Information overload?

Tips for zeroing in on the good stuff

Web

• Be aware of the deep or invisible web:
  ~ 80% of what's on the Web won't be found by Google
  e.g. database contents, unlinked webpages
• Tips for web searching:
  Customize searches with +,-, quotation marks, OR, ~
  Advanced search (can limit to date, filetype, domain type, public domain and so much more!)
  Google Help Sheet
• Use specialized directories of evaluated resources
• Evaluate resources:
  Checklist for Evaluating Websites (UW-Madison)

Library Catalog

• books, videos, DVDs, CDs, childrens books, government documents, maps, games, puppets, posters
• Access to all UW-System library collections through Universal Borrowing (UB)
• Don't forget about our wonderful public libraries!

Library Databases (Subscription-based resources)

• reference databases (facts, statistics, biographies, definitions, encyclopedia, quotes, reviews, etc.)
• journal, newspaper, magazine articles, book chapters
• Badgerlink: access to subscription databases for all Wisconsin residents. An amazing resource!
• For Stout folks
• For River Falls folks (Reference Sources and Article databases)

Library Journals, Magazines, Newspapers

• online and in print
• popular and scholarly

Really cool places to get the information you need to keep your life in balance

This is just a sampling. If you like what you see and you'd like more, contact your librarians. They live for your questions.

Library catalog

• Stress management
• Time management
• Handicrafts
• Music, Jazz, Rock music, etc. (limit a search to Sound Recording for music you can listen to or to Scores for music you can play)

Library databases

• NoveList (via Badgerlink): Assists you in finding fiction to read
• EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite (includes scholarly) and Masterfile Premier (mostly popular): articles on broad range of topics, including reviews
• LexisNexis: rich database with fulltext news, medical, legal, governmental information and more
• Other newspaper databases

Web

• Movie Reviews ( IMDB , Rottentomatoes )
• Snopes: Urban Legend Reference page. Find out if what you heard is true or a rumor.
• Newseum:  The "Today's Front Pages" link lets you view the current front page from 200 newspapers in 27 countries.
  

Library catalog

• Exercise
• Physical fitness
• Cookery (Cooking)
• Fishing, Fly fishing, Hunting
• Football
• Nutrition

Library databases

• Health Source-Consumer Edition - practical health information for the lay person
• Clinical Pharmacology - patient and professional information on drugs (including prescription and non-prescription)

Web

Library catalog

• Child rearing
• Caregivers
• Parenting
• Marriage, Communication in marriage
• Travel guidebooks (if you know where you're going, type in the name of a desired location with the word 'guidebooks")

Library databases

• Lots of homework resources in SearchSpot Reference Databases
  (e.g. MagillOnLiteraturePlus, Biographies Plus, Contemporary Authors
• Badgerlink
• Children's Literature Comprehensive Database: includes reviews of children's literature

Web

Library catalog

• Entertaining
• Etiquette
• Dating (Social Customs)
• Quality of Life

Library databases

• Newspaper databases: access to the full text of hundreds of newspapers, regional, national and international
• Associations Unlimited: find an organization relating to your interest, or find out what an organization does.

Web

• Google local: find businesses and maps within a community
• Google phonebooks:
  phonebook:lastname state abbreviation (e.g. phonebook:doyle wi)
  rphonebook (residential listings only)
  bphonebook (business listings only)
• Who are my legislators? enter your address to find out
• Eau Claire Area Information (McIntyre Library Online Reference Shelf)

Library catalog

• Resumes
• Vocational guidance
• Business Computer Programs (or search on specific software)

Web