• The latest Effective Web Searching Strategies PowerPoint presentation (last updated August 1, 2003)
  
• Information on my book IntroNet: A Beginner's Guide to Searching the Internet

Questions to accompany the presentation.

The following links are my recommended search tools from each of the six categories of search tools that I identify and use: (1) search engines, (2) search directories, (3) electronic reference collections, (4) active information sources, (5) meta-search engines, (6) search tool directories.

Search engines - search a large chunk of the Internet

• Google
  
• Vivisimo
  
• AllTheWeb
  
• Teoma
  
• Hotbot (Inktomi)
  
• MSN Search
  
• Wise Nut
  
• Alta Vista
  

Search directories - search or browse sites arranged by topic

• Yahoo!
  
• Open Directory Project
  
• INFOMINE
  
• Librarians' Index to the Internet
  
• WebRing
  

Electronic reference collections

• DeskRef
  
• Refdesk
  
• Internet Public Library Reference Collection
  
• The Best Information on the Net ("Online Reference Resources")
  
• Louisiana State University Reference Categories
  
• Bartleby.com
  
• Infoplease.com
  

Active information sources - find places to ask people about your topic

• Google Groups
  
• CataList
  
• Virtual Reference Desk
  
• Pitsco's Ask An Expert
  
• Allexperts.com
  
• Ultimate Chatlist
  

Meta-search engines - search a number of search tools all at once

• A9.com
  
• ixquick
  
• InfoSpace
  
• Dogpile
  
• MetaCrawler
  
• Mamma
  
• Guidebeam.com
  

Search tool directories - choose a topic-related search tool

• Invisible Web Directories and Resources
• Librarians' Index to the Internet
• Beaucoup
  
• Profusion
  
• The Invisible Web Directory
  
• Scout Report Archives
  
• WWW Virtual Library
  
• Internet Public Library - Subject Resources
  

Finding help online

• Contacting library colleagues
  • LIBREF-L, STUMPERS-L, LIBSUP-L
  • Groups at liblists.wrlc.org/
  • Stumpers-L archives (domin.dom.edu/depts/gslis/stumpers/)
  • Internet Public Library Frequently Asked Reference Questions
  • Fugitive Fact File
• Ask-An-Expert Sites
• Other Active Information Sources

Sneaking Suspicions

• AMA Guidelines for Medical and Health Information Sites on the Internet
  

More Search Tool Information

• Search Engine Watch
  
• SearchEngineShowdown.com
  
• ResourceShelf
  
• ResearchBuzz
  
• Updates in Online magazine
  
• Internet Scout Report
  
• Free Pint

Health information strategy

• Standard reference source - Merck Manual (home edition)
• Consumer health guide - NOAH or MEDLINE Plus
• Periodical index - PubMED
• Search directory - Hardin Meta Directory of Internet Health Sources

Images strategy

• AltaVista - choose the "Image" tab
• Google Images
• AlltheWeb.com - choose the "Pictures" tab ·
• Image Finder

Internet Searching for Kids: Kid's Tools for Searching

Alternative Search Engines
Here's a link to a blog post by Wendy Boswell that lists her top ten alternative search engines (12-15-05).

Here are links to the Internet searching studies that I mention in the presentation:

• "Counting on the Internet" (Pew Internet & American Life Project, 12-29-02)
  
• "False Oracles: Consumer Reaction to Learning the Truth About How Search Engines Work" (Consumer Web Watch, 6-30-03)
  
• "Search Engines: A Pew Internet Project Data Memo" (Pew Internet & American Life Project, 7-3-02)
  
• "How Academic Librarians Can Influence Students' Web-Based Information Choices" (OCLC White Paper on the Information Habits of College Students, June 2002) (PDF)
  
• Amanda Spink, B. J. Jansen, D. Wolfram & T. Saracevic. (2002). From E-Sex to E-Commerce: Web Search Changes. IEEE Computer, 35(3), 107-109. (PDF)
  
• Ask Jeeves Reveals Top Searches for 2002 (Press Release, 12-10-02)