Search Services

A Search Service lets you type in your phrase, and then it looks through its index of web sites for a match.  This is better if you are looking for something very specific, such as a company's web site or information on a health problem.  A Subject Guide provides a list of subjects, which you then go through to find the information you are looking for.  This is better if you are just interested in browsing through and seeing what's available, such as looking for magazines on the web or web sites about gardening. Note that many of these Search Services are also Subject Guides.  Most search services allow you to search for pictures and photos -- just click on the "Images" option.

• About.com -- more than just a search engine, this site is also an excellent subject guide to the internet; each section is run by a "professional guide" who keeps on top of the latest news, best sites, etc. for that particular subject
• Alta Vista -- Very comprehensive search service; also includes Babel Fish, which can translate words, phrases or entire webpages.
• Ask.com -- What appears to be a very basic search screen leads to options to expand or narrow your search.  Spelling corrections are made automatically when possible.  This revamped service has received rave reviews lately!
• Fast/All the Web -- this site aims to index the entire Web, including web pages, documents, and PDF files.
• Google -- Beyond just a search service or subject guide, Google now provides access to maps and directions, email accounts, news stories, mail-order catalogs, and just about anything else you can think of.  Check out their list of services at More Google Products.
• Ixquick Metasearch -- claims to be the most powerful metasearch engine on the internet; searches many different search engines at once to find results
• Lycos -- also a good subject guide.
• Yahoo -- excellent for looking up companies and basic information; also a fairly good subject guide

Subject Guides

• Internet Public Library -- one of the first true virtual libraries; good collections for all ages, and in most subjects; their Pathfinder guides provide good starting points for many different types of searches
• Librarian's Index to the Internet -- more than 20,000 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians, divided into 14 main topics and nearly 300 related topics.
• LibrarySpot -- for information on everything from how to write a paper to acronyms to virtual tours, this is one of the best places to go for help
• Research Guides A to Z -- one of the best subject guides around; created by Mansfield University librarians
• WWW Virtual Library -- the original guide to web sites by subject

Name, Address, and Telephone Directories

• InfoSpace -- Search for people or businesses; has reverse look-up feature to search by telephone number
• SuperPages.com -- Click on "People Pages" for options to do reverse searches by telephone number or by address.
• Switchboard -- In addition to the other standard search options, you can also search by toll free number.
• Telephone Directories on the Web -- "the Internet's original and most complete index of online phone books"
• US Postal Service Zip+4 Code Lookup -- find the complete zip code for any address in the US
• White Pages Phone Directory -- this site is good for reverse searches for people, either by phone number or by street address
• Yellow Book -- in addition to the usual search options, you can also browse a specific directory (like Allentown or Reading) for the business or type of business you seek; use the "Results Found In" links to narrow your search.

Updated April 23, 2007.