The development of the Internet, and specifically the World Wide Web, a powerful tool for creating, distributing, and accessing information resources, has been revolutionary. Not everything is available on the web, however, and much of the more authoritative, reliable information that can be accessed via the web is restricted to paying customers or located within databases and generally hidden from web search engines. Web-based information that must be purchased or that is subscription-based is part of what is often called the proprietary or restricted web. Information located within databases, which can only be retrieved with specific searches in those databases, usually is referred to as the hidden, invisible, or deep web. Databases may be either subscription-based or free, public-access resources.

Class assignments and sophisticated information needs that require the use of scholarly resources rarely can be satisfied by the free web alone. Find subscription-based resources and selected public-access databases on the library's Research a Topic webpages. Find traditional library materials, as well as links to many electronic resources, through the Library Catalog. See also the Web Guides and Search Engines tabs above for tips on finding free web-based information.