General Search Engines

 

Favorite

Google -  a meta search engine – one that searches for phrases or words on a webpage.  Returns hits with descriptions of the pages.

 

Second best

AltaVista – also a meta search engine. Gives the searched words in bold in the description of the web page hit.

 

Links page of general search engines

 

 

 

Meta Search Engines

I would pick the above two search engines as my favorites in this category also.  I would include the use of advanced search in this category.  In the google advanced search you may include the extension for the web page type for which you may be searching.  For example if I would like only web pages with the extension .edu I can type that in the box which says domain.

Google Advanced link .

 

AltaVista Advanced – the advanced search in Alta Vista gives the capability of a boolean search.

 

 

 

 

 

News Search Engines

Favorite

Google news Searchtop stories links are listed on the left including categories of World, U.S, Sci/ Tech, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Health. Provides the ability to keyword search across thousands of news sources.

 

Second Best

Yahoo News Search  - Similar to Google News, you can keyword search across thousands of news sources.

 

Kid Safe Search Engines

 

Favorite

Yahooligans – web search for children ages 8 – 14.  On the left of the search page are categorical searches for games, animals, music, movies, etc.  This makes it easy for children to point and click on their preference.

 

Second best

KidsClick -  A searchable web directory created by "a bunch of librarians" at the Ramapo Catskill Library System.  KidsClick has categorical search links where kids only need to click in order to select a preference.  Also has an area to search specific topics.

 

Links page to Kid Safe Search Sites  - here is a page of links to Kid Safe Search sites.  Some search engines have the option to reduce offensive content by default or by using customized options.

 

 

Medical Search Engines

Favorite

WebMD -   search by topic.  Provides hits by popularity. Usually several for each topic.

 

Second best

KidsDoctor  – a good site for parents with young children.  Topics are arranged by both category and anatomy. 

 

Links to Medical Search Engines