Abstract: Avoiding slow searches of stored information is described. During a search for notes or other information responsive to a search request, notes or other information that contain a search string, but that are located at remote memory locations may be skipped from retrieval for a requesting user due to an excessive amount of time required for retrieving the notes or information from the remote memory locations. If notes or information stored at remote memory locations are part of a personal “notebook” of notes or information of the requesting user, the notes or information stored at the remote memory locations may be retrieved regardless of the associated retrieval time.