Internet Search Engines and Directories
Search Engines- Officially, the term search engine refers to the software that searches an index and returns matches. The term is often used generically to describe both true search engines, and search directories. Search engines utilize "spiders"to search and internet and index appropriate web sites. Unlike search directories, evaluation is left entirely to the computer.
Google [http://www.google.com]
Google indexes more web pages than any other search engine. Try the "I'm Feeling Lucky"button to retrieve the first return to your query. Also contains a powerful image search feature. Highly recommended!
Alltheweb (AKA FAST) [http://www.alltheweb.com]
Alltheweb boasts a search database of over 2 billion web pages, and it is widely regarded as the fastest search utility. Its advanced search features make it simple to limit searches or focus on multimedia.
ASK.com [http://search.ask.com]
In addition to being a large Search Engine, ASK's unique features include spelling correction, suggested alternate searches, and a list of "expert"resource links. Search results are ranked by "Subject-Specific Popularity"i.e., they are based on the number of same-subject pages that reference it.
AltaVista [http://www.altavista.com]
AltaVista is the second most inclusive search engine on the Internet. Strong returns, intricate searching capabilities, and a host of additional features make AltaVista a great search engine for academic research topics.
Excite [http://www.excite.com]
Excite indexes sites by keyword and by concept, which means it will find documents related to the idea of your search. You can also search for sites like ones you've already found.
Looksmart [http://www.looksmart.com]
Clusty Clusty organizes search results into catagories, so you can see web results that are alike.
The Deep Web
The Deep Web (or Invisible Web) refers to whole databases of resources--these include data like articles, statistics and images--that are not individually indexed by search engines. This means that while you might be able to find the database using a search engine, you won't successfully find its contents unless you search it. Whole databases are added to the Internet often; these resources will help you find a deep web resource that meets your needs.
University at Albany tutorial, tips and resources [http://library.albany.edu/internet/deepweb.html]
Complete Planet. CP uses a specially-designed "crawler" to search for new databases. Resources are organized into a subject directory. Locate a resource on your subject, then search it for more "complete" information.
[http://aip.completplanet.com]
Resource Shelf. Not a deep-web engine, really, but a regularly-updated, ongoing list of web resources compiled by Gary Price.
[http://www.resourceshelf.com]
Select US Government Resources
Fedworld: A Program of the US Dept. of Commerce. Fedworld is a gateway to federal websites, reports, court decisions, jobs and more. Use one or more government-specific search tools, like
FirstGov or , a gateway to science & technology resources.
Locating blogs
Blogs, or Weblogs, are immensely popular. They are personal-community publishing events, rather than websites, but they are arranged chronologically, rather than by content. Most blogs are also distinguished by encouraging readers to post ("comment") on the site's content. Readers can also be advised of new and updated content by subcribing via email or via RSS feeds. While search engines like Google can locate blogs (include the word "blog" in your topic search), blog engines locate individual postings especially well.
Technorati [http://www.technorati.com]
Intelliseek's BlogPulse [http://www.blogpulse.com]
RocketNews--Locate Blog posts and news items from the last 30 days. [http://www.rocketnews.com/web/index.jsp]
Specialized tools
A number of search engines (Google, Alta Vista, etc.) enable you to search for specific file formats, like .pdf, News reports, or media types, like mp3, streaming audio/video or other multimedia. Check the Avanced Search features of your favorite tool. Below are a few search tools dedicated to locating multimedia.
SingingFish: locate audio and video clips.
Beaucoup [news]media search
Search Directories - Directories such as Yahoo depend on human selection for its listings. A person may submit a short description of their site to the directory, or directory editors may select a site on their own. A search directory query looks for matches only in the sites selected by the directory.
Yahoo is a good starting point for beginning users, or to browse the Web. It is a subject-based web directory, with subdivisions in each area. You can search all of Yahoo, or you can search in a specific subject area. Proceed with your search by connecting to sites through the subdivisions.
LII - Librarians' Index to the Internet [http://www.lii.org]
The Librarians' Index to the Internet is a searchable, annotated subject directory of more than 5,300 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users of public libraries. It's meant to be used by both librarians and non-librarians as a reliable and efficient guide to described and evaluated Internet resources.
MetaSearch Engines - Metasearch engines search multiple search engines and/or directories with a single query.
Dogpile [http://www.dogpile.com]
Perhaps the best known of the meta engines, Dogpile is a great first choice search tool. Recent refinements allow you to save search preferences, like which search engines Dogpile should search.
MetaCrawler [http://www.metacrawler.com]
MetaCrawler is run by Go2Net, Inc. MetaCrawler is a very useful meta search engine that weighs results according to which search engine returns them, then ranks the results so the most relevant appear at the top of the list.
SavvySearch [http://www.savvysearch.com] (now c/net Search)
SavvySearch is a simple meta search engine that accesses around a dozen different search engines and returns the results. SavvySearch offers a unique menu of topics, as well as search forms in over 25 languages.
Bookmark Resources [Note: these are not administered by STL or SUNY New Paltz. Use these tools at your own risk]
Having trouble recording what you find on the internet? A Bookmarking program may help. Most bookmarking programs are free, enable you to record your favorite sites, and share them with friends via email or through e-announcements. Unlike the Bookmarks that are on your browser, you can visit the ones you make with a Bookmark program by logging into any
computer. Nothing to email, nothing to import. You can even annotate the links you save.
Last revised:July 2006 sjm
Copyright © 1999 Sojourner Truth Library
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