Internet search and the searchers: what they know, what they really know, how they do it and how we can help them do it better

Information seeking has changed for the X and Y Generations, whom primarily use Internet search engines rather than more traditional resources. What they learn about search engines and how they work is often poor, but through previous successes doing simple searches, they have developed false confidence in their tool to the exclusion of all others. When these students can’t retrieve the information they need, they seek help in academic libraries where the academic librarians must adopt new ways to help and educate them in information literacy. How these users think and search is explained and then corresponding 'unlearning' and solutions are offered to meet their particular educational requirements and technological skills.