Not all search engines are created equal. The way results are collected and displayed can make a big difference to the speed of your search. Each of these sites provides a novel approach to scanning the Web.

Kartoo

The Kartoo search engine is all about aesthetics and personalization. Instead of presenting search results as a simple list in order of relevance, Kartoo displays them as a loosely organized flow chart. Roll your mouse over a particular Web site and lines appear connecting that Web site to the sites to which it links. The results can

also be personalized to reflect past searches, if you’re willing to let Kartoo track such things.

This engine isn't recommended for those with lows peed Internet access, however, as the site features some amusing little animations that could slow down your search.

Vivisimo

Vivisimo is a bit like a mix between Google and the old Yahoo directory approach. Results are displayed in the typical list format but are also displayed along the left hand side of the page in clusters.

A search for the word "oatmeal," for example, will organize the results in sub-categories such as recipes, soap, peach, bread and Quaker. Those who appreciate clusters might want to download the Vivisimo toolbar. Once installed, the toolbar resides in your Web browser for instant access to the tool.

Each listing also includes information on how that site is ranked by mainstream search engines such as Google, Lycos, MSN and Looksmart.

Another favourite feature is Vivisimo's preview pane: Simply click on the "preview" link that accompanies any entry and that Web page will appear within the Vivisimo results page.

Vivisimo is a real up-and-comer: A recent survey conducted by About.com ranked it the second most popular search engine.

The Librarians'Index

to the Internet

One of the problems with researching a subject online is it's hard to tell if the information you find is accurate. The Librarians' Index to the Internet, orLII, has a motto: "Information you can trust." Its searchable directory only contains Web sites that have been personally approved by at least two librarians. Each listing is also annotated by one of the people who felt it was worth including.

While you might not have heard of the LII, the Web site has a long history. According to the LII, the search tool began as the bookmark file of a librarian back in 1990. Today, it includes more than 15,000 online resources. If you’re a real info hound, you might want to sign up for the LII newsletter that profiles dozens of new finds every week.

Direct Search

Maintained by renowned librarian Gary Price, Direct Search offers a way into the so-called in visible Web. Most popular search engines use automated software to scan the Internet, but these Web crawlers can’t access all kinds of files. As Price and colleague Chris Sherman explain in their book The Invisible Web, crawlers can't find some files because they simply aren't linked from other accessible files. There's simply no visible trail leading to these documents. Others files, such as the animated ones made with Macromedia’s Flash software, can’t be easily read by machines so their contents can’t be properly indexed. Many more pages are effectively locked away in data bases: Even if the database is free to the public, the Web crawler simply has no way to access the pages within because of the way the interface is set up.

Direct Search provides access to many of those otherwise hidden pages.

Open Directory Project

You might not have heard of the Open Directory Project, or ODP, but you've probably used its database. With 590,000 categories, it's not surprising that the ODP database is the brains behind several popular directories, including Google and Lycos. ODP is loved for more than just its size, however. The project was founded on a spirited philosophy that strikes a chord with many surfers.

Some search sites charge a fee for listings. For instance, if you want your Web site on canaries to be included, you have to pay up. The ODP prides itself on its free listing service.

And unlike search engines, which are managed by a small paid staff, the Open Directory Project is basically run by more than 64,000 community-minded citizens who consider sites for inclusion. ODP editors claim this is the best strategy to deal with an ever-expanding Internet.

A great way to make your search more efficient is to start with an engine tailored to your topic. The sites listed below show just how eclectic those engines can be.

Scirus

If you’re looking for scientific information, Scirus.com is a great starting point. An international scientific advisory board oversees Scirus to ensure it meets the needs of scientists. (Two of the 15 advisors are from Canadian institutions!)

According the company that runs Scirus, Elsevier B.V., the engine searches 167 million "science-specific" Web pages. That includes a wealth of scientific papers saved in special formats that are overlooked by other search engines.

Eliminating non-science sites can make many searches far more efficient. If you're a chemist searching for information on oxygen, for example, you probably aren’t interested in a link to Oprah's Web site by the same name.

YelloPet

Based on the name, you might expect YeloPet is a portal for pet enthusiasts of all kinds. Actually, it's a little more selective. YelloPet features three subsites: one for cats (http:// cats.yellopet.com), one for dogs (http://dogs.yellopet.com) and one for horses (http://horses.yellopet.com).

Why bother with such a topic specific search engine? When you want to find information on felines and not Cats. The Musical, YelloPets proves particularly useful as these engines only included animal-related links.

Sub-categories include interesting topics such as "Your Horse and the Law."

Wood Center

The Wood Center search engine is a great example of the kinds of specialized search tools you can find online if you give up the Google fixation.

Based in Montreal, the Wood Center includes many Web sites that are written in both French and English.

Each entry in the Wood Center database lists the different translations available. Topics span the life cycle of a tree, from the forest to the sawmill.

The database might not be very large, but it's practical for wood related searches. Unlike Google, a Wood Center search for pine won't reveal a bunch of Web sites for the places like the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

Rail Search

Who knew there were more than 10,000 railroad-related links on the Internet? Rail Search has them all indexed, for your convenience.

While obviously not for everyone, this search engine will make the railroad fanatic in your family drool. Railroad model information is even broken down by type, if you're knowledgeable enough to know the difference between an 'N’ scale and an 'O' scale. (For those who don't know the difference, it all has to do with the relative size of the real train to the model.) Links to industry sites and fan pages are also included along with some great links for travellers looking to take a trip by train.

Topix

Created by some of the founders of the Open Directory Project, Topix.net calls itself the Internet's largest news site. The Web site pulls together articles from more than 7,000 media outlets ranging from small-town papers to the BBC.