[WEB4LIB] Terminology problem

[Susan Colowick]

We use the term "search tools" to include both search engines and
directories. Technically, I guess they all use a search engine, and that
term is frequently used for both types of index, e.g., "Search Engine Watch"
(http://www.searchenginewatch.com/). 

Susan M. Colowick
North Olympic Library System
2210 S. Peabody
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360-417-8501
scolowick at nols.org
http://www.nols.org/

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Even Flood [mailto:even.flood at ub.ntnu.no]
> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 6:00 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] Terminology problem
> 
> 
> Folks, 
> 
> I hope you can help a non-English member with this one.
> Usually I get along OK, but now I need some help.
> 
> 
> I have some problems with terminology and would really
> appreciate some advice. I am going to give a seminar
> on Internet use in English, and I need some advice on
> what to call the different search tools.
> 
> 1) We have directories - indexed or at least categorized
> like Yahoo!, Bubl, WWW Virtual Library and my latest
> favourite, Open Directory Project. All entries are
> screened at some point by a human. I call these directories -
> no problem. 
> 
> 2) Then there are  the robot generated indexes -
> Google, NorthernLight, Fast etc. What is the
> common word for all these?
> 
> 3) Then there is my quest for a word that covers both
> categories.
> 
> My main problem is - when to use "search engine" 
> 
> Is this term used for number  two of the above, the robot generated 
> indexes solely, or for both one and two. In other words, does the
> word "search engine" include both directories and robot indexes?
> If only the robots, then what is a word for both categories?
> And if "search engine" covers both, then what
> word is used for the robot indexes only?
> 
> (Did any of this make sense?)
> 
> Even
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------------
> Even Flood,  Senior Academic Librarian               
> RBT/Norwegian DIANE Center, 
> University Library of Trondheim, 
> N 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
> Phone: +47 73 59 51 62, Fax +47 73 59 60 97
> http://www.ub.ntnu.no/diane/
> "Come, and take choice of all my library, and so  beguile thy sorrow."
> 				(Shakespeare)
>