Book Review: The Invisible Web: Uncovering Information Sources Search Engines Can't See
Gregory J. Wool · Library Resources and Technical Services · 2002
The popularity of Internet search engines belies their weaknesses as tools for information discovery; using one is like panning for gold, combing through a scoopful of wet sand for a few valuable nuggets.While the unmanageable size and bewildering variety of search results are obvious to-and taken in stride by-most search-engine users, the fact that the large preponderance of Web-based content is beyond the reach of the Internet search services is much less apparent and unsuspected by many.This is the phenomenon of the invisible Web, which experienced searchers and webmasters Chris Sherman and Gary Price seek not only to make us more aware of, but also to equip us to use effectively.In a nutshell, this book sets out to do three things: (1) define the invisible Web; (2) show the would-be searcher how to access the information it contains; (3) present a "starter's kit" collection of representative invisible Web resources.For the most part, Sherman and Price handle the first two tasks very well indeed.Chapters 1 through 8 are a model of pedagogical technique.The