For Internet searching, select below. Some sites use a hierarchy where one chooses from pre-selected categories; some are harvesters that let the user use search terms or natural language; and some are meta-search engines that invoke a search in several search engines.
Selected search engines, subject directories and gateways
- Google - Cutting-edge searcher with high relevance.
- AltaVista - Allows phrase searching with " " and + for required terms.
- Ask - Search can be made using natural language.
- Best Information on the Net - Comprehensive site by St. Ambrose University librarians.
- Internet Public Library - Quality sites with annotations selected by librarians. Reference Center is arranged by subject categories. IPL has a large Ready Reference Collection and includes pathfinders on how to research an area, such as literary criticism.
- Invisible Web
- *Invisible Web: What it is, Why it exists, How to find it...
- Librarian's Index to the Internet - Arranged by subject with annotations.*
- Multnomah County Public Library Homework Center - Compilation of sites for history, science, social sciences, literature, and other areas that are common student paper topics.
- Voice of the Shuttle: Web Page for Humanities Research - Comprehensive reference site with language, literature, encyclopedias, biographies, critical thinking, style and grammar guides, evaluation, etc.
- WebCrawler - Comprehensive site.
- Web Search Engines and Directories from Yahoo! - Input search "search engines and directories". Choose "Searching the Web > Search Engines and Directories". Extensive list with annotations.
- WWW Virtual Library - Quality sites maintained by worldwide experts.
- Yahoo! - One of the best-known.
Evaluating Web Sites
Evaluating Web Sites (BRCC)(brief)
Evaluating Sources of Information (JMU)
(Choose Module 6)
Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask (Berkeley)(thorough)
Surfing the Cyber Library - Search the Web (Video with Audio for Researching & Evaluating Web Information)
Web Search Basics
Metasearchers
Sites describing search engines, directories, and portals