WHAT:  Becoming a Great Web Searcher.   Rita Vine is Canada’s best-known Internet search trainer. She is the co-founder of Workingfaster.com, which helps professionals break through the clutter of the Internet and access information that matters. Rita has been a professional librarian for over 20 years, and has held positions at the University of Calgary and University of Toronto libraries. She is also the lead selector of the Search Portfolio, a web site selection service that help libraries deliver the best of the free web to their staff and users. Rita is a sought-after keynote and conference speaker and continues to bring her unique brand of energy, humor and commitment to the topic of web research.

What differentiates a great web searcher from a merely good one? One of the biggest challenges in web searching is moving from being good to great. This Virtual Learning experience is designed to introduce you to the skills you need to do just that.

During the seminar, Rita will cover some of the most important lessons she has learned about web searching:

• Great web searchers understand the business models of commercial search engines and meta-search tools. Learn the basics of how commercial search tools (yes, even Google) hype their product to bring your eyeballs to sites and earn their revenue.
  
• Great web searchers understand when to use search engines and when to avoid them. Learn Rita’s rules for when to stop using search engines and try something else.
  
• Great web searchers know that you search different types of tools in different ways. Discover tips to transform your search ideas into queries and strategies best suited for the search tool you are using.
• Great web searchers know that not all advanced features of search engines are useful. Discover the most important advanced search engine features for expert searchers.
  
• Great web searchers don’t believe everything they read about web searching. Learn who to trust when it comes to finding out more about search engines and search tools.