Steps to successful searching include:
- Selecting the right tool
- Understanding search engine features
- Developing a good search strategy using the correct tool and available features
- Evaluating search results
Please send any comments concerning this page to Karen Odato.
1. Selecting the right tool
General Subject Directories
Use subject directories to find higher quality websites. They work best when your topic is a broad concept or single term.
- Librarians' Index
http://lii.org
A searchable, annotated subject directory of more than 10,000 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians. The Librarians' Index is a reliable and efficient guide to described and evaluated Internet resources.
- Internet Public Library Subject Collections
http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/
An annotated collection of high quality Internet resources, selected by IPL staff at the University of Michigan School of Information for their usefulness in providing accurate, factual information on a particular topic or topics.
- Yahoo
http://dir.yahoo.com/
Yahoo is the largest subject directory of Internet resources; it is not as selective as the others in this list.
Medical Subject Directories
- MedWeb from Emory University
http://www.medweb.emory.edu/SPT--Home.php
MedWeb is a catalog of biomedical and health related web sites maintained by the staff of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library at Emory University.
- Hardin Meta-Directory of Internet Health Sources
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/md/index.html
Hardin MD is a "list of lists" providing access to comprehensive resource lists in health-related subjects. Lists that are most frequently cited by people in the field are selected, offering a rudimentary form of peer evaluation.
Popular Search Engines
Use search engines for comprehensive or obscure searches, to find a specific website, when you're searching for more than one concept, or if you haven't found what you are looking for in the directories.
Metasearch Engines
Use metasearch engines to search multiple engine databases simultaneously with a single interface.
Deep or Invisible Web Search Tools
Use these tools to search pages that cannot be found in search engines and rarely are in subject directories, including:
- Databases where you enter search terms.
- Sites that require log-ins.
- Web pages that are not linked to from other "visible" or "known" pages.
- PDF documents (except at Google and AllTheWeb)
2. Features of popular search tools
3. Web searching tutorials and information sites: strategy development
4. Evaluating search results
General website evaluation tools
Medical website evaluation tools
Need Help?
Please email: Biomedical Libraries Reference or call 650-1660/7660.
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