Search Engines and Directories:

Every Web site exists because some person or group of people has undertaken the work of building it. Sadly, too, some of the information available on Web sites in inaccurate, misleading, and biased. AltaVista and Infoseek are search engines; while Yahoo is a directory. What is the difference?

Search engines are designed to locate information, not to judge it for accuracy or reliability. Search engines employ specialised software -- called, bots, spiders, and crawlers -- to scan the Web looking for information on Web pages and storing that information in gigantic databases. Because they run automatically and index so many Web pages, search engines may often find information not listed in directories. AltaVista is an example of an engine.

Directories are not like search engines. Directories are created by humans. Sites must be submitted, then they are assigned to an appropriate category or categories. Because of the human role, directories can often provide better results than search engines. Yahoo is an example of a directory. Always try more than one search engine and directory as they all contain different sites and even an engine up to date one day can be out of date next week

Good hunting Steve Cushing.

Alta Vista. Very comprehensive search engine that often finds sites missed by others. Now includes the ability to translate web pages into another language at the click of a mouse with quite effective (though often amusing) results. If you type link://(add a web address) you can find all the sites that link to your chosen site. A very useful search facility.

Ask Jeeves. A unique search engine that allows you to ask a question in plain English (eg: "Where can I find the best web sites?") and searches several search engines for the answer. A great site, although a bit 'gimmicky' it's well worth trying. There is also a student search engine Ask Jeeves for Kids.

Dogpile. Oddly named 'meta search engine' that searches many different search engines and provides the results from a few at a time, allowing you to check the results from more search engines if you wish. A very thorough way to search the Net. Highly recommended and well worth bookmarking.

Metacrawler. Another good 'meta search engine' that searches seven of the top search engines and compiles the results into a rated list. Searches and combines the results from Alta Vista; Excite; Infoseek; Lycos; Thunderstone; Webcrawler and Yahoo in seconds. An impressive site, the only complaint being that sometimes it 'forgets' to search Alta Vista! It is, however, nowhere near as thorough as Dogpile.

Open Directory. An excellent directory with volunteer editors for each category.

Search Engine Watch. Not a search engine, but an excellent guide to Internet searching and search engines, includes tutorials, search tips and new developments.

Searching the Internet. A good set of links to tutorials and tips on searching the internet and finding what you are looking for.

Yahoo and Yahoo UK & Ireland. Although more of a directory than a search engine, this is the most popular and well-known way to search the Internet. Has a good reputation and is ideal for when you are looking for information in a particular subject area. Adds value by offering excellent news, weather, travel and finance sectors and has local versions in Australia and New Zealand; Canada; China; Denmark; France; Germany; Italy; Japan; Korea; Norway; South-East Asia; Sweden and the UK & Ireland site above. The original Yahoo in America is also complimented by a number of regional city Yahoos. An outstanding resource.

Yahooligans Excellent search engine just for kids'. Yahooligans works just like Yahoo as a directory, but all catalogued sites have been pre-screened for child friendliness. That is, their content and presentation are acceptable for pupils at school.

KidsClick! is another recommended student directory. KidsClick! Checks its sites every two months to ensure that they are still active and available, removing some 200 dead sites after each review.

Secondary teachers should consider assigning Searchopolis. Like Yahooligans and KidsClick!, Searchopolis is a directory, and its current categories are humanities, social sciences, languages, history, science and maths, plus over a dozen reference sources.

Special Searches. A Collection of Special Search Engines for Teachers. For a more up-to-date list go to Leiden University (the Netherlands).

Arts Search Engines

Use these arts search engines to find fine arts on the Web, including online art museums and galleries, specific artists, and more.

ADAM: Art, Design, Architecture and Media Information Gateway
A "virtual library" of digital art, design, architecture and media resources, created by librarians who apply strict quality-control standards for inclusion.

Art AtoZ
Art AtoZ is a directory of practical links for working artists, including brokerages, grants, supplies, and other resources.

Artcyclopedia
A comprehensive index of every artist represented at hundreds of museum sites, image archives, and other online resources.

Art Imagebase
More than 75,000 works from over 12,000 artists are accessible through this image database from the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.

ArtLinx
A huge alphabetical links directory to arts sites on the Web, from the knowledgeable folks at desktoppublishing.com.

FineArt Forum Resource Directory
Over 1000 art resources that can be accessed via Internet Web sites, gophers, ftp sites, and mailing lists.

The Internet Art Database
The Internet Art Database currently contains art from over 2,000 web sites, including contributions from galleries, dealers, artists, and individual collectors.

Internet Arts Resources
Search for an art gallery, museum, artist, publication, bookseller, exposition, or art school.

US Library of Congress Illustrated Guides
Guides to LoC special collections, illustrated with thumbnail images, including European Collections, Music, Theater, Dance, and Prints and Photographs.

UrlART
A meta-guide to the art directories of the major search engines, the most important art resources, photographic resources, art newsgroups, and art magazines.

World Wide Arts Resources
A searchable directory with links to more than 970 museum, exhibitions, artists, and other arts-related resources. Find Web sites featuring more than 15,000 artists and their paintings, photography, sculpture, design, and other creations.

Israel Art Search Resource

Excellent search engine.

Art Seek

A good starting point for finding artists in most areas of the world.

Russian Colours

Russian Colours Fine Art Gallery and Russian Painting Collectors Club present Painting of the SOVIET Age from the Leningrad School and invite you to browse through of our virtual exhibitions.

