Searching the Web

Lesson 2: Using General and Specialized Directories

General Directories to Explore

Ready? Set? Search!

Now that you know what a directory is and how to use one, it’s time for you to get out there and explore! An alphabetical list of general directories follows. (Favorites are in bold type.) Note that some of the tools may be hybrid tools (part search engine, part directory).

Directory Name	URL (Web Page Address)
About.com	http://about.com/
CompletePlanet	http://www.completeplanet.com/
Galaxy Directory	http://www.galaxy.com/
goGuides.org	http://www.goguides.org/
Google Directory	http://www.google.com/dirhp
IllumiRate	http://www.illumirate.com/
JoeAnt	http://www.joeant.com/
Librarian's Index to the Internet	http://lii.org/
Linkopedia	http://www.linkopedia.com/
LookSmart Directory	http://www.looksmart.com
MavicaNet Multilingual	http://www.mavicanet.com/
MSN Search	http://search.msn.com/
Open Directory Project	http://dmoz.org/
SightQuest	http://www.sightquest.com/
Skaffe	http://www.skaffe.com/
Slinkyslate UK	http://www.slinkyslate.co.uk/
WebWorldIndex	http://www.webworldindex.com/
WWW Virtual Library	http://www.vlib.org/
Yahoo!	http://www.yahoo.com

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Try this!
Using at least 3 or four of the directories in the list above, point and click your way to the topics listed below. (No typing; just clicking!) Be sure to take mental note of the different (or similar) paths you took to find your target in each tool.

1. Baby names
2. Bodybuilding supplements
3. Celtic symbol tattoos
4. Native American folklore or myths
5. Tax reform

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Help is on the Way

Whenever you test out a new search tool, the first place you should head is the tool’s help or FAQ files. Taking five minutes to review this information may save you a heck of a lot of time later on.

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