Beyond
Google — Alternate Search Engines Enhance Research
By
Beverly Butula
Special to Wisconsin Law Journal
July
21, 2004
The
majority of us in the legal field utilize the Internet on a daily basis. E-mail
access and research via the Web is commonplace. The type of research conducted
could range from locating a phone number, to obtaining a government form, to gathering
company data, to finding a recent court decision. If the searcher is not sure
of the Web site address (URL), a list of possible Web pages is usually retrieved
through a search engine.
Studies
have shown that Google (www.google.com) is
the most commonly used search engine. Google is wonderful and is usually a first
stop for most general searches. However, individuals who research for a living
take it a step further and run their query in more than one search engine. Why?
Because the results from each engine, either the ranking and/or actual sites,
will be quite different in each. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, so
to speak. In her article “Searching about Search Engines,” Cindy Carlson
noted that utilizing more than one search engine can “fill in coverage gaps”
and put the currency of the indexing into perspective.
Using
other search engines, virtual libraries, and portals in addition to, or instead
of, Google can enhance the user’s end results. Remember, no search engine
will retrieve everything. In fact, most only scratch the surface. Choosing the
right site to begin a project will depend on the type of information needed and
what the user already knows about the subject.
Popping
key terms into Google is the perfect solution for obtaining quick general information.
However, when conducting more in-depth research, the first step is to determine
if the Web is the best resource. Consider standard book research or an online
subscription-based product such as Westlaw, Lexis, or LOISLAW. If the decision
is to proceed via the Web, it may prove worthwhile to run the query through several
search tools.
So,
the next time you are conducting legal or detailed research online, try some of
the sites provided below. This is only a small sampling of options available.
For a more comprehensive listing, check out either Search Engine Watch (www.searchenginewatch.com)
or Search Engine Showdown (www.searchengineshowdown.com).
SEARCH
ENGINES:
Vivisimo
(www.vivisimo.com)
This
tool is a “clustering engine.” It automatically categorizes the results,
refining the search, and offers a very clean interface. Users can search the entire
Web or limit it to a specific source. For example, the searcher can just run the
query in PubMed, FirstGov, CNN, or eBay.
Teoma
(www.teoma.gov)
Teoma’s
index of sites is not the size of Google, but still produces a quality results
list. According to it’s “About” page, Teoma utilizes an approach
called “subject specific popularity” to rank the results.
This
engine offers two special features — “Refine” and “Resources.”
Refine suggests terms, which link to a more specific outcome list, as a means
to focus the search. Resources are links to other related topics and Web pages
which may be of interest.
Gigablast
(www.gigablast.com)
The
interface is very simple and it has no advertisements. Its index is extremely
small compared to the major players and it even offers links to several other
engines. Basically, this site promotes the use of alternative engines. However,
it produces good results.
Gigablast
supports Boolean operators and offers a special feature called “GigaBits.”
GigaBits (found at the top of the results page) are other terms that may assist
in refining the initial search.
AllTheWeb
(www.alltheweb.com)
This
search engine, powered by Yahoo, offers Web, picture, news, video and audio searches
from its homepage. A favorite of some professional researchers, it supports Boolean
operators and permits the user to “search within the results” to refine
the hit list.
OTHER
SEARCHING TOOLS:
FirstGov
(www.firstgov.gov)
This
is a comprehensive gateway to everything government. Searching this site will
lead the user to information from all levels of federal and state government.
FirstGov is a portal with almost endless links to agencies, statistics, forms,
laws & regulations, business resources and tribal governments.
American
Law Sources Online (ALSO) (www.lawsource.com/also/)
The
homepage describes this site as a “comprehensive, uniform, and useful compilation
of links to freely accessible on-line sources of law for the US and Canada.”
In other words, it does not provide the actual information, but rather, links
to the places the user needs to go. Google powers the searching and the site is
regularly updated.
Federal
and state legal resources are presented in a very clean format. Test it out by
choosing “Wisconsin.” Find access to court decisions, legislation, local
rules, administrative information plus much more. There is also a comprehensive
listing of law reviews, uniform laws, and amicus curiae briefs.
InfoMine
(http://infomine.ucr.edu/)
Created
by librarians, it is a great place for academic type research. Its powerful search
engine supports truncation, as well as, Boolean and proximity operators.
Subject
areas include: Business & Economics, Ejournals, Government Info, Maps &
GIS, and SocSci/Humanities. Because the results are “expert selected”
the hit list is usually quite small but relevant. Fee-based resources are clearly
marked.
Bev
Butula is a reference librarian at Davis & Kuelthau in Milwaukee.
