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The "visible web" is what you see in the results pages from general web search engines like GOOGLE. The "Hidden Web" is what you cannot retrieve using search engines like GOOGLE. The Hidden Web makes up most of the information available on the internet today and consists of high quality and scholarly information in thousands of specialized searchable databases (like Medical databases, Patent databases, Government databases, Scientific databases, Legal databases, Dictionaries, thesauri, etc., Knowledge databases, Product catalogs and library catalogs).
The concept is simple, really, and one that is almost second nature to researchers using such services as ProQuest, EbscoHOST or ScienceDirect. Millions of documents exist online in thousands of databases, but before a search for a needed document can begin, the researcher must choose the appropriate database to search through. The tough part is selecting the right database. Tools are being developed that index the hidden
web.
Use Google and other search engines to locate searchable databases by searching a subject term and the word "database". If the database uses the word database in its own pages, you are likely to find it in Google. The word "database" is also useful in searching a topic in the Yahoo! directory, because Yahoo! sometimes uses the term to describe searchable databases in its listings.
Web sites are also being developed to index the Hidden Web.
Here are a few of the best: OIAster - reveals digital Materials previously "hidden" from users. There aren't any dead ends. Users will not be retrieving merely information (metadata) about Materials -- they will have access to the real things. For instance, instead of just the catalog records of a slide collection of Van Gogh's works, users will be able to view images of the actual works. The service will provide one-stop "shopping" for users interested in useful digital Materials. Digital Materials will be easily findable and viewable. INFOMINE - a virtual library of Internet Materials relevant to faculty, students, and research staff at the university level. It contains useful Internet Materials such as databases, electronic journals, electronic books, bulletin boards, mailing lists, online library card catalogs, articles, directories of researchers, and many other types of information. CompletePlanet - a deep web directory. CompletePlanet is an online directory which links to over 70,000 databases available on the web. LII.org - search for databases (Librarians Index to the Internet) IncyWincy - an invisible web search engine |
