Inet-Toolbox: Toolbox Resource Kit: Web Searching Resources


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Center for Intelligent Information Retrieval: CIIR site with links to theory and discussions on information retrieval methods and technology
Filtered Search Engines - the quest for a cleaner search: Filtered search engines are sometimes a quick and easy way of locating relevant and evaluated resources while skimming off the glut of offensive sites that often creep into our legitimate searches. This issue of Toolbox Tips looks at some of the filtered search engines available and where to find them.
High Hopes for Newer Search Technologies: The Law Library Research Exchange (LLRX) looks at some of the engines from a researcher's perspective.
The Invisible Web Revealed: While search engines continue to improve in the number of sites they index, there is a piece of the Web that simply is not accessible to the robots and spiders these engines use. Dubbed "The Invisible Web" it is made up of all kinds of specialized materials that are loaded with information. Tap into the Invisible Web through the Invisible Web Catalog or by using some of the special tools for searching this elusive section of the Internet.
Search Engine Watch: A site dedicated to explanations of how search engines index, tips for web page developers specific to search engine functions, tips for librarians and much more!

Alberta RITE line Online: With the Alberta Government Phone Book online, you can easily search for employees, departments, programs or MLA's and get the phone number or email address you are looking for. In some cases there is also additional information that may answer your question in advance and save you a call altogether!
Alberta White Pages Online: Alberta phone directories are on-line so there's no need to hunt around to find a print version if you want to look someone up. There is also a reverse directory capability - put in a phone number and see who it is!
InfoSpace: Set of white pages (US) and yellow pages (US and Canadian) as well as a number of other specialty directories including access tools for US Public records
WhoWhere?: A large and extensive directory of email addresses from around the world
Yahoo People Directory: (Formerly Four11) Extensive white page directory for locating people on the Internet (mostly U.S.)

iTools (formerly Research it!): A handy set of search tools that hunt through specific resources - categories include language tools, general library tools, geographical tools, financial tools, on-line shopping tools and searches of mailing lists.
MapQuest: Searchable Interactive Atlas of maps that is zoomable and includes points of interest - can even provide driving directions!

W3 Search Engines: A Meta index which provides access to a variety of tools and allows searches to be submitted directly from this page
XREFER - reference search portal: The trend towards search portals that only deal with a specific topic has generated a number of great tools, including XREFER. XREFER only searches standard reference materials in it's own online collection (which is constantly growing) and includes books of quotations, encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, and other specific reference works. Searches also provide cross-references to other works of the XREFER collection and adjacent entries in the primary work of the result list. The site is no longer free but you can sign up for a trial membership to test the portal and see if it meets your local needs.

Telus 2learn - Search Tips: Tips and tricks along with basic search techniques from the Telus Learning Connection team - especially designed for educators
Web Searching Tips: From Search Engine Watch, this site gives information on using search engines better.

Updated: November 2003, Additions: January 2003