SJLibrary.org, a collaboration of San Jose State University and San Jose Public Library system.

Search Tips

Use AND, OR, and NOT to combine keywords in a search. This allows you to narrow or broaden your search:

AND AND narrows a search. Both terms must be present in any references you retrieve. You get only the gray portion where the terms both occur. NOT NOT narrows a search, excluding a term. Records with the first term will be retrieved, but any records with the second term will be eliminated. The gray circle is pared down. OR OR expands a search. Either or both of the terms are present in the references you retrieve. You get all of both circles. Example: women AND elected Example: president not vice Example: landslide OR unanimous

Search Engines

To find out which search engines are out there and how they compare, try:

• Search Engines and Searching the Net directories from Google.
• FindSounds.com, sound effects and musical instrument samples on the Web
• Finding Images on the Web includes search engines, downloading, and copyright
• Search Engine Comparison from the Kansas City Public Library
• Search Engine Showdown includes comparisons, statistics, analysis, tips, news.
• Search Engine Reviews by Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Watch

Tutorials and Definitions

Here are a few tutorials, guides, dictionaries, etc. to expand your knowledge and skills with the 'Net.

• Web Searching Tips by Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Watch
• Internet Tutorials page from the SUNY Albany Libraries
• Dictionaries and Glossaries of computer and Internet terms
• Webopedia online dictionary and search engine for computer and Internet technology.
• Netlingo "is an online dictionary about the Internet."