Basic Internet Search Tips

There are two useful engine types: Crawlers and Standard

Crawler examples (These are in a general order of usefulness):

1. Don Busca – very useful crawler 2. Query Server

3. Meta Crawler 4. Webcrawler

5. Excite 6. Profusion

7. Dogpile

Standard examples (These are in a general order of usefulness):

1. Surfwax – very useful 2. Teoma

3. Ithaki 4. Google

5. Yahoo 6. MSN

Searchs tips:

The University of Arizona of Sabio library, click on the dark blue “Tips”” button.

The University of Albany library website:

http://library.albany.edu/internet/choose.html

Type the address in your browser, or go to the University of Albany, select “Libraries”, then “Search the Internet”, then “Internet search engines”, then “How to choose a search engine or directory.” It lists search engines and then search tools.

Search logic/commands:

Many of the engines allow you to fill in words, so commands aren’t as important but, here are a couple that are handy.

“And” – use to focus your search. “Actinium” and “atomic weight” for example.

“Or” can be used if there are similar meanings for the search words.

Some search engines don’t recognize these commands. Check the University of Albany website. It tells you what search commands can be used with a particular search engine.

Final tips:

Pick one engine. You want results, not wasted time.

Limit the amount of time on the web. See “pick one engine.”

If you are having trouble, contact the instructor or one of the T. A.’s.