Librarians and other information specialists are often frustrated: there's too much extraneous information on the Internet, yet within the vast plethora of Websites there is also valuable material for the dedicated professional researcher.

Written by a professor of computer science and a reference librarian, The Information Specialist's Guide to Searching and Researching on the Internet employs an interactive approach that blends concepts with learning activities. It covers basic browser usage, e-mail, and discussion groups; discusses such Internet staples as FTP and Usenet newsgroups; presents and compares numerous search engines; and includes models for acquiring, evaluating, and citing resources within the context of a research project. The emphasis of the book is on learning how to create search strategies and search expressions, how to evaluate information critically, and how to cite resources. All of these skills are presented as within the context of step-by-step activities designed to teach basic Internet research skills to the beginner and to hone the skills of the seasoned practitioner.