Quick Reference

Dictionaries, Encyclopedias & Quotations

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (1901)

Search the database of Bartlett's for that quote you can't quite remember, or browse the alphabetical list of names for famous quotations. Part of the Bartleby.com reference site.

Merriam-Webster Online

Search the online version of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 10th Edition, for definitions and correct spellings or use the thesaurus to find synonyms. Includes an audio pronunciation feature. And check out the Word of the Day, word games, the lighter side, and other features.

OneLook Dictionaries

Indexes more than 730 online dictionaries, glossaries and acronym and abbreviation finders with a single, easy-to-use search engine. This is a great place to start looking for definitions of new, unusual or rare words or for computer and other specialist terms. Includes a spell-check feature.

YourDictionary.com

This site offers links to more than 500 dictionaries in more than 140 foreign and special languages, such as American Sign Language and Esperanto, as well as specialized dictionaries, glossaries, thesauri, and grammars. Formerly A Web of Online Dictionaries.

Thesaurus.com

Web version of the popular word-finder.

InfoPlease

Web-based version of the popular general information resource, Information Please; offers Quick Search and Full Text Search options. The site includes general, entertainment, and sports almanacs as well as the Columbia Encyclopedia and the Random House Dictionary.

Encarta Online

Streamlined version of the popular CD-ROM encyclopedia, available free online.

1913 Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

An easy-to-use form allows full-text search of headwords found in the first edition of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary from 1913. In addition to definitions, entries include word etymologies, derivations, and usage notes. From the ARTFL Project at the University of Chicago.

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Almanacs, Calendars & Statistics

The CIA World Factbook

Short profiles of foreign countries, including maps, statistics, flags, government information, and more.

Flags of the World

Check here for images of flags around the world, including ceremonial, city, county and other flags. Searchable by country name, geography, topic or keyword. The site includes a wealth of information on vexillology (the science of flags), and links to other resources.

The Farmer's Almanac

New England's favorite annual is now online. In addition to the usual gardening and food tips, sayings, folklore, and other features, this site includes rise and set times for the sun, moon, and planets (searchable by geographic location), other 'heavenly details,' weather and tide reports, and much more.

Calendar Zone

This well-organized site provides information on holidays and other events; geographical, celestial, religious, historical and other calendars; history of the calendar; and a wealth of other interesting facts.

The 10,000 Year Calendar

A perpetual calendar on the Internet. Use the search form and display a month or year calendar for any year from 1 to 10,000 AD.

WorldTimeServer

Calculate the time and date for locations around the world.

This Day in History

Fast facts about today's date in history, including famous birthdays. Want to find out what happened on your birthday? A search engine allows you to enter an alternate date. From the History Channel.

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Biographies & Celebrities

Biographical Dictionary

Short biographies of more than 25,000 historical figures, searchable by name, date, achievement or other keywords. If you have the time, take their biography quiz -- it's great fun.

Biography.com

Searchable database with longer biographical entries on more than 25,000 historical and contemporary personalities, from the Biography Channel

Distinguished Women of Past and Present

Biographies of women of accomplishment from ancient times through today. No search function, but names are listed alphabetically and by field of activity, with chronological lists.

Dead People Server

This site provides up-to-date listings of interesting people who might (or might not) be dead. Browse names alphabetically or use the search engine.

Find A Grave

Not sure who's buried in Grant's Tomb? Search here for burial sites of famous people by name, location or claim to fame. Includes some photos, links to other sites and a bibliography.

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Calculators & Measurement

Currency Converter

Search for exchange rates for 164 currencies from January 1, 1990 through today.

Homefair.com

A selection of calculators to help your decision-making when buying or selling a home or relocating. A salary calculator estimates how much money you'd need to make in a new location to equal your present salary; there are also mortgage and relocation calculators along with other helpful tools.

Measure 4 Measure

A comprehensive source for conversion tables, calculators, measurement tools and other aids in the fields of science and math, health, finance, and 'everything else.'

How Far Is It?

This nifty little site will calculate the distance between two locations around the world (as the crow flies). Queries can be entered by latitude and longitude as well, and online maps showing the two places are provided.

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Other reference sources

AskA+ Locator

The AskA+ Locator is a database of high-quality "AskA" services designed to link students, teachers, parents and other K-12 community members with experts on the Internet. Profiles of each AskA service include identification information, scope, target audience, and a general description of the service. Some of the Web sites linked from AskA+ service profiles provide additional resources such as on-line reference, archives of previously asked questions, and links to related sites. Part of the Virtual Reference Desk Project.

Ask an Expert

A directory of experts who have volunteered to answer questions or provide web sites for information in 12 categories. Over 300 e-mail addresses or web sites are included.

Fugitive Fact File

A database of 'tough reference questions' compiled by the librarians at the Hennepin County Library in Minnesota.

Learn2.Com: The Ability Utility

A quick reference guide for those pesky 'how-to' questions. Check here for short explanations of household fixes, computer and consumer appliance repair, health and food preparation, automotive, crafts, and much more.

Price's List of Lists

A directory of "Best of..." lists in business, education, living, politics and science. Maintained by Gary Price, Librarian at George Washington University.

Virtual Gumshoe

A directory of investigative resources on the Web, including organizations, federal and state records and archives, locator databases, how-to help, and much more. Formerly Webgator.

Reference Collections: (Links to sites organizing larger ready reference collections)

IPL Ready Reference Collection:

The Internet Public Library (a service of the GSLIS at the University of Michigan) has pulled together a useful list of reference sources available on the Internet.

Bartleby.com

Links to Columbia Encyclopedia, American Heritage Dictionary, Rogets II New Thesaurus, American Heritage Book of English Usage, Simpson's Contemporary Quotations, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, King James Bible, the Oxford Shakespeare, Gray's Anatomy, Strunk's Elements of Style, the World Factbook and many more reference books.

Refdesk.com: Fast Facts

Extensive, comprehensive list of reference sites on the Internet, augmented by a Virtual Encyclopedia and a Quick Reference section. Continuously updated.

LibrarySpot

Quick index of ready reference sources, as well as links to other helpful information in areas of government, medicine, business, and law. Includes a list of "Frequently Asked Reference Questions."

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