Yahoo Art History



		Search Engines and Directories: Every Web site exists because some person or group of people has undertaken the work of building it. Sadly, too, some of the information available on Web sites in inaccurate, misleading, and biased. AltaVista and Infoseek are search engines; while Yahoo is a directory. What is the difference? Search engines are designed to locate information, not to judge it for accuracy or reliability. Search engines employ specialised software -- called, bots, spiders, and crawlers -- to scan the Web looking for information on Web pages and storing that information in gigantic databases. Because they run automatically and index so many Web pages, search engines may often find information not listed in directories. AltaVista is an example of an engine. Directories are not like search engines. Directories are created by humans. Sites must be submitted, then they are assigned to an appropriate category or categories. Because of the human role, directories can often provide better results than search engines. Yahoo is an example of a directory. Always try more than one search engine and directory as they all contain different sites and even an engine up to date one day can be out of date next week Good hunting Steve Cushing. Alta Vista. Very comprehensive search engine that often finds sites missed by others. Now includes the ability to translate web pages into another language at the click of a mouse with quite effective (though often amusing) results. If you type link://(add a web address) you can find all the sites that link to your chosen site. A very useful search facility. Ask Jeeves. A unique search engine that allows you to ask a question in plain English (eg: "Where can I find the best web sites?") and searches several search engines for the answer. A great site, although a bit 'gimmicky' it's well worth trying. There is also a student search engine Ask Jeeves for Kids. Dogpile. Oddly named 'meta search engine' that searches many different search engines and provides the results from a few at a time, allowing you to check the results from more search engines if you wish. A very thorough way to search the Net. Highly recommended and well worth bookmarking. Metacrawler. Another good 'meta search engine' that searches seven of the top search engines and compiles the results into a rated list. Searches and combines the results from Alta Vista; Excite; Infoseek; Lycos; Thunderstone; Webcrawler and Yahoo in seconds. An impressive site, the only complaint being that sometimes it 'forgets' to search Alta Vista! It is, however, nowhere near as thorough as Dogpile. Open Directory. An excellent directory with volunteer editors for each category. Search Engine Watch. Not a search engine, but an excellent guide to Internet searching and search engines, includes tutorials, search tips and new developments. Searching the Internet. A good set of links to tutorials and tips on searching the internet and finding what you are looking for. Yahoo and Yahoo UK & Ireland. Although more of a directory than a search engine, this is the most popular and well-known way to search the Internet. Has a good reputation and is ideal for when you are looking for information in a particular subject area. Adds value by offering excellent news, weather, travel and finance sectors and has local versions in Australia and New Zealand; Canada; China; Denmark; France; Germany; Italy; Japan; Korea; Norway; South-East Asia; Sweden and the UK & Ireland site above. The original Yahoo in America is also complimented by a number of regional city Yahoos. An outstanding resource. Yahooligans Excellent search engine just for kids'. Yahooligans works just like Yahoo as a directory, but all catalogued sites have been pre-screened for child friendliness. That is, their content and presentation are acceptable for pupils at school. KidsClick! is another recommended student directory. KidsClick! Checks its sites every two months to ensure that they are still active and available, removing some 200 dead sites after each review. Secondary teachers should consider assigning Searchopolis. Like Yahooligans and KidsClick!, Searchopolis is a directory, and its current categories are humanities, social sciences, languages, history, science and maths, plus over a dozen reference sources. Special Searches. A Collection of Special Search Engines for Teachers. For a more up-to-date list go to Leiden University (the Netherlands). Arts Search Engines Use these arts search engines to find fine arts on the Web, including online art museums and galleries, specific artists, and more. ADAM: Art, Design, Architecture and Media Information Gateway A "virtual library" of digital art, design, architecture and media resources, created by librarians who apply strict quality-control standards for inclusion. Art AtoZ Art AtoZ is a directory of practical links for working artists, including brokerages, grants, supplies, and other resources. Artcyclopedia A comprehensive index of every artist represented at hundreds of museum sites, image archives, and other online resources. Art Imagebase More than 75,000 works from over 12,000 artists are accessible through this image database from the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. ArtLinx A huge alphabetical links directory to arts sites on the Web, from the knowledgeable folks at desktoppublishing.com. FineArt Forum Resource Directory Over 1000 art resources that can be accessed via Internet Web sites, gophers, ftp sites, and mailing lists. The Internet Art Database The Internet Art Database currently contains art from over 2,000 web sites, including contributions from galleries, dealers, artists, and individual collectors. Internet Arts Resources Search for an art gallery, museum, artist, publication, bookseller, exposition, or art school. US Library of Congress Illustrated Guides Guides to LoC special collections, illustrated with thumbnail images, including European Collections, Music, Theater, Dance, and Prints and Photographs. UrlART A meta-guide to the art directories of the major search engines, the most important art resources, photographic resources, art newsgroups, and art magazines. World Wide Arts Resources A searchable directory with links to more than 970 museum, exhibitions, artists, and other arts-related resources. Find Web sites featuring more than 15,000 artists and their paintings, photography, sculpture, design, and other creations. Israel Art Search Resource Excellent search engine. Art Seek A good starting point for finding artists in most areas of the world. Russian Colours Russian Colours Fine Art Gallery and Russian Painting Collectors Club present Painting of the SOVIET Age from the Leningrad School and invite you to browse through of our virtual exhibitions. Yahoo Art History