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Sometimes search engines are too big for your
research needs. |
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Specialized tools include: |
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People finders |
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Email locators |
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Reverse phone directories |
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Mapping tools |
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Yellow page directories |
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People finders usually provide listed phone
numbers from around the nation and world. |
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www.anywho.com |
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www.switchboard.com |
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www.theultimates.com/white |
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www.worldpages.com |
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Some services specialize in email addresses. |
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The Internet Address Finder at www.iaf.net |
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WED – The World Email Directory: |
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http://worlde-mail.com |
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Most people finders and email locators have
reverse directories. |
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These can search “in reverse” – if you have a
phone number or email address, they will locate the name of the person. |
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Many times you will need to find experts and
authorities on varied topics. |
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Specialized subject directories, such as Argus
can help: www.clearinghouse.com |
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The Foundation for American Communications, a
journalism organization, keeps a great list of experts for reporters at: http://facsnet.org |
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Popular mapping tools provide driving directions
and maps to destinations. These include: |
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www.mapquest.com |
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http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps/py |
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The U.S. Geological Survey provides maps at: |
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http://mapping.usgs.gov |
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Just like the town phone book, the Internet has
yellow pages – for businesses around the world. |
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www.bigbook.com |
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www.bigyellow.com |
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You may not have access to the many specialized
tools. Some search tools provide
listings of other search tools. |
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www.search.com |
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www.beaucoup.com |
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Many reputable (and disreputable) providers will
get you information about people from credit reports to driving records to
bank accounts to unlisted phone numbers. |
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www.discreetdata.com |
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Private investigators have become experts at
getting information online. |
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For many people, these providers raise serious
issues. |
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Should our lives be available online? |
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How much information about people should be
available online? |
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Notes