The ability to search for specific information on the web is its most powerful feature but the very size of the web can be a drawback to finding the information needed.  To limit retrieval to a few relevant sites, the following search techniques may be used:

• Keywords - Specific words relevant to the information sought. Keyword searches look for words appearing in a document in any order.
  • Use general words for a broad search. For example, use texas water instead of kerrville water
  • Use specific words for a narrower search. For example, use battle of gettysburg  instead of civil war
  • Use related words to pick up synonyms. For example, use oil and petroleum
    
    
• Boolean Searching - Using an "operand" such as AND, OR, or NOT between two terms. Check the Help files to see which one is the default used by the search engine. Often included in the "advanced" search options.
  • OR retrieves the largest set of items. For example - mice OR men
  • AND retrieves a smaller set. For example - mice AND men
  • NOT eliminates some items. For example - mice NOT men
    
    
• Phrase Searching - Words that appear in a certain order in a document. Usually done by placing quotation marks around the terms, for example - "urban legends"  Often included in the "advanced" search options.;
  
  
• Truncation- Usually done by placing a * symbol after the shortest form of a word. For example, compute, computer, computers, computing, would be retrieved by compute*  Check the help files to see if the search engine allows truncation. Often included in the "advanced" search options.

Some recommended web search tools can be found on the Library's home page.