How to find out anything From extreme Google searches to scouring government documents, a guide to uncovering anything about everyone and everything

Review by Choice Review

Law librarian MacLeod gives an overview of tools available to researchers for finding factual information and provides tips on how to use these tools effectively. For instance, he offers several important search tips for Google users; explains the importance of the use of special collections, reference portals, and reference resources in libraries; and discusses the process of locating associations and ways of mining information from them, along with locating public and private records of individuals, and locating company and business records. Chapter 3 presents Google search strategies that probably are unfamiliar to most people. Readers should note that chapter 1 focuses only on the importance of efficiently locating available information, neglecting other areas of the research process such as research analysis and reporting research findings. This is a very useful how-to guide that will lose its value over time with the evolution of presently available technologies and information resources, e.g., Google, LexisNexis Academic (CH, Jun'08, 45-5305), special collections in libraries, and people-finder websites. For now, this book will be a valuable resource for students and researchers, especially in journalism, information science, and law. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. A. Dasgupta York College

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

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Review by Booklist Review

Despite a subtitle that makes it sound like The Stalker's Bible, this is a very useful, comprehensive book that should appeal to writers, researchers, and general-interest readers alike. Author MacLeod, a law librarian, starts with a simple premise: you can't find out everything you need just by looking it up on Google. Sometimes, if you're looking for accurate answers to questions and not just obscure questions either you need to widen your online search to subject-specific databases and reliable websites, and sometimes you might even need to consult an actual paper-and-covers book. But MacLeod doesn't just steer us in the right direction for making queries; he also shows us how to craft an answerable question (not as easy as it might sound), how to determine the reliability of a source (also not as easy as it sounds), and how to refine an online search to guarantee maximum results. Surprisingly lively, given its potentially dry-as-dust subject matter, this volume will find a home in both circulating and reference collections.--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Library Journal Review

Do you know where you would find the latest report examining gang trends or threats in the United States? Could you find crime statistics for your region? Can you access Form 990 and research the validity of your favorite charitable organization? Need to find a database to look up toll-free numbers? MacLeod (law librarian; The Internet Guide for the Legal Researcher) shares wisdom and skills that will aid research, save time, and make navigation more proficient. He argues that while Google is a "great place to start" research, it is "not the end" of successful information gathering. He emphasizes that although Google is a powerful tool used by millions, researchers must be aware of its limitations, including blind spots, and be mindful of the need to evaluate findings critically. The book takes a commonsense approach, with chapters ranging from "How To Think Like a Researcher," "The Ins and Outs of Google," and "Researching the Public Record." It also offers advice for limiting scope, determining accuracy, and recognizing reliable sources. Chapters close with lists of "Sites and Sources Mentioned in This Chapter," which offer links that support the text as well as provide readers with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of specific topics. A helpful index completes the presentation. VERDICT This clearly presented title written for nonspecialists can be profitably used by classroom teachers and media specialists. Recommended for high school and college students and public and academic libraries.-Bobbie Wrinkle, McCracken Cty. P.L., Paducah, KY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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