Information is scattered, with organization varying among providers. Authority Documents have been through an editorial review process by a pub lisher protecting its reputation for ac curacy. Web sites may be posted by anyone, and rarely come under the same scrutiny as pub lished documents. Help Online databases provide context-sensitive help screens to assist users in efficient searching. You're on your own in figuring out how many web sites are organ ized.
Response time is highly variable.
When to use the Web Searching the web can be an effective way to find an expert on a specific topic. Many scholars post information to professional or academic sites, and provide means for interactive communication. The web is also the most efficient way to retrieve information from many federal agencies. In fact, many government documents are now published only in electronic form. Look for sites with a domain ending in .gov to focus in on government resources.