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Title:
Great Scouts! Cyberguides for Subject Searching on the Web
Review:
In an age where access to information is abundant, there is a clear lack of
direction and advice when trying to get to the information you seek. Even then,
there is a tremendous amount of misinformation due to the "free for all"
organization found on the Internet. In this space, where anyone can be a source
of information, there is a need for some reigning-in and control when it comes
to using the Web as a means of finding accurate information. Who better to
write a guide for the layperson and the information professional alike, than two
qualified information professionals who spend most of their time searching the
Web. They have extensive experience in how to navigate through broad topics in
order to pinpoint useful and reliable information.
What is great about "Great Scouts! Cyberguides for Subject Searching on the
Web", is the thoroughness of their research for this book. Entries were made by
careful selection, governed by certain strict criteria. Each chapter has an
overview of a subject as a whole with particular emphasis on the explanation of
problems or issues found within the subject area, serving as a type of "state of
the subject" address with regard to information access. Additional information
includes a Web site contact, why the site was chosen, when and why it was
created, the number of sites listed, as well as how those sites are chosen and
by whom.
The phrases "nothing in life is free" and "you get what you pay for" come to
mind when thinking about research tools and accessibility to good information.
However, given the proper tools, one is well equipped for even the most complex
search tasks and you do not necessarily have to spend a lot of time or money.
Great Scouts! enables anyone to access reliable and valuable free information
and in the process teaches the searcher to ask the most appropriate questions to
ensure accurate results. Paul and Williams have taken on a monumental task and
produced, as a result, an informative and well thought out resource that serves
as an invaluable teaching device. It can only help develop more informed and
more sophisticated Internet searchers as a result, including me.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Deirdre Cossman is a freelance librarian and writer in New York City. She was
the New York Director of Recruitment for TFPL, a London based information
services company from 1996-1999. Previously, she was a librarian at
Entertainment Weekly magazine, People magazine, CS First Boston and continues to
do freelance research for authors.
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