The problem addressed was that many college students face difficulty in retrieving relevant documents that satisfy their academic needs from web-based systems and digital libraries. The study purpose was to determine strategies that college students could employ to increase the relevance of materials retrieved via online search systems. The conceptual framework for this study consists of three main perspectives: (a) web's structures and processes, (b) Information seeker's needs and behaviors, and (c) Information-seeking components. To explore these strategies, Zoom interviews were conducted with nine college students recruited using LinkedIn to acquire data from the participants. The findings of this study showed that many of the students lacked a well-developed research skills and plan. The findings indicated that college students rely on Google to begin their searches. Also, few college students employ advanced search techniques to find the content they need for their assignments, while most rely on basic search techniques. College students are more likely to utilize Google Scholar, but they prefer YouTube, Wikipedia, Google Books, Google Images, and other websites and online learning platforms. The study's findings and recommendations for further research emphasize information-seeking training for college students. A practical implication of this study is that library Information Retrieval (IR) systems have Google-like search capabilities. As online resources increase, college students may use online libraries less. Training students in appropriate search strategies can help bridge the gap between Web-based and online library systems. Students can use both systems more efficiently. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]