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How to Find What You Really Want: A Selective List of Searching Tools
Two basic categories exist for search tools: search engines that make an effort to capture and index every single word on the web, and directories that librarians or cybrarians (real humans) have created to be similar to -- and act more like -- descriptive catalog cards. Some search engines search only on characters in the sites' address, while others search across the web pages' full text.
The following are my favorite four research search engines, ranked in order. If you can’t find what you want here, go to Altavista.
--Judith Ziegler, Crozer-Chester Medical Center Library Director.
- Google #1
- Why is google at the top of my list?
Google ranks hits based on the number of times that site has been chosen to be linked to other sites. The ultimate filter.
- About.com #2
- Might be just another directory, but wait- 700 people have taken on the responsibility of a segment of the 18 subcategories. They are paid by the number of times their sites receive a hit.
- All the Web #3
- A fast search engine that gives you the most complete search right now. A don’t miss!
Yahoo #4
Find news, pictures, video, and audio.
End of my favorites.
Following are additional search engines you may find useful.
Ask Jeeves
Have a Question? Ask Jeeves is a human-powered search service that aims to direct you to the exact page that answers your question. If it fails to find a match within its own database, then it will provide matching web pages from various search engines.
Ask Jeeves for Kids
Do your kids have a Question you can't answer? Ask Jeeves.
Dogpile
Not a homepage for pets, but a versatile search engine that simultaneously queries 13 websearch engines, 6 usenet sources, and 2 FTP archives.
Librarians' Index
Librarians' Index on the Internet.
LookSmart
LookSmart is a human-compiled directory of web sites. Good reviews.
The Spider's Apprentice
This is not a search engine, but a web site with extensive, detailed information to help you develop your searching technique. Includes ratings and in-depth analyses of the popular search engines, as well as an action page that can link you to several of them. This information is included with permission from Linda Barlow, who authored and maintains the site for Monash Information Services.
WebCrawler
WebCrawler has the smallest index of any major search engine on the web -- think of it as Excite Lite. The small index means WebCrawler is not the place to go when seeking obscure or unusual material. However, some people may feel that by having indexed fewer pages, WebCrawler provides less overwhelming results in response to general questions.
World Wide Arts Resources
"The largest gateway to the arts!"
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