
Cool Tools columnist Richard Byrne presents some free options for research that don’t require a login, along with a few quick tips to aid student searches.
May 18, 2013
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Cool Tools columnist Richard Byrne presents some free options for research that don’t require a login, along with a few quick tips to aid student searches.

A new app for the iPad and Android devices uses a highly visual format to provide a different search experience for the tablet user. More than just a pretty interface, Izik—which debuted last month as the top reference app in iTunes—is based on Blekko, the search engine that boasts higher quality results based on human curation.

“When it comes to search, your favorite search engine and your favorite databases may not necessarily be the right places to launch inquiry,” writes Joyce Valenza. Recently she’s tried an overlooked feature of one of her favorite resources, LibGuides, to access the best resources via the expert hive.

Google’s new Search Education hub offers leveled lesson plans for K-12, search activities from AGoogleADay, and an archive of webinars.

Information expert Gary Price runs down the options in general-purpose search engines and specialty search tools.

Librarians shared the best strategies when working with students and research in a recent webinar. The bottom line? The need to push them to think beyond the results—and instead examine how they got there.



















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