Search Tool Checklist

• Carefully choose your browser's starting page.
• Create Favorites/Bookmarks and organize them into folders.
• Look for a Web guide to your topic

• Know when not to search. Not all useful information is available for free, especially journal articles and some statistical information.

• If you need...

• A few good hits fast?
  Try a metasearch engine such as DogPile http://www.dogpile.com/.

• The top level site for an organization, government agency, or university?
  Try a subject directory such as Yahoo http://www.yahoo.com/.

• A person or place?
  Try Alta Vista http://www.altavista.com/ and start your search terms with capital letters to limit to proper names.

• Information about current events?
  Use Yahoo http://www.yahoo.com to find a news site such as CNN http://www.cnn.com.

• An answer to a common question?
  Use AskJeeves http://askjeeves.com/.

• Help in refining your search strategy?
  Use HotBot's http://www.hotbot.com/ drop-down menus

• An extensive search where you can refine your search strategy?
  Try AltaVista's http://www.altavista.com/ Advanced Search.

• Pick two tools and learn them well!
  Read the online help to learn each tool's unique search tricks and check often for new features.

• Ask a librarian.