Bare Bones: Searching the Web for Dummies: Library Gateways and Specialized Databases: a Definition

In this chapter you will learn about the sites that you want to be familiar with if you are researching topics that will aid you in for example, assignments such as research papers or informational presentations. Why? Wait and you will see...

There are two kinds of databases: Library gateways and portals (See previous chapter).

Library gateways are collections that contain databases and informational sites that have been arranged by subject, assembled, reviewed and recommended by specialists, usually librarians. The results you get are academically oriented pages on the web--like we said before, these are the ones you want to target when the information you need needs to be extra reliable.

If you ask us, Library Gateways are similar to our old fashioned, good ole' books. If you are older than thirty-five, you might remember the agony of doing your research paper during your senior year in high school and having to predominantly use books for sources because your high school library was barely getting Internet. Yup! That might have been us!

Now what are these vortals we speak of? They are subject specific databases.

Subject-specific databases, or vortals (i.e., "vertical portals") are databases that are a bit more specific since they are devoted to a single subject and are created by subject experts such as professors, researchers, governmental agencies, business interests, and other subject specialists and/or individuals who have a deep interest in the subject and professional knowledge of a particular field.

If you ask us, these are the databases you should be hitting up since they are the more reliable sources.

Now don’t get confused because we are about to uncover a top secret little something we learned about the web: THE INVISIBLE WEB. Wait! What? Do you have an app on your smartphone that hides specific data, whether it is passwords, or confidential files? Well, the invisible web is somehow similar to this.

About 60 to 80 percent of existing web material is made up of thousands of documents that are hidden behind password protected sites, firewalls, and are archived. Erroneously, people assume that such documents are irretrievable. Although they are not visible to search engine spiders, today’s search engines are learning to find and index the contents of these “Invisible Web” pages. To find them you must point your browser directly at them and that’s what the library gateways and subject-specific databases do.

So really, all we need to navigate through these sites is the right gateway.

If you’re wondering when it is best to use which, wonder no more…

Library Gateways are best when you are looking high quality information. Subject-Specific Databases are best when used to get, can you guess it? You’re right! Specific information on a subject!

EXAMPLES OF LIBRARY GATEWAYS

Academic Information

Digital Librarian

Infomine

Internet Public Library

Librarians' Index to the Internet

PINAKES

WWW Virtual Library

EXAMPLES OF SUBJECT-SPECIFIC DATABASES (i.e.,VORTALS),

Educator's Reference Desk (educational information)

Expedia (travel)

Internet Movie Database (movies)