Subject directories are collections of Websites that someone has selected and organized into subject categories and subcategories.

At Red Deer College these tools are called subject starters because they are a starting point for research on the Web.

Some have been created in tandem with search engines, for example Google or Yahoo, and some exist as stand-alone search tools.

Subject directories offer access to a smaller number of Websites than a search engine because of the human intervention required to gather these Websites into the directory.

Although you may find fewer Websites with a subject directory, you are more likely to find a relevant site because someone will have looked at the page and decided that it deals with a specific topic.

Best for browsing and topics that are broad or general.

You may have to click through categories and subcategories.

A list of useful subject directories can be found on the Library's Website under Search and Find, Websites, Web Search Tools, Subject Starters.