Here are some search sites that could be useful to searchers, especially
those focusing on books, science, and other specialized information:
o
What it does: RefSeek is an academic search engine designed for students and
researchers. It indexes over a billion sources, including encyclopedias,
monographs, magazines, and academic papers. It simplifies the process of
finding credible information by filtering out non-academic content.
o
Use case: Ideal for students and researchers looking for authoritative sources
without the clutter of commercial or non-scholarly results.
o
What it does: WorldCat is a global catalog of library collections, connecting users
to the holdings of over 20,000 libraries worldwide. It helps locate rare books,
journals, and other materials, and even shows the nearest library where an item
is available.
o
Use case: Perfect for finding physical copies of rare or hard-to-find books and
resources.
o
What it does: SpringerLink provides access to over 10 million scientific documents,
including books, journal articles, and research protocols. It covers a wide
range of disciplines, from engineering to social sciences.
o
Use case: A go-to resource for researchers and academics seeking peer-reviewed
scientific content.
o
What it does: Bioline International is a digital library specializing in bioscience
journals published in developing countries. It provides free access to
high-quality research that might otherwise be overlooked.
o
Use case: Valuable for researchers in the life sciences, particularly those
interested in global health and biodiversity.
o
What it does: RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) is a collaborative effort by
volunteers from 102 countries to collect and share nearly 4 million
publications on economics and related fields.
o
Use case: Essential for economists, policymakers, and social scientists looking
for working papers, articles, and datasets.
o
What it does: Science.gov is a U.S. government search engine that indexes over 2,200
scientific websites and databases. It provides access to more than 200 million
articles, reports, and datasets from federal agencies.
o
Use case: A comprehensive resource for researchers seeking U.S.
government-funded scientific research.
o
What it does: BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine) is one of the most powerful
search tools for academic texts, indexing over 100 million scientific
documents. Approximately 70% of these documents are freely accessible.
o
Use case: Excellent for open-access research across a wide range of disciplines.
Additional Sites for Searchers:
o
What it does: CORE aggregates open-access research outputs from repositories and
journals worldwide. It provides access to millions of scholarly articles, with
a focus on making research freely available.
o
Use case: Ideal for researchers looking for open-access papers across all
disciplines.
2. PubMed
o
What it does: The most comprehensive search engine for medical and life sciences
literature, hosted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It includes
millions of research articles, clinical studies, and systematic reviews.
o
Use case: provides up to date and reliable information on
medical issues.
3. JSTOR
o
What it does: A digital library offering access to thousands of academic journals,
books, and primary sources across humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
o
Use case: While not all content is free, JSTOR provides a
valuable free-access program for individuals.
o What it does: A widely used academic search
engine that indexes scholarly articles, theses, books, conference papers, and
patents.
o Use case: It helps users track citations
and access full-text articles when available.
5.
ArXiv
o What it does: A free distribution service
for research in physics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative biology,
and related disciplines.
o Use case: Many papers are available
before formal peer review, making it an excellent source for cutting-edge
research.
6. www.doaaj.org (Directory of Open Access Journals)
o What it does: DOAJ is a
community-curated directory that indexes high-quality, peer-reviewed
open-access journals. It covers a wide range of subjects and ensures that all
listed journals meet strict quality standards.
o
Use case: A trusted resource for finding reputable open-access journals.
o
What it does: ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is a U.S. government
database focused on education research. It includes journal articles, reports,
and other resources related to teaching and learning.
o
Use case: Essential for educators, policymakers, and students in the field of
education.
o
What it does: JSTOR is a digital library offering access to thousands of academic
journals, books, and primary sources. While some content is behind a paywall,
many institutions provide free access to their members.
o
Use case: A must-use resource for humanities and social sciences researchers.
o
What it does: arXiv is a preprint repository for research papers in physics,
mathematics, computer science, and related fields. It allows researchers to
share their findings before formal peer review.
o
Use case: Great for staying up-to-date with cutting-edge research in STEM
fields.
Keep a List of Sites You’ve Never Heard Of!
·
If you come across search
engines that you haven’t heard of before, consider keeping a list and testing
their usefulness. Many niche search engines provide access to specialized
information that may not appear in standard search results. Always
be on the lookout for niche or lesser-known resources. For example:
- www.digitalpubliclibraryofamerica.org (DPLA): A portal to millions of
digitized materials from U.S. libraries, archives, and museums.
- www.europeana.eu: A digital library of European cultural
heritage, including art, manuscripts, and historical documents.
- www.trove.nla.gov.au: An Australian database of books, images,
newspapers, and archives.
- www.ssrn.com: A repository for preprints in the social
sciences and humanities.
- www.osti.gov: The U.S. Department of Energy’s portal for
scientific and technical information.
By exploring these resources, searchers can
uncover a wealth of information that might not be easily accessible through
mainstream search engines.
