Washington and Lee University Library
What the Heck is This?
These are specialized forms of the Google search engine which have been designed at Washington and Lee University to search only the contents of specifically-chosen Web sites -- sites selected for their importance to the subject area and for their provision of information free-of-charge.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When you link to the search page for any of these tools, you will see and use a nearly-blank page, with a "Google custom search" box in the upper-left corner.
Think Tanks, Professional Associations, and Research Organizations
- Search Major Think Tanks and Public Policy GroupsSpecialized Google-based search engine from Harvard accesses the Web sites of over 700 of the most important think tanks and related groups.
- Search Important Poverty Studies SitesSearches the Web sites of 160+ organizations important to research in Poverty Studies at Washington and Lee University. Organizations are chosen from Professor Kelly Brotzman's course materials and from the "Tools" section of the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity.
- Search Professional Journalism and Mass Communications SitesDesigned to access about 200 important online resources created by practitioners and scholars of journalism and related fields, usually intended to reach an audience of journalists, students, and scholars.
- Search Strategic Communication AssociationsSearch important professional associations and similar groups in public relations, crisis communications, and advertising. Use the "Google Custom Search" box.
- Search Top Online News SitesThis guide identifies many of the most important and/or popular online news sites -- and provides a unique search engine to search their contents.
- Press Freedoms and Human Rights Sites -- SearchSearch about a dozen important sites.
- Search Education Think Tanks and AssociationsSearch over 35 important professional sites which focus on education policy in the U.S.
Government Associations and International Governmental Organizations
- Search International Governmental OrganizationsFocused on the contents of the Web sites of 25 major international governmental organizations.
- Search U.S. State Government AssociationsSearch engine focuses on Web sites of these professional associations, engaged in study of U.S. state government policies and activities.
- Search U.S. Local Government AssociationsSearch tool focused on the Web sites of professional associations engaged in studying and monitoring U.S. local government activities and policies.
Colleges and Universities
- Search the Oberlin Group and Associated Colleges of the SouthSearch the primary institutional Web sites of the Oberlin Group and Associated Colleges of the South, two groups of respected private liberal colleges which have associated to share expertise and experiences. (Enter search terms in the "Google Custom Search" box.)