Blekko (http://blekko.com/) is part search engine and part search engine creation resource and uses a concept it calls slashtags. You create a tag, give it a memorable name, then associate appropriate websites to it. This tells the search engine that it should only search those websites that are included as part of the tag. So if you have a number of websites that you think are of good quality in a particular subject area, it's really easy to create what is essentially your own search engine which will simply search those websites.
You can share your tags with friends or colleagues, and you can use some of the pre-populated tags that Blekko offers. So, for example, you could do a search for global warming/conservative or Congress/humor. You can also get access to recent material with the /date tag. In addition, you can get direct access to third-party websites such as YouTube or Twitter using the appropriate tag.
You don't have to register to use Blekko since it provides users with a number of built-in slashtags which you can see at http://blekko.com/tag/show and try them out. If you want to create your own tags, you do need to log in and create an account but this is a simple matter. The results page is clear and easy to read and I particularly liked the option to explore a website in more detail by clicking on the SEO option. Another option allows you check quickly to see how many links are pointing to a particular result.
Phil Bradley in CILIP Update
