Okay, let's face it, who hasn't typed
something into a search engine and received results that were completely off
track? Believe it or not there is a science to using a search engine - they
can't read minds, you must know how to work with them. These links should
help.
General Resources
- The
Internet Public Library - The Internet Public Library is a public service
organization and a learning/teaching environment at the University of Michigan
School of Information. It is a great place to go if you are confused about
where to go and what tools will best meet your needs. It includes lots of
good information about other search engines and directories.
-
Search
Engine Watch - Search Engine Watch provides tips and information about
searching the web, analysis of the search engine industry and help to
site owners trying to improve their ability to be found in search engines.
Some helpful hints...
- If you are looking for information
about a broad topic (like Women's Suffrage, the Civil War or World War II)
and hope to narrow your search as you go, you may best be served by a web
directory. Web Directories are tools that arrange sites and other
information by subject, they will usually provide you with sub-categories
and topics
- If you already have specific item
in mind (for example, Ida B. Wells, The Declaration of Sentiments or the
electoral college), a search engine may be your best bet. Search Engines
help one to locate information by creating catalogues of websites.
- If you are trying to search a broad
topic, and would like to search through many search engines' results at
the same time, Meta Search Engines are the most useful and efficient
tool.
- There are some search engines that
specialize in certain kinds of information, as a social studies teacher
I like this one...
- govspot.com
- a non-partisan search portal for government information
