Web Search–Meta Search Engines
Meta Search and Google
Especially important for those of you who do search training!
You probably already know that a majority of meta search engines do not provide results from Google. Why? According to a Google spokesperson, “Google’s terms of service clearly states that meta engines cannot automatically grab results from Google. We’re happy to let any metasearcher use us, under exactly the same terms that we’re happy to sell results to other people, too. O.K., easy enough to understand. However, a few meta search engines claim to include Google results. This is not entirely accurate. I ran several searches (common terms) and limited the meta engine to only return Google material. What happened? Empty result sets.
Examples:
MetaCrawler (Google used to have a paid agreement)
||| MetaCrawler search limited to Google
Metor ||| Metor search limited to Google
Lexibot (an add-on app)
Limit to Google and receive zero results.
Bottom Line
In some cases, you may see Google results if the meta engine uses Yahoo. Google provides an abridged version of its database to Yahoo. I am currently reviewing other meta search tools and will report back. Finally, what you see is not always what you get. Make sure meta search tools deliver what they promise.

Web Tools–IHarvest
IHarvest To Discontinue Web Service
IHarvest allowed you to copy an entire web page and save it to a remote server for access from any web browser. Yesterday, the company announced it’s discontinuing this free service. It will still offer products for the enterprise market. Another goody bites the dust. However, all hope is not lost. If this type of tool sounds useful to you take a look at Surfsaver.Com. It does not provide remote access but it can be useful for saving copies of web pages to computer. It’s free, at least for the time being. An advanced version ($) is also available. Another option would be Webforia. Thanks to W.N. for the IHarvest news tip.

Digital Repositories
RLG (Research Library Group) Seeks Comments,
Attributes of a Trusted Repository for Digital Materials: RLG and OCLC Release Paper for Comment
From the news release, “Dialog is needed on the standards, criteria, and mechanisms for certifying digital information repositories, to help achieve an international consensus. The report is relevant to local, regional, national, and international efforts�successful scholarship in the future will depend heavily on coordinated, interoperable digital archiving.”
News Release ||| Direct to Full-Text

Intellectual Freedom
“First World Report on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom Launched”
From the story, “The first World Report on libraries and intellectual freedom was launched last week at the Annual Conference of the International of the Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in Boston, USA. The Report, that was prepared by IFLA’s Committee for Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (IFLA/FAIFE), intends to provide a picture on the status of libraries and intellectual freedom throughout the world. More than 140 countries have been contacted and 46 have submitted country reports, many of which illustrate cases of violation of free access to information and freedom of expression in libraries worldwide.”
See Also: Direct to IFLA for addtional info

Copyright–United States
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education
“Libraries Criticize Federal Report on Digital-Copyright Law”
From the article, “Advocates for libraries are criticizing a U.S. Copyright Office report, released late Wednesday, that recommends against revising copyright law to assure that libraries and consumers can lend and archive software and other electronic material they purchase.”
See Also: Access the Full-Text of the U.S. Copyright Office Report,
Study Required by Section 104 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act”

Web Search–Ixquick
Source: Tornado-Insider.Com
Ixquick: a Metaengine Searching for Revenues

Full-Text Document Shelf (3 Items)
Immigration–Canada–Statistics
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Facts and Figures 2000: Immigration Overview
126 pages .pdf
—
Poverty–United States
Source: U.S. Census
Census Bureau Releases 1998 Poverty Estimates for States and District of Columbia
Summary ||| Link to Full-Text
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Petroleum–Marketing–United States
Source: EIA
Petroleum Marketing Annual, 2000

This entry was posted on Friday, August 31st, 2001 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.