Make an appointment with a CCC librarian.
It is often more effective to search for information on the Internet (meaning freely accessible websites not restricted behind paywalls) when you are looking for:
As Google embraces AI, its search functionality changes. Go here for Google and AI updates (tried and tested by your human librarian friends).
Select each Google-specific strategy below to learn how to use it and why it is helpful.
AI Overview generates an overview of the topic you searched for. Overviews appear at the top of the search screen; search results appear underneath. The overviews provide a chatbot-like experience that includes links to learn more.
There are advantages and drawbacks to using AI-driven search; we invite you to talk through the implications with your instructors or your friendly CCC librarian.
(Screenshot taken in May 2025. Note the information it links you to is one year old ... ancient in AI years!)
Coming later in 2025: Deep Search.
AI Mode is a version of Google that uses "Gemini 2.5’s advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities" to interpret and offer information and answers to your questions, keywords, uploaded images, and more (Google).
Access AI Mode under the Google search bar.
A Google search engine that looks for scholarly material indexed online (books, articles, dissertations, technical reports). To get free full text, link your Google Scholar account to CCC Library.