Subject Guide for Search Engines

Each research guide provides internet links and resources selected by our reference staff:

• Ask.com - Formerly Ask Jeeves, this engine has abandoned its emphasis on "natural language" searching but is still quite well regarded. It provides very good relevance ranking of results and numerous specialized searches.
• bing - This successor to Windows Live Search features multiple document type searches and useful approaches to organizing and using your results.
• Gigablast - Gigablast features Web, blog, and .gov searches. Related resources and alternate search terms (Giga Bits) are handy features. Results pages are advertising-free.
• Google - Google currently processes nearly half of all U.S. placed search requests according to Search Engine Watch. Many advanced search features and a variety of other offerings including free email, blogging, and more.
• Ixquick Metasearch - A metasearch engine utilizes results from many different search engines. Ixquick handles advanced searches on multiple engines and provides very good relevance ranking of results. An international phone directory is also included.
• Open Directory - The Open Directory uses volunteer editors to catalog the web. There are no sponsored links and companies may not pay to be included in results. The goal of the volunteers is to organize their small portions of the web and weed out disinformation.
• Yahoo - The first large scale directory of the Internet, now a major portal offering search engine results, customizable content, chatrooms, free e-mail, and more.