The Reference Desk
This page provides links to the most common reference searches. Scroll down to find the category of information that you need.
General Information
The Internet Public Library
A virtual library that provides access to thousands of online references.
KidsClick!
An offspring of the Internet Public Library, KidsClick is a subject directory that has been organized by living, breathing people.
iTools
Quick access to the best Interent tools
Google
It's only here because I know that you'll go to it anyway! Be wary, my students, a web page does not an expert make!
Alltheweb
A metasearch engine that searches the entire WWW, including the hidden parts.
Almanacs
CIA World Factbook
Provides information on countries of the world
Information Please Almanac
A basic almanac providing facts and figures for just about anything
The U.S. Census
Information on business, people and places in the United States
Biography
Academy of Achievement
Find information about those who have contributed to society throughout time.
Biographical Dictionary
Over 28,000 entries for men and women who have shaped history
Biography.com
12000 biographies from A&E and the History Channel
Distinguished Women
Dedicated soley to women who have made a difference
The Inventor's Hall of Fame
Features biographies of those who have founded new machines, processes or ideas throughout time
PBS Bios
Biographies of the subjects of some of the PBS broadcasts
Presidents of the United States
Info. on the lives and contributions of each of the Presidenrts
PublicFigure.com
A good site for recent headliners and pop culture figures
American National Biography
A searchable site containing entries for 18,000 notable Americans.
Celebrations Around the World
Family Traditions
This site attempts to define family by using a collection of documented personal experiences of cultural and
holiday events from around the world.
Holidays Around the World
See how events are celebrated world wide.
It's International
Celebrations described first hand described by a person from the country you select.
A World of Festivals
Community festivals, fairs, and special events worldwide
Countries of the World
Atlapedia Countries A to Z
Provides facts, figures and statistical data
Background Notes
Compiled from the U.S. Department. of State
CIA World Factbook
Provides detailed country information
Countries A-Z
General information, recipes, fact book, etc. A source for a younger audience, but still good info!
Country Briefings
Features economic forecasts, fact sheets, and data country by country
CountryReports.org
Country info from around the world
Ethnologue
Info for all of the world's known languages
Flags of all Countries
Premiere flag site
Library of Congress Country Studies
General information
United Nations' InfoNation
View and compare data for all United Nation member states.
50States.com
Comprehensive information about each state included in the USA
Country Reports.org
It's one of the best!
Information Please-- Countries
This is a great general reference source; their country listing is very comprehensive.
The World Fact Book
An electronic version of the reference book
Portals to the World
This is a collection of links that will guide you through your country-- a great place to find literature from a particular country.
Constitution Finder
Find the constitutions for countries around the world.
The Global Gourmet
This site provides country profiles which include recipes associated with that country's cuisine.
It's International
A great site to find cultural information such as wedding customs, celebrations, rituals etc.
Dictionaries and Language References
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
A school staple, offers word roots
Babel Fish Translator
Translates boxes of text or full web pages
Glossarist
A searchable glossary directory, very useful for defining jargon of a particular occupation
Information Please Dictionary
Search a dictionary and encyclopedia at the same time.
Law Dictionary
Defines legal terms
Medical Dictionary
Defines hundreds of medical terms
Merriam-Webster Language Center
Offers a dictionary and a thesaurus
Phrase Finder
Need to find the origin of a phrase? Start here!
Picture Dictionary
A multilingual picture dictionary designed for language learners of all ages, excellent for making your own flash cards.
Rhyme Zone
type in words to find rhymes and synonyms
YourDictionary.com
Offers content from more than 1800 dictionaries in more than 250 languages
Webopedia
Defines computer and Internet terms
Webster's Word Central
Features links to related words and a rhyming dictionary
Acronym Server
This dictionary is useful to find acronyms and words used in acronyms.
Encyclopedias
Britannica Online
This is the free version, so there will be advertisements embedded in the pages.
Encarta
Also the free version, but good for quick searches
Encyclopedia.com
Features a "today in history" fact on its home page
How Stuff Works
Find out everything from how quicksand works to how those Krispy Kremes stay "krunchy."
HyperHistory Online
A timeline of world history events that are color coded according to discipline (art, science etc.)
Information Please Encyclopedia
Search an encyclopedia and dictionary
Medline Plus
Features a medial encyclopedia and much more
Government-- International and Federal
American Factfinder
US Census Bureau information
Federal Web Locator Q
uick links to government agencies
First Gov
"Your first click to the US Government"
GOVSPOT
Federal, State, and Local Government resources
THOMAS
Searchable information about the U.S. Congress
The White House
Executive branch of our government
The Senate
Connect with your senator, search for bills
House of Representatives
What's happening in the House
Project Vote Smart
About US elected officials and candidates
US Supreme Court
The official site
United Nations
The official site
US Mission to the United Nations
The official site.
