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Lesson 2Directories create catalogs
ObjectiveDirectories are created and organized.

Directories create Catalogs

Directories attempt to create relatively comprehensive catalogs of Web documents, organized by hierarchical categories. They start by listing several very broad categories and then divide these groupings into more specific categories. Directories tend to be most useful when you are uncertain of exactly the information you are looking for, but have an idea of a general category it may fall under.
Working down through hierarchical categories is more time consuming than typing keywords into a search form, but your results are likely to be more relevant the first time through (although smaller in number). This is because people actually examine the Web sites and determine how to categorize them for the directory. LookSmart, for example, uses over 200 editors, has in excess of 60,000 categories, and contains over 1 million links in its database. The following series of images illustrates my attempt to find a map of Australia by selecting categories, first with Yahoo! and then with About.com.

Using directory categories to find Australia
1) Starting out on the Yahoo Main page, I select Countries underneath the regional category in the hopes that I could select Australia
1) Starting out on the Yahoo Main page, I select Countries underneath the regional category in the hopes that I could select Australia, and then Maps. I might also have started with Reference, and looked for a Maps category and then for Australia. Often in directory categories, there will be more than one way to reach a specific topic.

2) From the list of Countries select Australia, noting that there were about 57,000 individual references in this directory.
2) From the list of Countries select Australia, noting that there were about 57,000 individual references in this directory.

3) On the next screen, I looked for a Maps category, but did not see one.
3) On the next screen, I looked for a Maps category, but did not see one. I thought the Reference would be the closest of the ones presented, so I selected it.Remeber a couple of screens ago that could begun with Reference.

4) I have a map categories to select and I do select it
4) I have a map categories to select and I do select it. To this point, my trail has been Regional > Counteries > Australia > Reference > Maps

5) From the list of maps presented, select the Territorial Map of Australia.
5) From the list of maps presented, select the Territorial Map of Australia.Until I reached this point, I really did not know how many maps of what level of detail I would bge able to choose among.Another directory may have more or fewer maps of a particular country or region.

6) Here is the map. Next, I will try another popular directory, maps.google.com to see if the process is any easier.
6) Here is the map. Next, I will try another popular directory, maps.google.com to see if the process is any easier.

7) Start out on the about.com, I note that the categoires are different from Yahoo.
7) Start out on the about.com, I note that the categoires are different from Yahoo.

8) Next screen displays its categories in two columns at the left of the screen.
8) Next screen displays its categories in two columns at the left of the screen.

9) Next screen features articles on Australia down the center of the page, but I look down the subject column along the left side.
9) Next screen features articles on Australia down the center of the page, but I look down the subject column along the left side.

10) Australia maps section has a wider offering of maps that incldue more detailed cityh and territory maps.
10) Australia maps section has a wider offering of maps that incldue more detailed cityh and territory maps.

11) Another image for the map of Australia.
11) Another image for the map of Australia.


Directories have Limitations

Before you consider using only directories for your searching, you should know that directories have two limitations, size and category naming.
Directories have a couple of disadvantages compared to search engines:
  1. Directories are more limited in the portion of the Web that they're actually able to categorize, because all of that work is performed by people, who, unlike programs, need to sleep, eat, and spend time away from their computers.
  2. Developing a classification schematic for the entire base of human knowledge is a fairly daunting, and subjective, task.
    There is no standardization between different Web directories' categories. One may have a category for "Daily Living" that addresses health issues, whereas another may have a section dedicated solely to "Healthcare." If your search strategy is to work your way through a directory's categories, it may be easier to stick with one directory once you get a feeling for how it categorizes information. This will save you time when you are looking for information, because, if you are familiar with how a specific directory categorizes information, you'll know where to look rather than spending time trying to figure out in which category it might be.

Directories are an important part of a search strategy, but they are not the only part. You will probably find yourself using both directories and search engines, depending on how much you already know about the topic you are searching for.

Directory Categories - Exercise

Click the Exercise link below to practice finding information through two Directories
Directory Categories - Exercise

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