public boolean search(T item){
        LinkedListNode<T> current; 
        boolean found;

        current = first;  

        found = false; 
        //search the list
        while (current != null && !found){
            if (current.info.equals(item)) //item is found
                found = true;
            else
               current = current.link; 
        }
        return found;
    }