# \[Late\] Monday Connect: Marginalia Search
**URL:** https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/late-monday-connect-marginalia-search/9355
**Category:** The Plaza
**Tags:** monday-connect
**Created:** [September 9, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/late-monday-connect-marginalia-search/9355 "2026-09-09T15:41:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@cogdog](https://connect.oeglobal.org/u/cogdog)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/late-monday-connect-marginalia-search/9355/1 "2026-09-09T15:41:20Z")
Uh-oh Monday was a holiday here and tuesday was catching up, so now Wednesday is the day to post a new #monday-connect
Given how much people lament web search being “broken” and many reaching for GenAI to funnel them answers, I am re-assured to find alternative, open source approaches to discovery of the interesting corners of the web. That’s what I found in [Marginalia Search](https://marginalia-search.com/)
It’s designed as a tool of both search and discovery that prioritizes non-commercial content. It collects no information nor tracks from its users and is compliant with GPDR. It carries [a strong statement of its philosophy](https://about.marginalia-search.com/)
> Marginalia Search is an independent open source Internet search engine operating out of Sweden. It is principally developed and operated by [Viktor Lofgren](https://www.marginalia.nu/) …
>
> A search engine’s ability to answer natural language queries comes at the cost of its ability to discover websites. The more human the answers become, the less human the results become. This has lead to a web that feels both small and lonely.
Rather than trying to explain, give it a try. And @cjnewton I think you will like this [as much as rabbithole](https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/monday-connect-venturing-down-the-rabbit-hole-with-rabbithole/9317) 😉
My test search on “open education” brought many familiar results, so I tried [a Marginalia search on open pedagogy](https://marginalia-search.com/search?query=open+pedagogy&sst=SE-29622626c6f49a95), finding quite a few new and interesting resources.
One of the features is you can [filter results for Academic sources on open pedagogy](https://marginalia-search.com/search?query=open+pedagogy&profile=academia&newfilter=true&sst=SE-29622626c6f49a95)
And you find more curious and likely obscure to the Big Giant Search Engines with filters like [vintage](https://marginalia-search.com/search?query=open+pedagogy&profile=academia&newfilter=true&sst=SE-29622626c6f49a95) or [forum discussions](https://marginalia-search.com/search?query=open+pedagogy&profile=forum&newfilter=true&sst=SE-26353574e0189f19).
Most often people equate web searching with finding exact “answers” hence the appeal of GenAI search, but more often than not I am looking to discover and find a broad range of results, to me its [a difference of search being a narrowing funnel or wide spray](https://cogdogblog.com/2026/08/funnel-and-spray/).
Mostly I appreciate this is an effort of mostly one developer to counteract the search monopolies. But don’t take my word for it, [give Marginalia a try yoursel](https://marginalia-search.com/)f and experiment with the different search tools and filter.
(nice to see they seem to index OEGlobal and OEG Connect, humble brag!)
Do you know something we should feature as a #monday-connect ?? I’m always lookign for curious and interesting web things.
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### Author:  [@cjnewton](https://connect.oeglobal.org/u/cjnewton)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/late-monday-connect-marginalia-search/9355/2 "2026-09-09T20:01:33Z")
Thanks Alan - an intriguing tool!
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### Author:  [@agrey](https://connect.oeglobal.org/u/agrey)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/late-monday-connect-marginalia-search/9355/3 "2026-10-14T15:49:31Z")
Hmm, I like the idea, but I’m not thrilled with the results of my test.
I did a search for “open education KPU”, and our open ed website (kpu.ca/open) ranked #7 in the results, plus it was flagged for “Has Ads” even though it doesn’t. Our Wordpress toolkits site (wordpress.kpu.ca/open) doesn’t appear in the results at all. The very first “also at” link is the wrong (old) page name, and 2 other links are for very old and barely used pages.
I’m sure I could get it to work better if I tried, but if it “failed” a simple test, I don’t think I want to pursue it…
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### Author:  [@cogdog](https://connect.oeglobal.org/u/cogdog)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://connect.oeglobal.org/t/late-monday-connect-marginalia-search/9355/4 "2026-10-14T17:18:03Z")
Thanks for giving it a spin, Amanda, it’s hard to judge from just my own tests. I’d give it a chance for only general topic queries.