“Google it” doesn’t mean exclusively search on Google.com these days. As search engines and information portals evolve and continue to improve our ability to drill down results within tighter parameters, many effective ”first step” sites have been developed that deliver specific information. We’ve put together the below list on how to find topics and then more specifically, by discipline, search engines and sites:
I NEED TO FIND:
| TOPICS: | ||
| Bing | Cool visuals; strong results. | |
| Clusty | Old fashioned layout but great result clusters. | |
| Social Issues | The latest hot topics and pro/con arguments. | |
| Technorati | Search for topic suggestions via “tags” resulting in related blogs. | |
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TOPICS W/ANNOTATIONS: |
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| InfoMine | Researched critical comments and notes. | |
| Intute | Out of the U.K. but w/worldwide results. | |
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RELATED TOPICS: |
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| Grokker | As stated, related topics (Yahoo based). | |
| Ask.com | Click “Expand Your Search” | |
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REFINED TOPIC SEARCHES: |
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| Ask.com | Click “Narrow Your Search”. | |
| Surfwax | Click “Focus” to broaden or narrow your search results. | |
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QUALITY SEARCHES: |
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| Librarians’ Internet Index | Extremely well defined search trees with authoritative sites chosen by topic experts. | |
| Virtual LRC | Scholarly search results based on a word or a phrase. | |
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ADVICE FROM EXPERTS: |
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| Sources and Experts | A comprehensive listing of sources, compiled by a journalist. | |
| Ask A Librarian | The site of last-resort (but not for last minute homework help!) Library of Congress | |
NOW I NEED TO FIND:
| TOPICS WITHIN SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES:
GOVERNMENT: |
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| USA.gov | Browse official U.S. information and services sites. |
| Foreign governments | Search worldwide government sites. |
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LAW: |
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| Law.com | Legal stories, technology, firm identification and jobs in the field. |
| Findlaw.com | Search U.S. cases, codes, news and commentary |
| LOUIS | Amazing site, named for famed jurist Louis Brandeis, Search Congressional documents, Federal Register, GAO reports, bills and resolutions |
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: |
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| SCIRUS | Science-specific portals. |
| Nat’l Science Digital Lab | Science, technology, math and engineering. |
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ARTS & HUMANITY: |
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| Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy | Browse peer-reviewed, continually-updated entries on contemporary philosophy. |
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HEALTH & MEDICINE: |
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| Health & Medical Sleuth | Find health information faster by searching multiple health search engines from one place. |
| Medical Search | “Fast and productive medical searches” – The Washington Post. |
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NEWS & INFORMATION: |
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| BBC | Incredible source for searching worldwide issues, especially war coverage, |
| eHow | Search and ye shall find; how to do just about anything. |
| FactCheck.org | From the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, research political speeches, press releases, TV ads, public statements… |
| FedStats.gov | Useful compilation of stats and reports from 100+ official US agencies. |
BNI Operatives: Street smart: Web savvy.
As always, be safe.
Filed under: General Information | Tagged: ask, bbc, clusty, findlaw, foreign, google. bing, grokker, health, law, library, math, medical, medicine, portal, research, science, scirus, search, search engine, surfwax, technology, technorati, usa.gov, virtual, yahoo | Leave a Comment »
