Search the Web

Searching - Info & How To	Searching - Info & How To	Searching - Info & How To	Searching - Info & How To	Searching - Info & How To
How to Search	Spotting Bogus Info	Tutorials	Technical Info	List of Search Engines
Librarian's Ultimate Guide	FindSpot tools	Choose a search tool	How to find info. on the Web	Search Engine Watch
Info.Studies (INFO 1371)	Disinformation	BotSpot	Where to begin	Info. Mgmt. Updates

• BigFoot--an Internet white pages directory that helps you find people on the Web. It also offers a variety of services to members (it's free to join) including a free life-long e-mail address.
• Four-11--Internet white pages that include e-mail, business, telephone, and celebrity directories. You can use Four11 to track down long lost relatives and old friends, or make sure you're listed in its directory, so they can find you.
• InfoSpace (Includes reverse lookup for phone or fax number, street address)
  
• Internet @ddress Finder--an Internet white pages directory that allows users to enter names and search for e-mail and address info. The directory is available in Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.
  
• Lycos PeopleFind (Various directories including reverse lookup, fax, government and residential white pages)
  
• Netfind E-Mail Finder(AOL)
  
• University of Texas at Austin Directory of students, faculty, staff
  
• WhoWhere--an Internet white pages-style directory helps you find people's e-mail addresses, as well as snail mail addresses, phone numbers, and other information... the only search engine which also provides the person's email provider

• Online Career Center (Monster Board)
• Net Temps
• More Career Resources

• Google Groups--the premiere search engine for finding information on Usenet Newsgroups

• Google Groups--the premiere search engine for finding information on Usenet Newsgroups

• Search for a Place in the US U.S. Gazetteer--U.S. Census Bureau
  

Keyword indexes base their search on the first few hundred words of each page reviewed. They base their results on frequency of keyword occurrence rather than on page content analysis. These engines tend to give fast and very broad results. If you are not careful, you will be buried in hits.

Metasearch engines send your search to several databases and search engines at once and then give you the results. These engines only allow very simple searches and give very broad results. The big advantage of metasearch engines is that they allow you to search a larger percentage of the entire Web. No individual search engines covers more than 25 percent of the Web. A metasearch engine employs several individual engines.

Subject directories base their searches on context analysis, usually by actual humans. Sites are categorized and pre-grouped so that you can work your way down from most general to most specific subject headings. These engine sites are also usually searchable (like Yahoo) and allow more subtlety in searching and in results.

Specialized search engines focus on just one or two areas of interest. For example, WhoWhere specializes in helping you find people, DejaNews focuses on Usenet Newsgroups. Knowing about specialized search engines can be extremely valuable if there is one in the area in which you are doing research.

TIPS for getting better results:

• Start broad and narrow your search as you discover key words to use and irrelevant areas to avoid
• Use an engine's advanced search option... this will instantly narrow your results and increase specificity
• Use a phrase in double quotes ("phrase words") for more specific results--this is the best single way to search the Web
• Avoid using natural language, even if the site says it can handle it
• Because every engine approaches Boolean logic differently, it is best to avoid using it unless you are completely familiar with the particular site's protocol
• For the broadest searches, and for immense results, use a metasearch engine which covers a larger percentage of the Web than the other two categories
• For a more focused search, a fast search, use a keyword index search engine and activate the advanced search option
• For a very narrow search, or one that requires nuance, or if you prefer to take the list approach to searching, use a subject directory
• Don't forget that once you have search results, you have to differentiate good from bad information... for some tips on how to do this, click on this link.

Where to Begin

Search Engine Guide. Links and how-to-do-it instructions for the major search engines and directories. This file is updated regularly.

Search Engine Comparison Chart. Comparison of features and capabilities of the major search engines to help you decide which engine or engines to use. Find- It!

A Guide to Specialized Searches. There are many search engines devoted to particular types of data, and this is a guide to finding those.

Search Tip: Find Expert Help. If you can't find the information, locate an expert source to help you.

Search Tip: Boolean Searching. Learn to use the full power of Boolean searching to narrow your searches.

What to do with 50 Million Hits! How to refine those searches that produce too many results.

Finding Broken Links. Broken links are everywhere, even in search engine results. Learn how to track down updated addresses on the Web.

For more information, try the links listed below.

Links to Tutorials on Searching the Web

UC Berkeley Library Tutorial

Research 101

OSU Tutorial

Library Research Skills Tutorial

Links to Search Engine Information

Search Engine Watch--includes a Webmaster's guide to search engines, fun facts and tips about using search engines, status reports on search engines, and more...

UC Berkeley Library--Internet Resources

UC Berkeley Library--Meta-Search Engines

Links to Technical Information