Searching for Internet Information

There are many search strategies one can use to enhance the success of an Internet search. Many Internet search tools provide a variety of methods for finding information. Some suggested search strategies are listed below. Many sites offer all strategies. Some sites only offer Index services.

Subject Directories: To search a broad subject area, use directories which provide hierarchical menus that allow easy browsing of Internet resources.
Internet Indexes: Use keyword searching in an Internet Index to search more specific topics. When selecting an index, look for a large database, search limiting features, and the ability to search specific fields.
Web Review or Rating Sites: Some sites provide evaluation and act as filters by reviewing and rating Internet information. In theory, these databases are smaller, but of higher quality.
Meta Indexes: Meta Indexes are search tools that allow you to search many Internet indexes simultaneously. This can be useful, though they may be slow and you sometimes lose the more sophisticated search features of the better indexes. Worth investigating!
Other Internet Search Tools: There are many type specific tools for searching information not on the World Wide Web (like electronic mailing lists or newsgroups). If an Internet search is intended to be comprehensive, these tools may be necessary.

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List updated 11/20/97

Internet Directories or Subject Catalogs

Name of Site
URL Search
Methods Types of
Information Other
Features

YAHOO
http://www.yahoo.com/ Browsable Menus, Keyword, partial Boolean Web, Usenet, Email Addresses Well Organized
Limit searching by category

Excite
http://www.excite.com/ Browsable Menus, Keyword, Boolean Web
Usenet
Newswire Search limiting features

A2Z
http://a2z.lycos.com/ Browsable Menus, Keyword, Boolean, Truncation $ Web
Graphics
Sound Links to Lycos Index. Can search for multimedia.

Galaxy
http://galaxy.einet.net/ Browsable Menus, Keyword, Titles, Links, Boolean Web
Gopher
Telnet Provides links to other reference tools and directories

Internet Indexes

Name of Site
URL Search
Methods Types of
Information Other
Features

HotBot
http://www.hotbot.com/ Keyword, Summary, Title, Headings, URLs, Boolean, Proximity Web, Usenet, Graphics, Sound Good tool for specific searches. More relevant site appear first on list. Allows searching of multimedia.

ALTA VISTA
http://www.altavista.digital.com/ Keyword, Phrases, Date, Media Type, Location, Boolean, Truncation * Web, Usenet, FTP, Graphics Very large. Good limiting and refining options. Good online help file.

Lycos
http://www.lycos.com/ Keyword, Boolean, Truncation $ Web
Graphics
Sound Links to A2Z Directory. Can search for multimedia.

InfoSeek
http://www.infoseek.com/ Keyword, Phrases, Boolean (+,-), Proximity Web
Usenet
FTP
Email Addresses Link to Infoseek Directory. Can limit search.

Northern Light
http://www.nlsearch.com/ Keyword, Phrases, Boolean Web Additional fee based full text searching

Internet Reviews or Rating Sites

Name of Site
URL Search
Methods Types of
Information Other
Features

MAGELLAN
McKinley's Internet Directory
http://www.mckinley.com/ Browsable Menus, Keywords, Boolean, Proximity Web - Reviews Online directory of reviewed and rated sites. Provides some evaluation based on depth, organization, and appeal of the site. Excellent online help files.

POINT Communications
http://point.lycos.com/categories/ Browsable Menus, Keyword, Boolean Web - Rated Point indexes only the top 5% of Web sites based on content, presentation, and Web experience. Includes link to Lycos for Internet wide searches.

WebCrawler Select
http://webcrawler.com/select/ Browsable Subject Categories Web Indexes only the best sites on the Net. Looks for frequent updates, effective design, Web culture and no cost.

Meta-Indexes

Name of Site
URL Search
Methods Types of
Information Other
Features

MetaCrawler
http://www.metacrawler.com/ Keywords, Partial Boolean, Phrases Web, News, FTP, Email Queries nine different services: Open Text, Lycos, WebCrawler, InfoSeek, Excite, Inktomi, Alta Vista, Yahoo, and Galaxy. Can limit by geographic region and type of site (edu, gov, etc)

All 4 One
http://all4one.com/ Keywords Web, News, FTP, Email Shows Alta Vista, HotBot, Lycos and Excite

Savvy Search
http://guaraldi.cs.colostate.edu:2000/ Keywords, Partial Boolean, Phrases Web, News, FTP, Email Queries more than two dozen databases.

Starting Point
http://www.stpt.com/ Keywords Web, News, FTP, Email Queries more than a dozen databases.

Dog Pile
http://www.dogpile.com Keywords
Partial
Boolean,
Phrases Web,
News, FTP,
Email Queries more than a dozen databases.

Other Internet Searching Tools

Name of Site
URL Search
Methods Types of
Information Other
Features

DejaNews
http://www.dejanews.com/ Keywords, Specific newsgroups, Authors, Dates Usenet Index to Usenet newsgroups only. Good tool if you want to communicate with others on the Net.

TileNet
http://www.tile.net/ Browsable Menus, Keyword, Concept Mailing Lists, Usenet newsgroups, FTP sites Index to Mailing Lists and Usenet news. Good tool for finding electronic discussion groups on a topic.

Four11
http://www.four11.com/ Name, Host Email Addresses Index to Email addresses only. Not comprehensive, but worth a try. Register to enlarge the database!

Internet Address Finder
http://www.iaf.com/ Name, Host Email Addresses Index to Email addresses only. Not comprehensive.

Switchboard
http://www.switchboard.com/ Name (people and businesses) Addresses Large national directory of residential and business addresses

World Wide Yellow Pages
http://www.yellow.com/ Name (people and businesses) Addresses Large international yellow page service

Shareware.Com
http://www.shareware.com/ Searchable by platform Shareware or Free Software Great site for finding software from archives on the Net.

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