Just as we do for a conventional library, we need to develop a strategy for extracting information from online resources. In a library, we will sometimes browse the appropriate shelf, for general or introductory material on a subject. Other times, we'll head straight for the library catalogue, to look up a particular book. And we may also head for the enquiry desk, to ask about the availability of resources or to find how particular material may have been catalogued.

On the web, we need to have the same variety of strategies for the different types of search we need to carry out. Search engines are usually just one component of this strategy, which we develop over time through experience and experimentation, and which will be different for each of us.