Ourdocuments.gov
Locate a particular government document here.
Local Government
Gov Spot
Source for Pennsylvania Government
PA PowerPort
Homepage for the Commonwealth of Pennysylvania
City of Pittsburgh Homepage
Everything you need to know about the city of Pittsburgh
MtLebanon.org
Learn about your hometown.
Grammar Guides
Internet Public Library's A+ Research and Writing
A guide for writing a research paper
Guide to Grammar and Writing
Offers pull-downs that address common grammatical issues
Online Writing Lab
Purdue University offers grammar handouts
Common Errors in English
Quick reference list to widespread grammar and spelling mistakes
Maps and Atlases
All the World's Maps
Index to maps for any country
American Memory Map Collections: 1500-2003
Historical maps
Color Landform Atlas of the United States
Includes relief, county, and satellite maps
Historical Atlas of the 20th Century
Offers thematic maps
Historical Map Collection, University of Texas
Hundreds of maps arranged by region
Maps on Us
"Navigation made simple"
Mapquest
Type in an address and get a map.
National Atlas
US Atlas offering multimedia maps, and users can create their own detailed maps
National Geographic's Map Machine
Offers a full World Atlas and more
Places in the News
Maps of areas in the news today
TopoZone
Detailed, zoomable, topographic maps of the entire United States
United Nations' Cartographic Section
Rich archive of maps of countries, regions, and themes
Weather Maps
From the Weather Channel
World Atlas
From the WorldAtlas.com
Math and Science
Discovery School's Webmath
Offers problem solvers from basics through calculus
S.O.S. Mathematics
Free math review material
World of Mathematics
Encyclopedia of explanations of math concepts
Periodic Table of the Elements
Interactive guide to the elements
WebElements
Information and illustrations relating to each element
Visual Elements
Unique look combining art and science
Convert Anything
Over 8,000 conversions
Convert Me
Interactive calculators for many measurement systems
Currency Converter
Get current foreign exchange rates
Measure 4 Measure
Provides links to a variety of measuring / conversion tools
Music
Essentials of Music
Research by Era or Composer. The site offers information from the middle ages through
the 20th century.
300 Years of People and Composers
This site celebrates three centuries of piano culture.
Newspapers
BBC News
World news from London
CNN.com
Major news network
FindArticles.com
First online article-search service
Newspapers across the US
State by state directory
Newspapers around the world
Country directory
The New York Times
East coast national newspaper
The Los Angeles Times
West coast national newspaper
Reuters
Financial information and news
Sports Illustrated
News from the world of sports
USA Today
National newspaper
Post Gazette.com
Online version of one of Pittsbugh's daily papers
PittsburghLive.com
Sponsored by The Pittsbugh Tribune Review
Polictical Cartoons
Sponsored by MSN, get cartoons from all over the U.S.
Quotations
Bartleby
Offers quotation search across well-known indexes, including Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
Dictionary of Quotations
A fully indexed quotations site
QuoteLand
Search for quotes by topic or author
Test Prep
The SAT Test Prep
The ACT Test Prep
Both sites contain a wealth of excellent, free information for the College Board exams.
The Online Test Page
Created by Elias Saab of the Univesity of Missouri, this site offers practice drills and will help students prepare for both the verbal and math sections of the SAT and ACT.
Most Important SAT Words
A fun site for interactive word puzzles, and lists of SAT vocabulary
Webmath
Click on a given math subject, and try out the concept by solving problems and equations.
Time and Date Information
AlternaTime
Gathers an impressive collection of historical Web timelines
Official US Time
Guide to US time zones
On this Day
From The New York Times
This Day in History
Sponsored by The History Channel
Time Capsule
Creates a full chart of happenings for any day in history
Time & Date
Has current time and date for places worldwide
Today's Date & Time
All about today's date
WebChron Web Chronology Project
An assortment of chronologies crossing cultures and eras
10,000 Year Calendar
View and print a calendar for any year from 1 to 10,000 A.D.
White and Yellow Pages
Anywho
Find people & businesses in US and Canada
Switchboard
E-mail, address, and phone finder
Toll Free
Find toll free numbers
Zip Code Lookup
Have an address, need a zip code
We would like to say a special thank-you to the Greece-Athena High School
Media Center in New York. Their Reference Desk site was the inspiration for our page.
Many of the web sites that we have included were organized by their media specialists.
Thanks for sharing your information and making our jobs easier! |
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