Broadening Your Internet Search -- Making Searching Even Easier

Internet (or Google) search is not the same a library's catalog search.

Let's first see the problem with what we do (in our Internet search step), and how Google assumes our search request.

In Google search, by using different keywords your search gets more specific.

Example: a. (key words) International Comparative Librarianship; b. (words & key phrases, i.e., words in quotes) "Information services" Research "Content management" Training "Human Resources" "Helpful Advice" "Related Services"

The above specificity reduces the number of search results. Remember, if you make it too specific, you may miss some useful websites.

When you type a word, Google search mechanism views it as though there is an AND between each of your search terms-- though you may not have typed: AND. Obviously Google will search only for websites that have all the words you entered.

Now to broaden your search, you can type OR between two words (that automatically avoids AND). Then, Google looks for sites that have any one of your search terms. For example, if you search for ‘International OR librarianship’, you will find only results with either words--results show all the sites containing the words ‘international’ and all the pages containing the word ‘librarianship’.  [adapted from Open.edu]

See also:

• DOING  WEB  QUERIES  USING  GOOGLE
• The ~ Operator  : Find synonyms by preceding the term with a ~, which is known as the tilde or synonym operator.
•  Exercises/Solutions
•  Google as Teacher: Everything Your Students Know They Learned from Searching Google  Pamela N. Martin, Utah State University

The Google Search "Reunion" commercial is a hit in India, Pakistan - with video

Emotional Google advert a hit in India, Pakistan - with video

• Sapa-AP | 15 November, -- The Google signage is seen at the company's headquarters in New York. File picture.
  Image by: ANDREW KELLY / REUTERS

• India, Pakistan agree: emotional Google ad a hit

Featured Helpouts by Google -- offerings involve a charge, r u ready with you Visa/MasterCard?

"Real help, from real people, in real time". That's the slogan of Google Helpouts, on the first page you don't see the money-matters!!! But, the bottomline is all about you pay as you go.

"Helpouts restricts listings and Helpouts that are marked for "health services." Learn more.
In order to view and search for health-related Helpouts, you must opt-in to allow Helpouts to create calendar entries and to send email and text notifications for any health service Helpouts that you start or schedule as a customer. You can find this option on the Settings page. Learn more."

Google Helpouts : Is this yet another Beta  (incl other beta, such as, Google Answers, that are gone with the wind). If it stays, will it be virtual reference platform--taking away the techniques, tools, know-how, skills + the cents some libraries get from a service, aka intelligent research?

Image courtesy: Michael Sean Wright

Website Blocked & / or Removed - News & Views

Reading the news, one wonders who is doing what. Is it the corporates that are responsible or the governments. And, how to get a feel of what is to be done, and how to know (in creating an awareness of the different perspectives). The following is a brief sample of news and views. Ask me for more or any specific area that interests you.

Author of U.S. online piracy bill vows not to buckle

Internet piracy bill splits technology, entertainment industries

India court threatens to ban Google, Facebook

Anti-internet piracy law adopted by Spanish government

Dutch court orders block on Pirate Bay website

We can block websites like China if steps not taken by social sites: Delhi HC

Finnish ISP ordered to block link to campaigner website in Pirate Bay crackdown ruling

Fighting Internet piracy: CES takes on SOPA vs. OPEN debate

How to get a Website Removed from Google

Four Google Social Search tips for control and privacy

Website blocked, cartoonist moves content to another host

How to block/remove ads from any website - YouTube

Block or remove pages using a robots.txt file - Webmaster Tools Help

Google to Make Removing URLs More Straightforward

How to Check if a Website is a Scam | Technology and Gadget Hub

How to check if your website/blog is penalized or filtered in Google

How to Check If Your Website Is Blocked In China or Not

On the same shelf:

Five Myths About the 'Information Age'

The Chronicle Review, April 17, 2011
By Robert Darnton
Extract:

The book is dead.


We have entered the information age.


All information is now available online


Libraries are obsolete


The future is digital

Continue reading the full article, here On the same shelf:

Redefining the library in the age of Google and Wikipedia

A summary of a talk given at Singapore Management University by Dr. N. Varaprasad, former CEO of Singapore's National Library Board. The themes covered are: Friends, not foes, Snacks, not full meals, Redefining and refining.
Published: November 01, 2010 in Knowledge@SMU

Extract:

Friends, not foes
"Despite the numerous issues, Varaprasad feels that libraries still stand a chance. For one, he does not see Google as a threat, but as an efficient gateway to the library’s resources. This complements library users’ search for information. As for Wikipedia, Varaprasad’s point of view is that the online encyclopaedia is useful as a jump-off point for preliminary research or a quick primer into a certain topic. However, despite the checks and edits done by Wikipedia’s army of contributors, there is no guarantee of accuracy." continue reading

Bottomline:
"Varaprasad imagines that libraries of the future might take a modular form, like that of Lego bricks; where there is one concept but many parts and multiple possibilities. So just like the evolution from stone tablets to scrolls to books, libraries need to innovate and evolve, so that they may continue to deliver knowledge to the masses; make reading experiences more interesting and social; and ultimately, keep from extinction."

Information courtesy: Bernie Sloan

Businesses Accommodating Religious Festivals

Latest: Google's Diwali

Diwali Celebrations @ Ikea Store:

See also:

• Steve Jobs wishes everyone a belated Ramadhan Mubarak!


• From Diwali to Chinese New Year: IKEA Canada Celebrates Holiday Traditions From Around the World
• Dance@HCL%20on%20Diwali


• Indian festivals: Ethos and health impact


• Nod to Ramadan a trend in retailing
• Celebrating Diwali the Telugu way Round-the-world
• The calendar of commercialism does not reflect our spiritual rhythms
• Culture Matters: Navigating India's Holidays

Googlism & Googlistan:

• Google settles dispute over online books
• Building trust in Googlistan