(Guide time: 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes.)

This module is divided into two sections - 'Searching' and 'Question & Answer' forums. The activities are listed underneath each section. Try to set aside at least half an hour for each section.

(1) Searching

"Why do I need to know about searching on the internet?" you may ask. "I just

Google it."

However, Google does not always find everyting that is on the web. For example, the Library of Congress Archives and Calisphere (University of California) provide access to incredible resources which are generally are not found in a Google search.

In addition, there are plenty of different search engines available that find different things or provide a more focussed search using a smaller and more authoritative set of web pages/sites. For example, The Librarians Index to the Internet (LII) is a directory of websites organized by categories that are reviewed.

Eszter / Flickr

Other options include:

• Social bookmarking sites (which we have talked about earlier).
• Subject search engines which limit themselves to a range of authoritative sites specialising in a specific topic area, for example:
  

Whichbook.net (a book search based on your preferences)

Healia (health topics)

Lyrics (song lyrics)

• Format specific search engines You can narrow your search down to a particular type of format such as blogs, photos and videos. This filters out formats that you are not interested in. Examples include:

Technorati (blog search)

Trooker (combined search of YouTube, MySpace and other video sites)

Panoramio (Find photographs taken at a specific location

You can also create your own search engine by using Rollyo or Google custom search. This is useful if you want to search a number of related sites at the same time, rather than searching each one-by-one. You can type in the address of sites, give the search engine a name and description, save it and then search those sites. You can then make your search engine available for others to use.

Examples of customised search engines on library matters

• The Librarians Index to the Internet (LII) is a directory of websites organized by categories that are reviewed and categorized.
• Slough Libraries set up a Google custom search to help users find local history information.
• Ellen Simmon's used Rollyo to create a fast way of exploring libraries. Library 2.0. search.
• Using Rollyo Amy Levy made a quick way of searching through literature on public libraries with her Library Science Reference Search Engine.

Activities

Try one of the suggested activities below and blog about your experience:

• Take a look at Phil Bradley's list of Search Engines. It has over 150 search engines! Try using one and compare the search results to a Google search.
• Using either Rollyo or Google custom search create you own search engine by selecting sites you have bookmarked on delicious.com.

(2) Question and Answer Forums

What are question and answer forums?

One of the most powerful aspects of Web 2.0 is the harnessing of collective intelligence. Websites that encourage users to share and participate become arguably better. Most of this course so far has illustrated that sharing resources, tagging, collaborating, blogging and so on, can lead to innovation, efficiency and creativity. The web is a dynamic store of ideas which users are willing to share and discuss.

Chelle

Why use these?

If you have a problem or a question outside your area of expertise you may well find the answer online using one of the search engines mentioned above. Or you may find your answer more quickly by using a free question and answer service. These services aren't necessarily staffed by experts, but by people like you, with a passion for sharing their knowledge and experience.

The main difference between search engines and Q&A forums can be seen by comparing the search engine Whichbook.net mentioned above with the Q&A forum Whatsthatbook.com. People tend to use Whichbook.net when looking for inspiration for something to read, whereas they turn to Whatsthatbook when they are searching for a book they have read but cannot remember the title.

Examples

Here's a small list of Q&A forums:

• Quicktopic
• Answers.com
• Yahoo Answers
• Aardvark
• Quora
• LibraryThing Talk
• Good Reads Forum
  

As the last two examples show Q&A forums are not always just about 'help' questions either. People often use them to make thought provoking comments.

How libraries use them

Enquire is a 24 hour, 'live-chat' and email reference service to which members of the public can direct questions to trained library staff in real time or request an e-mail reply. During the day enquiries may be dealt with by a Librarian from anywhere in the United Kingdom. In the evenings and during the night the Librarian dealing with your query may be based in the United States. Therefore, if your enquiry is local in nature it is best to contact your local library directly.
Any library authority in the UK who staff the service also participates in answering questions on Yahoo Answers. The rationale behind our involvement here is that as information workers we are ideally placed to staff Q&A forums. We also have the opportunity to demonstrate our skills to a wider population of potential users who may not have considered 'asking a librarian'.

Ask Scotland is a similar service but questions are answered only by those librarians based in Scotland. Queries can be posted using instant messaging or email. Questions are diverse, for example, 'How do I make cranachan?' or 'How many dialects are there in Scotland?'.

Answers Direct is an example of an authority which uses a local version of Enquire. The service was started by Essex Council in 1999 and later joined the UK wide Enquire service. Users can ask a question and access an archive of answers or, if they do not find an answer in this way, ask an Essex librarian directly via an online form.

Unlike these services run by librarians, most Q&A forums are not real time services, instead people post questions in the hope that someone will eventually answer.

Activities

1. Watch this video from Yahoo: How to use Yahoo Answers
2. Explore Yahoo Answers for yourself. Take a look at their open questions. If you would like to post a question or answer one, you will first have to get an account (if you haven't already got one). Click on the Sign Up link at the top right of the page.
3. Did you post or answer a question? Blog about your experience of using Yahoo Answers. Do you think you might use Q&A forums in future?


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