Module 3 : Where and how can I find information?

The "visible web" is merely the tip of the iceberg
The "surface web" is merely the tip of the iceberg

You can find information in many different ways, including internet search engines and the print or digital sources available at the libraries.

More and more information can be found on the internet, but it tends to be rather dispersed, and it is not always easy to determine its quality. Often, you cannot access the information because it's only available in a database or you have to log in to access the content of a website. Because of this, the required information cannot be found by using search engines. This is also referred to as the deep or invisible web.

As you can see in the adjacent image, this is the "surface web", or the Internet which we all have access to, though it is but a small tip, in this case literally, of the iceberg.

It is advisable to begin with the sources available at the library. They have been selected for their quality and currency and they offer structured information. This module goes into further detail about the following sources: