WWW Resources

Search Engines & Internet Indexes

[Meta-Search Engines] [Search-Engine Comparisons] [Internet Indexes ]

A search engine is a tool used to search the Internet. Users can search for resources about a particular topic, or to locate a particular Web site. To search for specific types of information, please link to the Special Search Engines page.
Our Library Guide 23 Is This Web Site Useful for My Research? provides you with information on how to evaluate a web site.

• Alta Vista
  This is a very powerful search engine. Best used for conducting research where you do not know of any sites on the subject. This site returns many hits, some relevant, some not so relavant. Alta Vista also includes useful tools, such as a translator.
• Ask Jeeves
  This search engine allows you to phrase your search as a question. This is a very limited search tool. This service should be used when you need a quick answer to an easy question and only need a few sites on the subject.
• Excite!
  A useful search engine allowing you to enter your search into a simple form.
• Google
  One of the favorite search engines of our local librarians. Uses unique, "next-generation" technology to deliver relevant results based on the linking structure of the web.
• Overture.com
  Previously called GoTo.com.
• Hotbot
  A search engine from WIRED magazine. This service allows for many different ways to search including Boolean searching, search for all words, relevance ranking, etc.
• Go.com
  One of the best search engines available. This service returns many results and ranks them on a scale, with the most relevant searches appearing first.
• Lycos
  One of the first Internet search engines. This site includes categories, a "best of" service, and the ability to search for pictures.
• Nothern Light
  A newer search engine which also offers a periodical database.
• Snap
  A new search engine offered by NBC.
• Webcrawler
  This is one of the oldest search engines, which is now owned by Excite. This site is most effective when searching for a narrow topic that can be searched as a word or a phrase, rather than a search expression.
• Yahoo!
  An Index of Internet sites, rather than a search engine. Yahoo is best used when you are looking for a particular site but do not the URL for the site.

Meta-Search Engines

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The following sites search put your search through many different search engines at once.

• dogpile
• Search.com
• Metacrawler
• islueth

Search Engine Comparisons

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These sites give comparisons, descriptions and reviews of various search engines.

• The Search Engines Guide
  A great resource, frequently updated, from the Kansas City Public Library.
• Search Engine Showdown
  A comprehensive guide to using search engines and other Internet tools.

Internet Indexes

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These sites are Internet Indexes, useful and reliable sites compiled by librarians and/or scholars.

• The IPL
  The Internet Public Library. Like a library, you can search by subject.
• lii.org
  Librarians' index to the Internet. Compiled by Karen Schneider, this is a wealth of authoritative information.
• refdesk.com
  Reference Desk on the web. A cluttered main page, but if it's not there, it probably doesn't exist!
• firstfind.info
  A collection of websites that provide basic information about a wide range of topics - like a library!

Updated by IW 11/05