How to Search Like a ProElizabeth Geesey Holmes

MSLIS, MAApril 15, 2015

Some sort of Intro – or just do orally?

Search Engines v. Directories

How Do Search Engines Work?

“Breadcrumb” trail of topics and sub-topics

Link to website Annotation

Boolean LogicAND NOT

OR

Other Search Operators

• SEARCH: Standard AROUND(2) care• Standard within 2 words of careAROUND

• SEARCH: “standard of care”• Results contain this exact phrase:

standard of care“ “

• SEARCH: (Physician OR Doctor) AND Malpractice

• Results contain either of the words in parenthesis and malpractice

( )• SEARCH: Constitution*• All forms of word: constitutions,

constitutional, constitution*

Using Advanced Search

AND

“ “

NOT

OR

Gear Icon

Narrow Results with Advanced Search

Narrow Results from Results Page

Limiting a Search to a Site or Domain

• Examples:

Limiting a Search to a Filetype

divorce

divorce AROUND(5) law

divorce AROUND (5) law site:.edu filetype: pdf

Blekko

Limited to Blogs

Browser Tip #1: Set Your Home Page

• Internet Explorer: • Click on Tools in Menu Bar• Choose Internet Options• Type web address in under home page on General tab

• Google Chrome:• Click on icon with 3 horizontal bars on right hand side of

page • Choose Settings• Click Open a specific page or set of pages• Click on Set pages• Enter your web address or addresses

Browser Tip #2: Manipulate Tabs

• Pin tabs • Right click on a tab• Click on Pin Tab

• Move around in your tabs• Ctrl + T opens a new tab • Ctrl + W closes the current tab• Ctrl + Tab switches between tabs• Ctrl + Shift + T opens the most recently closed tab

Browser Tip # 3: Use Shortcuts

• Zoom in and Out• Ctrl + [plus sign] zooms in • Ctrl + [minus sign] zooms out

• Open Links in a new browser window or tab• Press Shift and click on the link (opens new window)• Press Ctrl and click on the link (opens new tab)

• Find your keyword on the page• Ctrl + F opens up a search box• Enter your word • Search will highlight your word everyone it appears

Managing Bookmarks

• Web browser bookmark managers• Accessible only from one computer within a particular

browser

• Web based bookmark managers• Accessible from any computer via the Internet• Also available on mobile devices via Apps.• Many can be used to find and share favorite sites with

other users

• Rely on Legal Meta-sites to save useful Legal websites for you• You do not need to re-invent the wheel

What are RSS Feeds?

• RSS = Really Simple Syndication• Allows users to subscribe to updates from websites• Feeds from many sites can be collected in one place

using a Feed Reader• You will see this symbol if the site offers an RSS feed• Examples of top feed readers

• Digg Reader• Feedreader Online• CommaFeed• FlowReader• Feedly

Legal Blogs

• Sometimes called Blawgs• Tools for

• Educating clients• Sharing ideas with other lawyers• Advertising yourself and your strengths

• More than just marketing tools• Rich sources of educational information

Legal Research section of the ABA Top 100

Blawgs list

Blog Searching with Search Engines

1 2

3

Podcasts

Twitter

Research success!

Contact me:Elizabeth Geesey HolmesNaval War College Library401-841-4307elizabeth.holmes@usnwc.eduhttp://www.elizabethgeeseyholmes.com