Anyone approaching business research today needs to understand the wealth of information available on the deep, invisible web. To effectively and efficiently find data on companies, industries, markets, and management, you should consult specialized search engines as well as general search engines; utilize alternative formats such as directories, groups, portals, images, blogs, feeds, and statistical files; and consider fee-based tools in addition to the free web. This seminar, taught by an experienced business searcher, will concentrate on resources but will also include practical techniques for using these resources. 

Web 2.0, the collaborative web, views the web as platform, values user participation, and invites transparency. If you’ve read about various 2.0 technologies, such as podcasts, wikis, mashups, blogs, microblogs, photo sharing, web-based software, and social networking tools, but have been hesitant to more fully use them, this half-day, hands-on session will dispel your fears and have you up to speed in no time. Learn how to effectively use Web 2.0 technologies and become not just an observer, but a full participant to effectively exploit its possibilities. 

Public records contain important information, such as property ownership, professional licenses, bankruptcies, marriages/divorces, and court judgments. The adage, "Change is the only constant," has never been more applicable to this field of research. Courts and government agencies continue to grapple with the privacy consequences of making public records available online. Moreover, it has always been the case that what is public record in one jurisdiction may not be in another. This workshop examines various sources, strategies, and finding tools for conducting public records research online. It briefly introduces basic concepts, and then examines select newer databases and search tools.

Online tutorials used to be extremely time-intensive to create. New tools make it quick and easy to create and post online videos to teach web searching and demonstrate the path from a search engine to an answer.  Learn to share actual screen activity along with audio or textual commentary using commercial software such as Camtasia Studio or one of the growing number of free programs such as Jing, Webinaria, Wink, and uTIPu. Join a long-time web search trainer, author of Teaching Web Search Skills, and LibCasting blogger in exploring new technologies that help in teaching web searching.