Mentoring Group searches the web

On Wednesday 21 August Lothar Retzlaff, convenor of the National Library Technician's group, presented his Internet Searching Workshop for the WA Library Technician's Group Mentoring Program members, and a few others who were interested. It was a necessarily brief (time was limited) but extremely interesting workshop, covering:

How the web works

Use of meta search engines and subject directories and

Search techniques: 'Surfing' is a waste of time, PLAN your search.

The workshop also dealt with evaluating information found on the internet and provided some helpful hints, including what to do when a link is down, and how to operate with multiple windows.

Perhaps the most valuable tip was Lothar's advice to read the information each search engine provides in the 'Help' section. It is tempting to just have a go, but the time spent learning how best to use the search engine can be an investment that will bring good returns. Not all search engines are created equal and knowing their strengths and weaknesses will help you choose the best one for your search.

Learning how to search more effectively for information online was only one of the learning needs identified by the WA Library Technician's Group Mentoring program members at the beginning of the year. Some other areas of interest to the group include motivation, interview skills, and negotiation skills.

The WA Library Technician's Group Mentoring Program provides support to new graduates in the transition from study to work, providing opportunities for networking and continuing professional development.

Recruitment for the 2003 group will begin soon for those completing their studies this year. For further information contact Judy Smith or Judy Allan.

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