Search Engines

Search engines are the World Wide Web's equivalent of a library catalogue. However, because of the enormous size of the Web, no search engine includes everything that is on the Web. Just as there are different ways to search for a book in the library, there are different ways to locate resources on the internet.

How Search Engines Work: A simple animation provides an explanation

How Internet Search Engines Work - a detailed explanation from How Stuff Works

Choose the Best Search Engine for your Information Need

NoodleQuest - a really cool interactive way to discover new search tools based on your research need

Google

Google is the most used search engine on the web. Google For Educators offers great resources (posters, bookmarks, etc) that can be used with both staff and students.

Google Search: The Essentials

Google Guide - an online interactive tutorial and reference for experienced users, novices, and everyone in between.

Goo-jitsu: A guide to mastery of Google searches

Google Search: A Tutorial Follow the links in this tutorial to understand how to use link, title, domain and host searching and then test your understanding with the practice activities.

Start Your Search Engines: Taming Google (and Other Tips) -To tame Google results and create the most effective search, it pays to know some handy tips.

Create your own custom Google search using Google Custon Search This tool allows you to create a search based on a selection of web sites selected by you. You can place this search on a blog, wiki or web page from which your students can search.

Getting Started Creating a Custom Search Engine (pdf) by Joe Barker ©2007 by the Regents of the University of California, are excellent step-by-step instructions on how to set up you own search engine.

The search below is based on only five websites but provides students a choice of information on a variety of topics. The use of this tool allows teachers to pre-select sites for students to use but encourages the development of good search techniques.

Ask, a search engine arising from the previous, Ask Jeeves, is challenging Google. Give it a good look and see how it compares to Google. Google and Ask.com - a happenstance comparison is a useful comparison from the Librarian in Black.

Other Search Engines

New Search Engines - an overview of three new search engines: Mooter, a clustering search engin, Green Maven, gateway to the Green Web focusing on green, conscious, and sustainable websites, and Boolify - a search engine that visually incorporates boolean searching - very cool!

Search Tools - an extensive page of search tools from Springfield Township High School Virtual Library

Blogdimension : The Web 2.0 Search Engine - a great place to search for blog posts.

Alltop : A blog directory - “digital magazine rack” of the Internet.

How do ya?: Learn how to do anything! ...plan a wedding, write like Kurt Vonneget, paint like Pablo Picasso and fly a plane.

Exalead - an alternative search engine - especially recommended for librarians.

MagSearch - magazine search page that uses the Gigablast custom search feature to search selected online magazines.

Meta-Search Engines

Meta-Search Engines