LIBRARY >>
WEB SEARCH

• Selected Search Engines
• Evaluating Web Sites
• Metasearchers
• Search Engine Guides

Web Search

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...
• Librarians' 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.
• WWW Virtual Library - Quality sites maintained by worldwide experts.

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 (Pitt)(video for researching & evaluating Web info)

Metasearchers 

• Search.com - Metasearch more than 800 specialized engines.
• HotBot - Joint site with Lycos, Google, and Ask Jeeves.
• Metacrawler: Search the Search Engines.
• 80 Plus Search Engines & Directories. 

Sites describing search engines, directories, and portals 

• Best Search Tools Chart - (Infopeople)
• JNet's Search Engine Guide - Detailed overview of Google! features, new generation tools, and other evaluations.
• Recommended General Subject Directories:  Table of Features - (Berkeley)
• Search Engine Watch - Listings of best search engines, specialty search engines, and metacrawlers, with evaluations and tips for searching.
• Search Engine Showdown - Features, analysis, strategies, recent changes.