Need additional search ideas? Try NoodleQuest (interactive version) I need to define my topic... I need to understand the scope of my topic
I need to see related topics Google Uncover buried sites using "related searches" Bing Search for your topic, then drill down "related searches"
I need to refine and narrow my topic SurfWax Search for your topic, then click "Focus" (top) to show similar, broader, and narrower topics iSeek Education Ask a question or search a topic in this database of "trusted resources" - use "targets" to refine search Wikipedia Drill down “Contents” to explore subtopics
I need to choose a controversial issue
I need background on possible topics SweetSearch A selective search of Web information for students Wikipedia Search this wiki (quality content is starred), then follow article links to more information Columbia Encyclopedia Search basic factual information in this encyclopedia (c 2000)
I need to find quality results... I need authoritative sites chosen by an expert researcher INFOMINE Librarian-selected scholarly sites LibGuides Librarian-created topic pathfinders Infotopia Customized safe-search of educator-selected sites
I need personal help from experts Ask an ipl2 Librarian Get answers from volunteers and grad students in a week (K-12) AllExperts Ask your question of a self-identified volunteer subject-expert Ask a Librarian Library research questions answered in five days (no homework questions)
I need sites ranked or tagged as valuable or relevant Google High PageRank means popular, relevant sites link to the page Technorati Browse or search user-identified subjects ("tags") for blog advice or opinionsAsk.com High ExpertRank indicates subject-specific popularity
I need primary sources
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I need science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) research or sources Scirus Science-specific Web portals, reports, peer-reviewed articles, patents, preprints and journals National Science Digital Library (NSDL) Search by grade level, subject (STEM) and resource format Intute Use advanced search to limit search by science, technology, or mathematics subject areas
I need reputable health information MedlinePlus Search diseases, conditions and health topics Mayo Clinic Browse by disease or search conditions, symptoms, tests and health topics KidsHealth Health information directed to kids, teens or parents
I need legal documents, agencies or news
I need creative and performing arts sources Intute Use advanced search to limit search to arts and humanities subject areas Art History Resources on the Web Global art history resources chosen by a scholar JURN Google custom search of 3,500+ ejournals in the arts and humanities
The timeliness of information that I need is... within the last hour Google Real-Time Choose "past hour" from the left column for the most recent news 10x10 Explore 100 words and pictures that "matter most" globally in the last hour
today Google News View top news stories and refine by category or topic NewsNow Search breaking global news headlines or newsfeeds (UK service) Newseum Browse today's front page treatment of news from nearly 100 countries
recent Google Search and limit by time period, or choose "timeline" (from "more search tools" on left) to see a topic's evolution Yahoo News Search recent news and filter by time period ("past week")
recent (with analysis) BBC Special Reports In-depth topic coverage including news features, analysis, photos, audio and video Times Topics Collected news, reference and archival information, photos, graphics, audio and video files about topics PolitiFact Search news keyword or browse fact checking of statements made by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups
long-term investigative reports ProPublica News investigations of significant government, business, and institutional wrongdoing Center for Public Integrity Original reporting of public issues designed to make "institutional power more transparent and accountable" Center for Investigative Reporting Critical investigations of injustice or abuse of power with actionable information to assist citizens
a particular time period (decade, century, era) HistoryWorld Enter year event to retrieve timeline, then click on icons for information or images INFOMINE Search by a term like "Golden Age" or "18th century" Wikipedia: List of Timelines Browse Wikipedia’s list of timelines (civilizations, people, events, etc.)
historical American Memory Search America's primary source documents and images, browse by topic, time period, medium or place ipl2 Drill down into the history section or search fewer, broader terms (e.g., "terrorists" not "Righteous Path") Digital History High-quality historical resources, primary sources, multimedia, subject guides
ancient Ancient History Sourcebook Search online ancient-history texts, images, audio, or browse by region, period (e.g., Persia, Late Antiquity) ipl2 Drill down into ancient history section or search fewer, broader terms (e.g., "Greece" not "Spartan women")
I need facts... a person
a place CIA World Factbook Select country for basic profile and transnational issues Country Studies Cross-search or view a country (last update 1998) - historical, social, economic, political and national security dataStately Knowledge Basic U.S. state facts, links to state government site and encyclopedia (IPL KidSpace)
a company
general reference answers
news background (facts, people, and documents)
I need opinions and perspectives... I want opinions on current issues
I need news from other countries' perspectives
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I want to compare news treatment Newseum Compare news reporting on U.S. front pages PressDisplay Compare news reporting from 55 countries
I need a specific type of media... maps Google Maps Search and view satellite and street-level maps MapMachine Search, browse and print country, physical and political maps American FactFinder Maps See trends/patterns when you superimpose chosen geographical features and census data on U.S. maps
photographs and visual images
fine art
videos Yahoo Video Search Search by keyword or phrase, use advanced search to limit by file format, size, duration and domain YouTube Search for, watch or buy an ever-growing collection of TV shows, movies, music videos, documentaries, and personal productions Internet Archive: Moving Image Archive Search public domain films, newsreels, ads, documentaries, television series and other “cultural artifacts”
radio
music Google To find song lyrics, search (in quotes) title or performer (plus) "song lyrics," to find information about the song's history search title (in quotes) and "origin"
sounds FindSounds Get sound effects and music samples: select a keyword or search a term limited by file format, quality and size
speeches
quotations
statistical data
dictionary or thesaurus (for definitions, etymology, pronunciation, synonyms)
encyclopedia Columbia Encyclopedia Factual information (updated 6/05) Wikipedia Volunteer-created and collaboratively edited: valuable for current topics (e.g., people in the news), technology (e.g., podcasting) -- information quality uneven
almanac data
books and other printed works WorldCat Search for books and reviews, options to refine results, check your local library's holdings Google Scholar Search (free and fee) scholarly works, locate related information using "cited by" links, use advanced search to limit (author, date, phrase, in title, subject area) A9 OpenSearch Search for books by keyword, then "Search Inside!" to see keyword-in-context
I have special search requirements... run my search periodically and be notified of new results Giga Alert Run Google search of 3 interests and get e-mail or RSS notification of new results Google Alerts Run periodic Google searches and get e-mail (no RSS) notification of new results
specify a country where my search results are located
use a search engine outside the U.S.
find sites organized by the Dewey Decimal System or Library of Congress Classification
locate resources by file type Google Limit search by file type (.pdf, .ps, .doc, .xls, .ppt, .rtf)Yahoo Limit search by file type (.html, .pdf, .doc, .xls, .ppt, .xml, .txt)
I am... a kid KidsClick! Find kid-friendly sites with educational content (grades K-7) selected by librarians Ask Kids Search by keyword, then select the best-match question for answers and links Yahoo Kids Select from kid-safe sites (grades 2- 7) organized by topic
pretty new to the Internet Google Largest general purpose search engine Yahoo Large, general purpose search engine ipl2 Easy-to-navigate, well-annotated directory of librarian-selected Web sites
an Internet wizard Exalead Configure highly-specific searches including proximity ("folk tales NEAR sun"), but smaller index than Google or Yahoo INFOMINE Configure a narrow search of a large, comprehensive academic virtual library (Web sites, databases, electronic journals, electronic books, bulletin boards, directories of researchers)
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