Introduction Internet Background Information Basic Research Strategies Online Content Evalutation Online Search Strategies Online Reference Tools & "Pearls" Directories+ Search Engines Meta-Searchers Learning & Keeping Up Bibliography

D I R E C T O R I E S + . . . Basic WWW Search Tools... Directories vs Search Engines The two basic approaches to searching the Web are search engines: and directories (subject guides). Which One to use When? ...If you are a beginner or if you have only a general topic or idea in mind, start by using a directory. Remember, directories are compiled by human experts who try to put like things together so you can find them more easily. ..If you have some relevant keywords or a specific phrase or topic to enter, start with a search engine. When you want to combine terms or look up some esoteric or hard to categorize subject, try a search engine. DIRECTORIES (Subject Guides)... Directories consist of selected links which are organized under a variety of categories and sub-categories to make them easier for you to browse through. Some now have their own search tools so you can also search their database by keyword. They are selected, organized, and maintained by humans. Directories can be general, or can be specific to a subject. Directory databases tend to be smaller than those of the search engines, which means that result lists tend to be smaller as well. However, that can lead to them producing more relevant results. For example, while a search engine typically indexes every page of a given Web site, a directory is more likely to provide a link only to the site's home page. And, because their maintenance includes human intervention, directories greatly reduce the probability of retrieving results out of context. The best-know directory is Yahoo, and they have also started a directory aimed at children, called Yahooligans. Noting Yahoo's popularity, many of the bigger search engines have started putting their own "directories" on their web pages. http://www.yahoo.com Yahooligans http://www.yahooligans.com Inter-Links http://alabanza.com/kabacoff/Inter-Links (A good beginning place for those new to the WWW.) Others that you might try are: Galaxy http://galaxy.einet.net LookSmart (Reader's Digest) http://mulwala.looksmart.com:8080 The WWW Virtual Library http://vlib.stanford.edu/Overview.html Yanoff's Internet Services List http://www.spectracom.com/islist AlCanSeek the Alaskan/Canadian "Search Solution" http://www.alcanseek.com Some Education-oriented subject guides: Education World http://www.education-world.com BJ Pinchbeck's Homework Helper http://tristate.pgh.net/~pinch13 The Argus Clearinghouse http://www.clearinghouse.net LION: Internet Resources Classified by Dewey Decimal Classification... http://www.libertynet.org/~lion/internet-by-dewey.html Some that have been incorporated into or bought by major search engines: Magellan Internet Guide (Excite) http://www.mckinley.com Point Top 5% Sites (Lycos) http://www.pointcom.com