TWU Libraries

So What Should You Use?

What resources you need to use depends on what kinds of information you are looking for.

• You need information about a product called BeautiControl.
  The Internet is a great source for product information.  You can find product pages and you often find personal opinions and reviews of specific products.
• You need to find the definition of the word "aggravation."
  The easiest solution might be to use a dictionary online.
  Instead, you might try to search the web. When you type the word "aggravation" in your favorite search engine you find everything from the game "aggravation" to a site called Aggravation of Aggregation. You find everything EXCEPT what you want.   A dictionary is your best source for this information.
• You need a list of the major military installations in Texas.  
  You can find this easily and quickly in the Texas Almanac which is available in print and online, but if you choose to do a general internet search, you may have to search through many pages of internet links to find the information you need.
• You need a journal article about sign language in elementary schools.
  This is easily found using either print or electronic indexes (databases), but if you are doing a general search on the Internet, you may have to wade through hundreds of pages before you actually find a journal article.  
• You are planning a vacation to Hawaii.  
  An Internet search will result in web pages about Hawaii, but you can make air, hotel, and dining reservations, get maps, and review travel brochures easily and quickly.