If you are trying to find information about a topic, start with "Exploring a Topic."   If you must have a specific document, then start here.

Finding a Specific Document

The Awesome Library links you with other Web libraries for the most complete search for a specific document.  The Web libraries are often called "search engines."   Go to "Word Search" at the top left of your screen and start with one of the Web libraries.  Alta Vista and HotBot are two of the largest Web libraries and often provide fast responses.   If something is difficult to find, then try a combination of Excite, Infoseek, and Yahoo.   Each of these three libraries uses different methods for narrowing your search.    Starting Point allows you to search several of the most popular Web libraries at once, but do not expect great speed.

Please note that the Web libraries below do not filter or screen resources; when you enter them you are leaving the safety of the Awesome Library.   See Parental Controls for suggestions.

In general, you can search for specific documents in Web libraries by providing a couple of key words.   Try it:   go to "Search" and try a couple of Web libraries.    Search for the key words "declaration independence."   You will see that each of the libraries has different resources, with all of them sharing some of the most popular materials.

If you want more complete directions for making searches, try the search tips provided for each Web library:

- Search Tips for Excite
- Search Tips for Infoseek
- Search Tips for Yahoo

Multimedia.   If you are looking for a particular type of multimedia, such as sound, pictures, animation, or 3-D, try HotBot.   To find animations in HotBot, select "Media Type" and then "Java" and "Shockwave;" for 3-D select "VMRL."   After you have chosen your "Media Type" in HotBot, go back up toward the top of that page and provide the topic of your search.   Lycos allows you to search for Web pages that have sound or pictures.

- Pictures or Sounds
- 3-D or Animation

Where Am I?

The Awesome Library leaves a path for you to follow.   Near the top of each page in the Awesome Library you are told where you are.   For example, "Home > Science > Biology > Insects" means that you started in the subject of "Science," then you selected "Biology," and within that you chose "Insects."   To get back to where you were earlier, select the word "Back" (or an arrow pointing left) on the toolbar that most of the Web browsers have at the top of each page.

Find the areas organized just for you, such as "Teachers" or "Students," at the bottom of each page.   The Home page has a general directory that others, including "Principals," may find most useful.

Getting There Faster on the Internet

Before you start your search, try some of the steps that seasoned "surfers" use to increase speed.   Try the article Speed Tips.

Site Not Available

Messages like "Not Found," "Error," or "No DNS Entry" sometimes mean that repairs or updates are being made to the site and you can try again later.   However, the problem may be that the site has moved without a forwarding address or it has become inactive.   If you need to find a site that has moved, you have several choices:

Method 1:   The easiest method to search for a moved site is to delete the last section of the Internet address after the slash.   For example, if the address is: "http://www.mywebsite.org/images/students.html" then delete "students.html."   See if the page you are trying to find was reorganized into another location locally.

Method 2:   You may find a moved site by conducting a search for all of the Web pages provided under the remaining address or URL.   Go to HotBot;   it is available throughout this library as the "Media" Library in "Search."   Change "brief descriptions" to "URLs only."  

Method 3:   You can, of course, conduct a word search for the title of the resource by using Excite or one of the other large Web libraries.   This could take a long time, depending upon how unique the title is.

Method 4:   If the above methods fail, you may be able to get the email address and phone number of the owners of the domain name and find out where they relocated the information.   The domain name is what comes after "www" and before the first slash in the Internet address.   To find information on the owners of the domain name, use Whois to conduct a search.

The Surf Guru provides additional detail on error messages and what you can do about them.

Exploration of the World Wide Web can be a great adventure if a few reasonable precautions are taken.   Have a safe and pleasant journey.

If you have suggestions or comments, please contact us by selecting the email address below.