Rollyo and Google search engines both work well. I really wanted to like Rollyo better, but the advertising and sponsored sites turn me off. Plus, it makes it harder to go through your true hits. It also seemed that the results came back a little quicker with Google, though that could be my computer. One nice thing about Google, after you search you have the option of further limiting the search by searching just those results.
How could this be used in the library? If we’re doing a particular program, we could create a custom search engine of suggested sites around the program, for instance on small business. If you wanted to keep up with certain library blogs you could set up a custom search. However, it seems the RSS feed might be better for that, but this would be another alternative. I wonder if we could set up a search for library supplies and be able to search and compare different vendor offerings?
I just set up a google search engine on library supply vendors: http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=012995203987614420735%3Azgtz8d8kmue
However, it doesn’t do what I want. When I searched “book jackets”, it only took me to Gaylord listings. It doesn’t go to the specific page of the catalog for the product. Well, I just wanted to try it though I knew the chances of search success were limited. Also, even though I asked to search just my sites, I do have sponsored links. At least these are off to the side, and not integrated into the search hits as they were for Rollyo.
1 Comment
November 9, 2007 at 12:45 am
Offering a custom search engine around a program topic is a cool idea!
The vendors search is also a good idea. Too bad it didn’t work. Unfortunately it’s also tough to know if it just needs refinement or if it’s just plain impossible with such a tool. But good try!
-Garrett