Online Searching puts aspiring librarians on the fast track to becoming expert searchers who unite library users with trusted sources of information to answer their questions - ushering them through this seven-step process: 1. Determining what the user really wants in the reference interview. 2. Identifying sources that are likely to produce relevant information for the user's query. 3. Dividing the query into big ideas and combining them logically. 4. Determining whether a known item or a subject search will satisfy the query. 5. Representing the query as input to the search system. 6. Conducting the search and responding strategically. 7. Displaying retrievals, assessing them, and responding tactically. Online Searching contains numerous figures to illustrate complex concepts, and the e-book features enhanced video content. Also included are specific recommendations to quickly and efficiently orient yourself to new databases and search systems. This is your go-to guidebook for becoming an expert searcher. -- From the publisher.

Online searching in the age of the information explosion -- Accessing scholarly, professional, and educational information -- The reference interview for in-depth queries -- Selecting a relevant database -- Pre-search preparation -- Controlled vocabulary for precision in subject searches -- Free text searching for recall in subject searches -- Known-item searching -- Databases for assessing research impact -- Search strategies -- Displaying and assessing retrievals and responding tactically to the search system -- Performing a technical reading of a database and its search system -- Interacting with library users -- Online searching now and in the future.