The Internet is easy to use, but using it well is not easy.
Have you ever discovered a really useful website and then not been able to locate it again? This is not an uncommon event, however there is a search engine that will remember your search history for you and store it so that you can access it from any computer.
A9 (www.a9.com) is a search engine subsidised by Amazon.com (a premier online bookstore). It combines a number of searchable online resources into one site. For instance, enter a keyword/s to describe your topic and you’ll be able to view a number of search results all on one page, displayed in a flexible column format which can be customised by you. There will be a web and image result sourced from Google, a movie result courtesy of the Internet Movie Database and a reference result from GuruNet. GuruNet is a search engine which provides access to a range of reference tools such as dictionaries and encyclopedias. Consequently it will not direct you to other websites but instantly provide you with facts and information.
A9’s ability to search a number of resources at once is a great time saver, however it’s the additional features made available through the toolbar that make it truly worthwhile. The A9 toolbar, which can be picked up from the site, should only take a few minutes to download.
Once you have it, A9 will log where you have been on the Internet and will indicate when you last visited a site eg “clicked on 1 month ago” or “clicked on 2 hours ago”.
It will reference the web pages you saw and automatically save your entries. You can even make a diary of personalised notes about the web pages you have viewed. Other features include the ability to create your own bookmarks and automatic highlighting of search terms. Your bookmarks, search history and diary are stored on the A9 servers and are therefore accessible from any computer you use.
Useful tools such as those provided by A9 give all of us the opportunity to increase our Internet research skills by tracking and documenting our own personal searching behaviour. It allows us the chance to reflect on our previous search strategies via the diary and search history and become more efficient users of the Internet.
Need some help searching the Web? Contact us and we'll do our best to help. Anything useful or interesting will be included in future articles (Confidentiality and your privacy are assured).
Thuringowa Library Services - Information Desk
Ph: 4773 8601
Email: infodesk@thuringowa.qld.gov.au
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Searchlight is a weekly column written by CityLibraries Townsville. It is published in the Townsville Bulletin newspaper and on this 'blog every Monday. Searchlight aims to make your internet searching more effective, efficient and fun by reviewing search tools, providing searching hints and tips, and helping with tricky search topics.
