Reference Sites

Information Please Almanac

The online site for this popular reference. Look up facts in sections on world, sports, entertainment, US, people, business, and more.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Artlex Dictionary of Visual Terms

Find out about terms and words used in the art world, including "definitions of more than 3,100 terms, along with numerous illustrations, pronunciation notes, great quotations, and links to other resources on the Web."

Dictionary.com

Dictionary.com offers all the whistles and bells of an old-fashioned dictionary. Get word-of-the day email or get dictionaries in foreign languages.

Encarta

This is an abridged version of the CD-ROM. Seems to have a nice collection of biographies. Articles include images, and hyperlinks to key words and concepts.

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Yes, you now can use the Britannica online. From their homepage, just type in the search that you want and you will be able to access the encyclopedia article.

Hyperdictionary

This site has a few dictionaries you can jump to immediately including the English Dictionary, Computer Dictionary, Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Dream Dictionary.

Merriam-Webster's WWWebster Dictionary

Look up a definition, pronunciation, etymology, spelling, or usage point in the on-line version of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Includes a thesaurus, word of the day, language info zone, words from the lighter sides, and cool new stuff.

Roget's Thesaurus

This is a dictionary and thesaurus integrated into one work. You only need to look up a word once, with hypoerlinks to synonyms, and similar or related words available where apppropriate. Included are 50,000 headwords with definitions, pronunciation, and examples, plus three types of searches.

Webopedia

An online "encyclopedia" that covers technology and all things related to commputer technology and the Web. Very thorough and complete, it links back and forth between many concepts and topics.

Wordweb

Or, download this free file, a comprehensive English thesaurus and dictionary for Windows that can be used to look up words at any time. Just start the program and type in the word. It goes out and brings back a dictionary definition. Great for words on the fly.

Historical Documents

The Avalon Project at Yale Law School

Major historical documents dating back to the 12th century are presented in entirety, with links to supporting documents, glossaries, and indexes for each one. Major documents relevant to Law, History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government are found here. Some of the topics are American History: A Chronology 1492-1973, Annual Messages of the Presidents, The Barbary Treaties 1816-1836, The Cold War, Economic and Legal Treatises, Foreign Relations of the United States, Nuremberg War Crimes Trial, and many, many more.

Libraries

Internet Public Library

The Internet Public Library is an educational initiative of the University of Michigan School of Information and is sponsored by Bell & Howell Information and Learning. Includes sections on Books and Writing, Career and College, General Homework Help, Issues and Conflicts, Health, Math and Science, and more.

LIBCAT

A Guide to Library Resources on the Internet.

The Library of Congress

Contrary to popular belief, the Library of Congress does not contain every book ever published. It does, however, contain more than 17 million books and 95 million other source materials (maps, manuscripts, photographs, audio recordings, etc.). Search for bibliographic info, or link to more than 225 other online libraries.

The Library Spot

Great place to start your search. Links to Law, Medical, and Music Libraries. Also links to Almanacs, Dictionaries, Current Events, Maps, Phone Books, Ask an Expert, Biographies, and much more.

Journals and Magazines

October 1, 2004: ERIC FREE

Search ERIC FREE at "http://www.eric.ed.gov/" or Click here ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) or "AskERIC"

Announcing "The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education, produces the world's premier database of journal and non-journal education literature. The new ERIC online system, released September 2004, provides the public with a centralized ERIC Web site for searching the ERIC bibliographic database of more than 1.1 million citations going back to 1966."

"Effective October 1, 2004 more than 107,000 full-text non-journal documents (issued 1993-2004), previously available through fee-based services only, will be available for free."

Search ERIC FREE at "http://www.eric.ed.gov/" or Click here ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) or "AskERIC"

Library of Congress Newspaper and Current Periodicals Room

Click on Periodicals on the list of choices to use a list of magazines that are on the internet. Some of these are more than just advertisements to sell subscriptions and are real online versions of the magazine.

Maps

Maps and References

This is a comprehensive list of sites that contain maps of all kinds. The topic list will help to narrow your search to areas of the world, map libraries, historical maps, tutorials about maps, and online atlases.

Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection

This site has many kinds of electronic maps that are organized by continent, region, and country, including historic and special interest maps. Links to other map sites is extensive. If you need a map, you will find it by starting here and choosing other links if needed.

Museums

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian site is so well organized that a visit here may yield more enlightenment than a day spent trudging the graveled walkways of the 14-museum complex in Washington, D.C. The site has made it easier to find stuff, too, with an A-to-Z list of subjects from aeronautics to zoology. Kids' Castle, a fun interactive joint for kids, was erected last year.

Art Museums

Part of the Virtual Library: This is an alphabetical listing of art museums on the Web. The list also includes museums of all types.

Mythology

The Encyclopedia Mythica

This is an encyclopedia on mythology, folklore, and more. It contains thousands of definitions of gods and goddesses, supernatural beings and legendary creatures and monsters from all over the world.

Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes

Nobel Prize Announcements: Medicine, Chemistry, and Physics

Announcements are made on this page for the Nobel prize-winners in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace.

The Pulitzer Prizes

Includes Pulitzer Prize-winning works from the past three years, with photos, editorial cartoons, music clips and the full text of all winning articles. Prizes are given for journalism, letters, drama and music.

Quotations

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

An online version of this classic from the Bartleby Projet allows rapid searching for synonyms. This is the standard reference work for tracing English language quotations to their sources.

Study Helps

Ready Reference Resources

This is a great A to Z list of reference links. This is also listed next to a different section of the same site.

Discovery Channel Homework Help

This site includes help with geography, history and cool links to educational sites on the web.

The High School Ace

The High School Ace is a noncommercial gateway to excellent free online academic resources for high school students. It features a poetry contest, reference desk, college information, and subject guides for English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Art, and Technology.

Internet Public Library for Teens

The Internet Public Library is an educational initiative of the University of Michigan School of Information and is sponsored by Bell & Howell Information and Learning. Includes sections on Books and Writing, Career and College, General Homework Help, Issues and Conflicts, Health, Math and Science, and more.

Reference Desk

Lots of reference site links to facts. Lots of sites under heading for help and advice, searches, lists of dictionaries, current news, and some subjects.

Study Guides and Strategies

This site gives suggestions for taking good tests.

Studying for Tests

Tests are a way for you and your teacher to measure how well you have learned the material covered by the class. Think of them as a challenge! Here are some tips for studying for tests.

The WWW Virtual Library

This is recognized by some web users as among the highest quality guides. Because of its world-side scope, resources can be found here which do not appear in other lists or portals.