About the Library

Search Engines

Search engines are programs that explore and compile information about the World Wide Web. You can use them to locate sites on the Internet when you don't know the URLs. Since each search engine has its own peculiarities of search commands and content, read the help files they provide to learn their particular searching techniques.

1Clic.com - Search by keyword, phrases, or category
All the Web - Basic and advanced search capabilities available
Ask.com - Provides results, refinement, and resources
;Canada.com - Canadian search engine
CapitalSearch.ca - Canadian search engine
Ditto.com - Image search engine
Excite - Searches by keyword and concept, ideas closely related to the words in your query. Results grouped by site
Google - Search pages are ranked based on the number of other pages linking to it. Results contain an excerpt of the text that matches your query. Excellent for simple searches
HotBot - Use two or three key search terms; advanced search available
iLOR: Internet Lore - Option menu provides useful and easier ways to explore results that are relevant to your search and ignore the ones that are not
Internet.com - E-business and internet search capability
Lycos - Basic search allows double quotes to denote a phrase, + to include, and - to exclude
Maple Square - Canadian search engine
Mundo Latino - Spanish search engine
Northern Light - Simple and power search options available. Organizes results into custom search folders
Search Engine Colossus - International directory of search engines
Search Engines and Web Directories for Latin American and Iberian Sites, in Spanish - Search the web and link to a variety of sites in spanish
Searchenginez - Redesigned search engines--easy to use
Thunderstone - Very good at finding companies and organizations by purpose, product, subject matter, or location
WebCrawler - General searching capability. Use double quotation marks for phrase searching
Wisenut - Keyword or phrases may be used
Yahoo! - If you didn't get any hits or don't like what you got, other search engines are at the bottom of the page for you to click to perform the same search

Meta-Search Engines search several search engines at once. This is useful since search engines do not index the Web in the same way and some search engines will index different sites than others. However, since complicated search statements are not allowed in these search engines, they are used mostly for quick searches and to pinpoint which search engine might be the best for a more detailed search.

1Blink.com - Search the web, news, or newsgroups. Will search Alaska and Canada
2Trom - Queries ten major search engines. Comprehensive and precise
Alphasearch - Enter keywords then select search engine
Ask Jeeves - Allows user to enter a question in plain English. Returns several possible question matches
Big Search Engine Index - BIG metasearch engine
Black Widow - Use keywords or phrases
Chubba - Use keywords then select specific category if desired
Cyber 411 - Select type of search you want from a pull-down menu
Debriefing - Use keywords and "+" and "-" signs to include and exclude search words
Dogpile - Allows simultaneous searching of subject directories, usenet news, mailing lists, and FTP collections, as well as Web pages
Findspot - Select either Tools or Topics under the menu then click on your choice from the list
GoHip - Search by keyword and select a category from the pull-down menu
Mamma - Ten search engines are queried at one time. A database of sites is organized and presented by relevance and source
MetaEureka - Meta search engine for web, news, newsgroups, pictures, and more
Monster Crawler - Monstrous search tool
Pandia Metasearch engine - Multiple engine searching
Search.com - Enter search words or phrases or select from a category listed
Vivisimo - Document grouping for a more organized search
WindSeek - Various search engines return websites according to your search key

A Subject Index is a precompiled list of internet sites grouped according to topics. Frequently, the compiler has provided a brief synopsis on the content or usefulness of the site. Each listing will include the site's URL so that you can connect directly from the subject index.

European Search Engine - Multilingual european search engine
Foreign Language Search Engines Galore - Foreign country search engine directory
Galaxy - Keyword searching and allows you to select index you wish to search
Hot Sheet - Select from categories provided or enter keywords and select from pull-down menu
Infomine - Databases, electronic journals, guides to the Internet for most disciplines, textbooks and conference proceedings; access to important university level research
JoeAnt - Choose from categories provided or enter keywords or phrases
Librarians' Index to the Internet - Annotated subject directory of 6200+ internet resources
Looksmart - Keyword searching or select categories
ODP-Open Directory Project - Comprehensive, human-edited directory
OZU - a Spanish language Web guide - Busqueda en espanol
SearchAbility - Guide to specialized search engines
Start4all - An index portal. Search by categories
Terra - Spanish language info site. Busque muchas categorías en español
Yahoo! - Browse by category or search by keyword

Search and Learn is where tutorials and sites not easily found are located. Try these out.

Barnes & Noble University - Free online learning program on a variety of topics
Computer Education, Training, & Tutorial Resources - IT training plus a variety of computer and software tutorials
Computer Training Tutorials - Tutorials on using the computer and the web
Find Tutorials - Tutorials for everything under the sun (almost)
Finding Information on the Internet - Teaching workshop from U of Berkeley
Internet Beginner's Guides & Tutorials - Variety of beginner's guides and tutorials
Land Grant Training Alliance Online Lessons - Software and internet training site
Learn the Net - Net tutorials and more
Microsoft Office Assistance Center - Tutorials for Microsoft software and other computer assistance
Price's List of Lists - Links to sites not easily searchable/accessible from general search tools
Searching the Internet: Subject indexes and Search Engines - Variety of engines--some are found above
SeniorNet - Technology trainer for the older adult
Spider's Apprentice - A helpful guide to web search engines
Web Search Strategies - Easy to follow process on using search engines and subject directories
WiredGuide - Instruction guides for the novice