subject areasDisciplines and subject areas

Three Ways People SearchThree Ways People Search

SurfSurf No clear direction, idea, issueNo clear direction, idea, issue Consult people, news, magazines, Web for ideasConsult people, news, magazines, Web for ideas

BrowseBrowse Have some idea, but vague, flexible, unclearHave some idea, but vague, flexible, unclear Consult reference sources, Web directories for Consult reference sources, Web directories for

direction, topic, themedirection, topic, theme Search in-depthSearch in-depth

Have defined topic, narrow focusHave defined topic, narrow focus Consult databases, search and metasearch enginesConsult databases, search and metasearch engines

How to BrowseHow to Browse

Relate idea to subject areasRelate idea to subject areas Euthanasia: philosophy, bioethics, medicineEuthanasia: philosophy, bioethics, medicine

Use guide to locate subject area for topicUse guide to locate subject area for topic Web: Yahoo ->humanities -> philosophyWeb: Yahoo ->humanities -> philosophy Ref Rm: philosophy -> BRef Rm: philosophy -> B

Find informationFind information Web site with articleWeb site with article Ref book with essay, list of best articles, booksRef book with essay, list of best articles, books

Use information to narrow topic, find focusUse information to narrow topic, find focus

Where to BrowseWhere to Browse

Web DirectoriesWeb Directories

Library Reference SourcesLibrary Reference Sources

Web DirectoriesWeb Directories

Small, selective databasesSmall, selective databases Created by humans not machinesCreated by humans not machines Editors select and place sites into Editors select and place sites into

categories for easy retrievalcategories for easy retrieval User browses categories and links to sitesUser browses categories and links to sites

High Quality DirectoriesHigh Quality Directories

Librarian’s Index to the InternetLibrarian’s Index to the Internet InformineInformine Academic InfoAcademic Info WWW Virtual LibraryWWW Virtual Library

Top Directories – Less Selective Top Directories – Less Selective

Yahoo!: 1,800,000+ Yahoo!: 1,800,000+

Open Directory: 2,600,000+ Open Directory: 2,600,000+

LookSmart:LookSmart: 2,500,000+ 2,500,000+

HyperResearchHyperResearch Guide Guide

How Directories Work How Directories Work

Browse subject categoriesBrowse subject categories Funnel: category to topic, web site to pageFunnel: category to topic, web site to page HealthHealth Yahoo!Yahoo! LookSmart LookSmart

FitnessFitness Open Directory Open Directory

• YogaYoga Most popular sitesMost popular sites

yogaclass.comyogaclass.com

http://www.http://www.yogaclassyogaclass.com/.com/

Directory Search BoxesDirectory Search Boxes

When to use Yahoo SearchWhen to use Yahoo Search Subject categories don’t match topicSubject categories don’t match topic Want broad search of WebWant broad search of Web

Why results are differentWhy results are different Directory searches only Yahoo’s sites Directory searches only Yahoo’s sites

reviewed by human editors reviewed by human editors Search box combines Web sites (from Search box combines Web sites (from

Google) and reviewed sites from directoryGoogle) and reviewed sites from directory

Library Reference SourcesLibrary Reference Sources

Reference areasReference areas Electronic ReferenceElectronic Reference

On library pages or electronic library websitesOn library pages or electronic library websites Brief articles, factual informationBrief articles, factual information If non-subscription, can be dated, unreliableIf non-subscription, can be dated, unreliable

Library Reference Room Library Reference Room In-depth, extensive, expensive resourcesIn-depth, extensive, expensive resources Current, authoritativeCurrent, authoritative

How Reference Rooms WorkHow Reference Rooms Work

Print databasePrint database Sources selected by academics on basis of Sources selected by academics on basis of

quality, importance quality, importance Sources organized by subject categories Sources organized by subject categories

for easy retrievalfor easy retrieval User browses categories and locates areasUser browses categories and locates areas

Categories use letter codes for location in Categories use letter codes for location in reference room areareference room area

Library of Congress Directory of Subject Areas and Letter Codes

Library of Congress Directory of Subject Areas and Letter Codes

AA General General NN Fine ArtsFine Arts

BB Philosophy, Philosophy, PP Language, LiteratureLanguage, Literature

PsychologyPsychology QQ SciencesSciences

C,D,E,FC,D,E,F History History RR MedicineMedicine

GG Geography Geography SS AgricultureAgriculture

AnthropologyAnthropology TT Technology, Technology, EngineeringEngineering

HH Social Sciences Social Sciences UU Military ScienceMilitary Science

JJ Political Science Political Science VV Naval ScienceNaval Science

KK Law Law ZZ Library ScienceLibrary Science

LL Education Education

MM Music Music

Learning to Browse on Web and in a Reference Room

Learning to Browse on Web and in a Reference Room

Use a subject directory for Web or reference sourcesUse a subject directory for Web or reference sources Start with broad area, find more narrow subjectStart with broad area, find more narrow subject For Web sources, click links to sites For Web sources, click links to sites For reference sources, use guide to find code letters for For reference sources, use guide to find code letters for

subjects, locate sources on reference rm book shelvessubjects, locate sources on reference rm book shelves TerrorismTerrorism

Broad area: Social SciencesBroad area: Social Sciences Subject areas Subject areas

• Political Science (J-JX) Sociology (HM-HX)Political Science (J-JX) Sociology (HM-HX)• History (C-F)History (C-F) Psychology (BF) Psychology (BF)

Disciplines and Subject Areas

Disciplines and Subject Areas

HUMANITIES

SCIENCES

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Social SciencesSocial Sciences

ANTHROPOLOGY

BUSINESS

SOCIOLOGY

EDUCATION

LAW

HumanitiesHumanities

ART

HISTORY

LITERATURE

RELIGION

MUSIC

SciencesSciences

PHYSICS

CHEMISTRY

BIOLOGY

MEDICINE

Remember Why We BrowseRemember Why We Browse

Ideas are vague, flexibleIdeas are vague, flexible Looking for direction, focusLooking for direction, focus Need background informationNeed background information Want best sites, authoritative sourcesWant best sites, authoritative sources Work out a theme, clear topic Work out a theme, clear topic

Questions Questions

Use LC handout to decide:Use LC handout to decide:(1) Topic(1) Topic Discipline Subject LC Code Discipline Subject LC Code

Affirmative Action Affirmative Action Social SciencesSocial Sciences Law KLaw K

Sociology HM-HXSociology HM-HX

Political Sci J-JXPolitical Sci J-JX

(2) Connect: (2) Connect: Library pageLibrary page HyperResearch HyperResearch Yahoo! Yahoo!Use Yahoo’s Web Site Directory to find humorous anti-Use Yahoo’s Web Site Directory to find humorous anti-

vegetarian sites. How many sites come up? vegetarian sites. How many sites come up? 22Health -> Nutrition -> Vegetarianism -> Opposing Health -> Nutrition -> Vegetarianism -> Opposing ViewsViews

HomeworkHomework

Questions 1-10 to be done in the Reference Questions 1-10 to be done in the Reference RoomRoom

Question 8-10 require you to find an ESSAY in Question 8-10 require you to find an ESSAY in a subject-oriented encyclopediaa subject-oriented encyclopedia

Questions 11-18 require you to work with three Questions 11-18 require you to work with three Web directoriesWeb directories

Follow directions when to use directory Follow directions when to use directory categories and when to use search boxcategories and when to use search box