Specialist search engines

Google search engines seem to cover ANY query!

The image search can be used for posters, to enhance assignments and to satisfy any curiosity. Being able to limit images by size, type or predominant colour is fantastic. Copyright must be considered when using any image. Flickr seems to focus only on photographs but with additional information such as the authors name, where the photograph was taken and sometimes a little more information. It's creative commons feature allows one the use of the image with acknowledgement to the creator.Google, yahoo, bing and exalead have very similar features.

The video search can be used for anything that requires viewing eg: "how to prune roses", "how to make the perfect omelette", and the demonstrations are particularly useful when learning how to use certain applications eg:Web 2.0. Searching for subjects was very easy with options provided for 'related videos, funny, popular, etc. I found amazing video footage of "Angkor Wat" on YouTube, Blinkx and Bing and it was very interesting to see Heather Stone doing "The Reference Interview"! Blinkx was particularly useful for viewing past episodes of television programmes and, although it only seemed to offer prescribed programmes, one could still choose the genre.

Google book search was excellent in tracking down books, by using keywords, if one has forgotten the title. It also provides reviews, related topics and books, the ability to read popular passages as well as references from various sources.

Using Google's book search to find articles in magazines was unbelievable! Patrons are always asking for articles they found in magazines and this is a fantastic way to track them down. Thumbnail covers of magazines are shown although the magazine name can also be entered in the search box. The quickest way is to use the advanced search option of title, exact phrase, full view text and date limiters. I found an excellent article about the Vietnam War from Life Magazine January 1975.