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Smart Web Searching: Graduate from Google to Open Access for online full text documents

Use this guide to help you navigate the free web

How to use Wikipedia and Google to conduct better online searches

You may not hear a lot of information professionals say this, but there is good, quality, credible information on the web.  Finding this information within the morass of advertisements and misleading news stories presents challenges, but it is not impossible.

 

For example -

Using a Wikipedia as a source is not a great strategy, but there are acceptable uses.

  • A Wikipedia article can be a way to introduce yourself to a new topic. 
  • Check the spelling of names. 
  • Use the article references to identify other source materials to use.

Typing keywords into Google and scrolling through thousands of results is not a great strategy, but there are acceptable uses.

WAIT! WOAH WOAH WOAH! What is Open Access and how can I use it to find freely available, quality research online? 

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What is Open Access and how can I use it to find freely available, quality research online?

 

At it's most fundamental, Open Access (OA) refers to free, unrestricted online access to research outputs such as journal articles, books, and theses. OA content is open to all, and ensures that anyone can access and use these results.  

The unrestricted distribution of research is especially important for authors as their work gets seen my more people, and readers as they can access and build on the most recent work in the field. 

For more information and links to so much more information, see Peter Suber's overview of Open Access: http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/overview.htm

Click the image to learn more about these major Open Access sites, including direct links

 

Your Librarian

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Andrea Koeppe
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I am available for research questions and consultations via email and Zoom
Contact:
Charles J. Keffer Library | MOH 223
651-962-4647