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INFOsearch
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What is INFOsearch?
How can I narrow my search for
better results?
If I don't want to use on of the Grade Bands searches, can
I search the Core Collection?
Is the entire INFOhio Core Collection of
Electronic Resources included in INFOsearch?
What resources are currently searchable with
INFOsearch?
What resources are currently NOT
searchable via INFOsearch?
Can I still search individual resources as in
the past?
Can I search by author, title or subject as well as
keyword?
Are the results listed by relevance?
 What do I do
if I have a technical problem using INFOsearch?
Why is INFOhio providing INFOsearch?
How long will we have access to INFOsearch?
If you don't find the information you are looking for here, please
e-mail your question to
webmaster@infohio.org.
What is INFOsearch?
INFOsearch allows users to search more than one part of INFOhio's Core
Collection of Electronic Resources at the same time. For example, a
Grades 6-8 INFOsearch general search
for space shuttle may deliver results from
Science Online, World Book encyclopedia and
SIRS Discoverer.
Other searches will deliver other results, depending on the search type or
category you choose. |
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Can I still search individual resources as in the past?
Sure. You are not required to use INFOsearch, even though we think it will
help most users. If you are familiar with a resource and its searching
strategies, you can click on its button on the K-12 INFOsearch
page or its link in the left menu of Core Collection pages. Some searches
will always work better in the native resource, rather than in INFOsearch. |
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Can I search by author, title or subject as well as keyword?
Keyword searching usually works best in INFOsearch. Other search types are often not uniform or even available in
all of the original resources. While the option is provided to conduct an
author, title and/or subject INFOsearch, if the native database does not
provide that type of search, you will not get results. |
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Are the results listed by relevance?
The default setting is to sort the result list by fastest first. The first
resource that can bring results fastest gets displayed first. Other sort
options can be selected (relevance, author, etc.). But, if the
original resource does not provide a particular sorting option, then you will
be eliminating it from your INFOsearch results. |
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What do I do if I have a technical problem using
INFOsearch? |
For Students and Parents |
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First, check to make sure you have access to the
Internet. Try a few URLs from different sites to make sure you are
connected. |
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Then, check individual Core Collection resources; if
they work, the problem is more likely with INFOsearch, rather than
the resources. (To check problems with individual Core Collection
resources, visit
/ER/FAQ.html#OneDoesntWork.) |
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By adjusting personal firewalls, many home users of
INFOhio report they solve access problems with the Core Collection. |
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If nothing you try allows you to use INFOsearch,
please e-mail
webmaster@infohio.org to describe your situation and what you
have tried. INFOhio will attempt to reply within three business
days. |
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For Library Media Staff |
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If you are sure the problem is not with your
Internet connection or with the state network, report the problem to
your district technology coordinator. Make sure he/she opens ports
8000 and 9797 on the district’s server. |
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If nothing you try solves the problem with
INFOsearch, please submit a Service Desk ticket for your ITC
provider that describes your situation and what you have tried.
Refer to step 9 of
/ER/FAQ.html#OneDoesntWork for specific
instructions. |
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For Technology Coordinators |
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Ensure that port 8000 is open on your
network for both TCP and UDP. This port may need to be opened at
district or ITC firewalls to allow searches to take place. |
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Further, port 9797 must be open in order
to view articles. |
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IP address 66.114.0.13 should be
exempted from caching, either at the district or ITC. |
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Also, check that Internet service has
not been interrupted to the building or specific computers. |
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If nothing you try solves the problem
with INFOsearch, please submit a Service Desk ticket for your ITC
provider that describes your situation and what you have tried.
Refer to step 9 of
/ER/FAQ.html#OneDoesntWork for specific
instructions. |
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Why is INFOhio providing INFOsearch?
We want to make the searching process as easy as possible, realizing that
using high quality information is more important than finding lots of
stuff that may not be useful. INFOhio's Core Collection of Electronic
Resources contains librarian recommended and teacher approved resources that
support Ohio's Academic Content Standards and many other topics of interest
to users. INFOsearch's single search box will help find the right
information for the right user at the right time! |
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How long will we have access to INFOsearch?
INFOsearch will be available to Ohio’s K-12 community for the duration of
the 2007-2008 school year. We will be evaluating its use and end-user feedback
to determine if this is a product/service the K-12 community would like to
continue. During 2007-2008, INFOhio will determine how much INFOsearch
will cost and how it will be funded. |
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