DIRECTORIES
VS
SEARCH ENGINES




As a rule, there are two basic ways to locate information on the web:
one is to use a subject directory, and the other is to use a search
engine.

Below are some of the fundamental differences with the two approaches
to finding information.




DIRECTORIES

SEARCH ENGINES



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SECTION 1



DIRECTORIES




Directories


What:


Directories are a collection of web sites that are organized by broad subject
categories. When you search a directory, you are only searching the web sites
identified and included in that directory. Directories may be broad (covering
all subject areas), or subject specific (focusing on a particular subject).



How:

Directories are created by people. People have identified web sites and then
organized them for you. A good directory will also evaluate web sites for
quality and reliability before including them in the directory.



Why:


Why use a directory,
as opposed to a search engine?


• The human element: this is particularly true if the directory is selective in
the web sites it chooses to include. Check on the criteria that a directory uses
for web site inclusion - some directories are very selective, others are not.

• Browsing: directories tend to work best when you want to browse a relatively
broad subject. Starting with a directory can give you a good idea about the
amount and type of web based information on your topic.



Types of Directories:


• General Web Directories:

o Covers all subject areas

o Not selective - tend not to evaluate web sites for quality

o Large in size - will include and organize millions of web sites



College Library Services – get the facts!

CSN - College Library Services


• Academic Web Directories:

o Covers most academic subjects and disciplines

o Selective - some are more selective than others

o Limited in size - favoring quality over quantity



• Examples of Academic Web Directories:


Librarian's Index to the Internet
http://www.ipl.org/


Infomine
http://infomine.ucr.edu/


• Subject Web Directories:

o Covers a specific subject or discipline area

o Selective - tend to be quite selective

o Limited in size - limited by the nature of the subject




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SECTION 2



SEARCH ENGINES




Search Engines



What:

When you use a search engine to search the web, you are searching only
the web pages and web objects (i.e. PDF files) that the search engine
has identified at a given point in time. You are not seeing everything
that is available to you on the web - no search engine can do that. You
are not searching the web in "real time" - only a given point in time.



How:


Search engines use software called "spiders" and "crawlers" to routinely
scour the web to identify and index web pages. The software used by each
search engine works a bit differently. Consequently, the same search
conducted with different search engines will yield different results. You
may want to try your search in more than one search engine and compare
results.



Why:

Why use a search engine, as opposed to a directory?

• Size: when you use a search engine, you are searching through billions
of web pages.

• Searching for Specific Information: If you are looking for very specific
or complex information, try a search engine. Advanced search features
will allow you to refine your search and improve your results.



College Library Services – get the facts!

CSN - College Library Services


• Ranked Results:

search engines use algorithms (a mathematical formula) to place the most
relevant web sites at the beginning of the result list.



• Caution:

There is no guarantee that information found on the web is credible or
reliable. Critically evaluate any information you use for academic
assignments - especially information found on the web.



Directories vs. Search Engines
https://www.csn.edu/sites/default/files/legacy/PDFFiles/Library/directsearch3.pdf



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Search engine Z
http://searchenginez.com/




Share My Lesson
http://www.sharemylesson.com/home.aspx




SoftSchools.com
http://www.softschools.com/




E-Learning for Kids
http://www.e-learningforkids.org/




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Resource Help Directory
http://resourcehelp.com/




List of symbols
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_symbols




Random Facts
http://facts.randomhistory.com/




Open Access Journals
Search Engine (OAJSE)

http://oajse.com/




Virtual Search
http://www.virtualfreesites.com/




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