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
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Google - Cutting-edge searcher with high relevance.
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AltaVista - Allows phrase searching with " " and + for required terms.
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Ask - Search can be made using natural language.
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Best Information on the Net - Comprehensive site by St. Ambrose University librarians.
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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.
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Invisible Web
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*Invisible Web: What it is, Why it exists, How to find it...
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Librarians' Index to the Internet - Arranged by subject with annotations.*
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Multnomah County Public Library Homework Center - Compilation of sites for history, science, social sciences, literature, and other areas that are common student paper topics.
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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.
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WebCrawler - Comprehensive site.
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WWW Virtual Library - Quality sites maintained by worldwide experts.
Evaluating Web Sites
Metasearchers
Sites describing search engines, directories, and portals