World
Wide Web Research
Tools
Robert
Harris + November 20, 2015
Yes, I know that Google is the search tool of choice preferred by many people as their go-to guy when they want to know something or find a photo. But you ought to use a variety of search tools when you need to do an in-depth look for something. Besides, just because you have a really good pair of needle nose pliers in your toolbox, you wouldn't say you don't need a pair of lineman's pliers, too, would you? Or to change metaphors, just because you already have a really good pair of shoes in your closet, you wouldn't say you don't need any more shoes, would you?
So, anyway, moving right along. This is a list of search tools I use when I want to look something up. Whether you want to buy a car, find a personal fitness trainer, comparison shop for the best price on an iPod or iPhone or television, buy or rent a book, this page offers the tools you need. I try to respond to user requests, so if you have found a nifty site that performs searches or is specific to a popular subect, please let me know.
E n g i n
e s
==================
| Collaborative filtering, huge database. Excellent. | Natural language search engine. | ||
| Large database, good results. | Search engine, vertical engines, directory. | ||
| Visual search tool. | |||
| Web, Usenet. Speedy. Large database. | Search engine from Microsoft. | ||
| Web, Usenet. Directory. Large database. | Search.com | Metasearch tool. | |
| Web, Usenet, news, maps, directory, yellow pages, company profiles. | Metasearch tool. Site previews. | ||
| Search and directory, sports, news, weather, reviews. | Deep Web metasearch tool. | ||
| Search and pictures, sound, news, software, rated sites. | Performs metasearching on web, Usenet, FTP. | ||
| Web search and directory. | Search Engines Index | Index listing of hundreds of search engines worldwide | |
| SweetSearch.com | A search engine for students. | Clustering metasearch tool. | |
| Search engine for university sites. | Results from several engines, tabbed format. |
D
i r e c t o r i e s
| Multiform site with directory. | |||
| Online Books Page | Full text of more than a million online free books. | Directory created by volunteer editors. | |
| Directory of expert guides. | Excellent, easy to use directory. | ||
| "Information you can trust" run by librarians | |||
| Finding Dulcinea | Directory for students. | ||
|
|
R
e f e r e n c e
a n d D a t a b a s e s
| Encyclopedia Britannica & Internet Guide. | Search or read several English and other versions of the Bible. | ||
| 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries. | Almanacs, Encyclopedia, Dictionary. | ||
| Reference to find
out how to find out! |
Reference and Library site. | ||
| Database of articles and reference materials. | Complete Planet | Hundreds of databases by category. | |
| Another encyclopedia. | All Academic | Journals & other free academic content. | |
| Excellent dictionary, multiple sources. | More reference works. Good. | ||
| Links to facts, encyclopedias, dictionaries, news, much more. | Dictionary of Computer Terms. | ||
| A global encyclopedia. | Dictionaries and Thesauruses | ||
|
|
The meanings of acronyms. | ||
| Extensive index of scholarly Internet resources. | Wonderful list of specific links. | ||
|
|
Science sites. | ||
| Search archived Web content. | |||
| Articles on philosophical topics. | Community written encyclopedia. | ||
| Dictionary with word games and activities.
Excellent. |
G
r a p
h i c s
S
p e c i
a l t y
| Directory of people, business, government, cities, more. | Ask real people questions. | ||
| Directories by AT&T of people, businesses, toll-free, more. | All kinds of study
and search tools from many sites. |
||
| Find businesses, get maps and directions. | Legal resources. | ||
| Yellow pages from everywhere. | |||
| Info on health, disease, nutrition, medicines. | |
P
e r i o
d i c a l s
| Links to 100,000 newspapers worldwide. | Abstracts and some full text of 200+ journals. | ||
| Links to all media. | |
||
| |
Keeps an eye on the news media. | ||
| News | News and archives. | ||
| Magportal | Full text magazine articles. |
G
o v e r
n m e n t
| Legislative information. | |||
| Gateway to many federal government sites. | The U. S. Census Bureau. | ||
| Government info gateway. | Gateway to statistics from many government agencies. | ||
| Index of government
departments. |
Hundreds of consumer information items. | ||
| Library of Congress American Memory. | |||
| Lots of government links. |
B
o o k s
| Includes reviews of many titles. | Used, new, hard-to-find, and out of print books. | ||
| Lots of books. | Affordabook.com | Book shopping bot with results from 20 vendors. | |
| Lots of Christian books. | All kinds of book information. | ||
| Buy or rent textbooks | Book information, reviews, sites with reviews. | ||
| |
Bookase.com | Shopping bot for finding best price. | |
| The University of California Library catalog. | Books and other items. | ||
| Book shopping bot. Compare prices. | Shopping bot to compare prices. | ||
| LibriVox | Free audio books |
M
e d i a
| Internet Movie Database with reviews. | |
N
e w s
| General News. | |
| Emphasis on technical and computer news. | |
| Links to 15,000 newspapers, TV stations, other news sources. |
S h o p p i n g
B o t s
|
FindersCheapers |
Compare prices on many items. |
| Compare prices on prescription medications at nearby pharmacies. |
Search
Tips | Evaluating
Research | Information
Biases | Search
Engine
Watch
Search
Engine Showdown | Citing Web
Pages MLA Style