Search the Internet
Search Engines | Jump down to Subject Directories
A search engine provides a searchable database of Internet sites. Sites are gathered and indexed by a computer program, a program that is not at all selective about what it includes.
Using Boolean logic usually increases the relevancy of what you retrieve, and limiting your search to a particular domain can also enhance your results. Search engines differ significantly in how they handle Boolean logic. The lists below will help guide you.
To get full Boolean logic (with nesting), use
To use Boolean logic without nesting, use
To get Boolean logic by way of templates, use
Search engines that allow you to search specific domains include
Subject Directories
As an alternative to search engines, try a subject directory from our list of mostly non-commercial portals to the reviewed portion of the Web. These directories are created with academia in mind, so by using them as a finding tool, you are likely to get high-quality materials in return. They are also handy tools to use when searching for term paper topics, or for trying to narrow the focus of a topic.
Academic Info . 2004. Academic Info, Inc. http://www.academicinfo.net
10,000+ Internet sites at upper high school level and above. Emphasis lies with English language, primariliy American materials, with priority given to digital collections. Browse subjects categories or enter a search query.
Boolean Logic : or (default), and, not, use parentheses ( ) to nest terms
Other Search Features : No truncation; no phrase searching
Best Information on the Net . 2004. St. Ambrose University. O'Keefe Library. http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/
Web sites selected by librarians at St. Ambrose University. Arranged by broad subject or college major without a search option. Includes useful "Hot topics" and "Reference" sections.
EncyclopÊdia Britannica Online . 2004. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (Student ID number required.)
http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2048/login?url=http://www.search.eb.com/
The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica selected over 200,000 quality Web sites to complement their encyclopedia and collection of full-text magazine articles. This commercial site provides access to excellent content, and our subscription eliminates advertisements. Web sites are searchable but not browseable by subject or category. Like BublLink, Britannica gives us a European perspective on many topics.
Boolean Logic : or (default), and, not, use parentheses ( ) to nest terms
Other Search Features : Use * to truncate; search by fields; use quotes for phrase searching.
BUBL LINK . 2004 Strathclyde University, Andersonian Library. http://www.bubl.ac.uk/link/
12,000 Web resources covering all academic subject areas. Browse by LC subject headings, by Dewey Classification, or by resource type. Their collection may also be searched. Like Britannica, Bubl Link has a European emphasis.
Boolean Logic : and (default), or, not, use parentheses ( ) to nest terms
Other Search Features : Use ? to truncate; search by fields.
Info Mine . 2004. Library of the University of California, Riverside. http://infomine.ucr.edu/
130,000 scholarly Web resources selected by California academic librarians. Browse by LC Subject Headings or LC Classification (quite different from Dewey arrangement in Bubl Link). Search the entire database, select a section, or limit by resource type.
Boolean Logic : and (default), or, use parentheses ( ) to nest terms
Other Search Features : Automatic truncation; search by fields.
Internet Public Library . 2004. University of Michigan. School of Information. http://www.ipl.org/
A collection of Web sites for children, teenagers and adults. Their search program does not seem to work very well, but the site shines in their arrangement and access to reference materials, electronic texts and serials, and subject ëpathfinders', i.e. research guides to particular topics.
Boolean Logic : and, or
Other Search Features : Automatic truncation.
Internet Scout Project . 2003. University of Wisconsin-Madison. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/
17,000 Web sites selected, annotated, and assigned LC Subject Headings. Sponsored by the Computer Sciences Department at Univ. Wisconsin-Madison., contributors include faculty and students.
Boolean Logic : or (default), and, not
Other Search Features : Automatic truncation; use parentheses for exact match. Search by field and apply other limits in "Advanced Search".
Librarians' Index to the Internet . 2004. California State Library. http://lii.org/
7,000 Internet sites selected and cataloged by volunteer librarians for public libraries. Similar in scope to Internet Public Library, i.e. their selections are useful for children, teenagers, and adults. Browse topic hierarchies, browse LC Subject
intute . 2008. [UK university consortium]. http://www.intute.ac.uk/
A collaboration of 7 UK universities, whose subject specialists gather, index and annotate carefully selected resources.
Other Search Features : Use * to truncate; use quotes for phrase searching.
WWW Virtual Library . 2004. WWW Virtual Library. http://vlib.org
Compiled by volunteer subject experts. Browsing categories is the only way to locate materials. As of this writing their search engine is offline ìfor repairsî.
Boolean Logic : and (default), or, not
Other Search Features : Automatic truncation.
rev. 16 April 2008 km