Useful Websites: General & Multi-Subject Sites

Reference: Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, etc.

Acronyma - Need to know what acronyms like GPS or VDT stand for? Acronyma is searchable database of nearly half a million acronyms in English, Spanish, German, French, Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese. The Acronym Finder offers links to additional information (and advertisements) for your search term. (Commercial sites)

BabelFish Translator - Type a word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph in the space provided, use the dropdown menu to choose your 'from and to' languages, and Babelfish will translate for you — but NOT with reliable accuracy. Babelfish will even (imperfectly) translate entire websites. See also Google translation page. (Commercial sites)

Bloomsbury Research Centre - Free on-line database of reference books on literature, art, myth, and human thought, plus quotations and a thesaurus. Over 17,000 entries, searchable and cross-referenced. Enter your keyword(s) and use the drop-down menu to choose the book you want to search. (Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, UK)

Blue Letter Bible - An online Bible searchable by keyword or phrase. An alternate site is Bible Gateway.

Calculators & Converters - Links to online calculators and converters (currency, weights & measures, time zones, etc.) (Western Washington University). For links to many additional calculators, see Martindale's Calculators Online (personal site: Jim Martindale). See also Conversion Maestro and Online Conversion, described below.

Can you trust Wikipedia? - The Guardian newspaper (UK) surveyed a panel of experts on the accuracy and usefulness of entries in the popular Wikipedia online encyclopedia. Their findings sound a cautionary note about the reliability of some internet resources. See also A False Wikipedia 'Biography' (USA Today), See Who's Editing Wikipedia (Wired Magazine), and Wikipedia's own page on Criticism of Wikipedia.

Conversion Maestro - This tool will quickly convert measurements to or from metric units of length (feet/meters), area (square feet/square meters), mass/weight (ounces/grams), liquid volume (pints/liters), and temperature (Fahrenheit/Celsius) (University of Washington). Online Conversion offers many additional conversion calculators: 'over 5,000 units, and 50,000 conversions' (personal site, by Robert Fogt, a website/software developer).

Data Universe - A searchable collection of information about New Jersey, from a wide variety of free public databases. 'If you ever wondered how much the governor is paid, how many math teachers are in your child's school, or how much every single state government employee is paid, look no further.' (Home News Tribune / Courier News).

Dictionaries and Thesauri - Links to general dictionaries and thesauri, as well as subject-specific dictionaries for art, business, clothing, computers, education, food & nutrition, humanities, language, law, medicine, health & psychology, photography, science, social science, sign language, and technology. Use the tabs to select a subject. Resources labelled 'Strout Users Only' are only accessible to users at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Dictionaries: Farlex Free Dictionary - 'English, Medical, Legal, Financial, and Computer Dictionaries, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms Encyclopedia, a Literature Reference Library, and a Search Engine all in one.' See also Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary & Thesaurus and Your Dictionary , described below. All include pronunciation audio. (Commercial sites)

Encarta Encyclopedia - Free online encyclopedia from Microsoft. Encarta was discontinued as of October 31, 2009.

Encyclopædia Britannica Online - Full access to the complete Encyclopædia Britannica and related resources is available only to paid subscribers, but some basic information is free. EB also offers a free trial period for full access. (Commercial site)

Encyclopedias [UPDATED LINK!] - Selected links to general and subject-specific online encyclopedias. Use the tabs to choose a subject area: arts/humanities, business/law, computer science, education, food/nutrition, medicine/health, science/tech, social science/psychology, and sports/recreation. Resources labelled 'Strout Users Only' are only accessible to users at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Games & Puzzles Online - A huge collection of free puzzles and games, including crossword puzzles, trivia quizzes, sudoku, and lots more, plus a large directory of game and puzzle websites. (Commercial site: Thinks.com)

Internet Archive - To prevent the Internet and other 'born-digital' materials from disappearing into the past, the Internet Archive hosts an extensive searchable collection of online texts, audio, moving images, and software, as well as over 150 billion web pages archived since 1996. (Nonprofit organization)

Old Farmer's Almanac - North America's oldest continuously published periodical offers 'tide tables for those who live near the ocean; sunrise tables and planting charts for those who live on the farm; recipes for those who live in the kitchen; and forecasts for those who don't like the question of weather left up in the air,' plus daily puzzles, vocabulary, advice, podcasts and more. Does not work correctly in Internet Explorer 6 (Commercial site: Yankee Publishing Inc.). See also Farmers' Almanac (Commercial site: Almanac Publishing Co) and US Naval Observatory, described below.

Public Records Resource Center - Free links to public records including 'business information, corporate filings, property records, unclaimed property, professional licenses, offenders, inmates, criminal and civil court filings, and much more.' Search by keyword or browse by category or geographic location (BRB Publications). Public Records Free Directory is a similar site. For New Jersey only, the Courier News & Home News Tribune offer Data Universe, with links to property records and taxes, government payrolls, school performance report cards, crime reports and conviction records, and much more. See also New Jersey Public Record. (The previous listings are all are commercial sites.) See Public Records & Info Brokers for consumer information on how the proliferation of online information brokers affects your privacy (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). See also Vital Records, described below.

Quotation Finder - 'Attempts to collect the largest sources of quotations and related items (proverbs, sayings, maxims, amorphisms, slogans, clichés, etc.).' From this page you can search many quotation databases, but you still have to search them one at a time. (Commercial site)

Roget's Thesaurus - Searchable thesaurus, with links to synonyms and other related words for each entry. (Yahoo.com, commercial site)

Shakespeare Searched, a search engine designed to provide quick access to passages from Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, with search results grouped by topic, work, and character (Clusty.com). For more on Shakespeare, see our Shakespeare links.

Special Issues / List of Lists - Extensive directory of links to special issues of hundreds of magazines and journals, such as the Fortune 500, US News & World Report 's Best Colleges and Best Hospitals issues, and many more, covering a wide range of topics. (By librarian Gary Price)

Statistical Abstract - Authoritative and comprehensive summary of U.S. social, political, and economic data; published annually. 'Use the Abstract as a convenient volume for statistical reference, and as a guide to sources of more information both in print and on the Web.' (U.S. Census Bureau). For more U.S. and world statistical data, see South Plainfield Public Library's STATISTICAL DATA page.

TV & Movie Guide (Zap2It) - Type in your zip code to see upcoming broadcast/cable TV schedules or movie showtimes in your area. Also offers movie reviews, trailers, and feature articles. AOL TV listings are also powered by Zap 2 It and work basically the same way. TIP: Once you've brought up the 3-hour TV grid showing your local listings, click on any of the channels to get the full day's schedule for that channel; click on the title of a program for a description. You can also customize the listings to show only your favorite channels or types of programs (sports, movies, news, etc.). For more links to TV & Movie information, see our ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT page.

U.S. Government Reference Center - A gateway of reference information relating to the federal government, including commonly used federal abbreviations and acronyms, calendars and important dates from different government agencies, contact information for federal, state, & local government officials, data & statistics, forms & applications, laws & regulations, historical documents, maps, publications and more. See also U.S. Government Information by Topic (USA.gov, official U.S. government website). For more links to government information, see our GOVERNMENT and LAW pages.

U.S. Naval Observatory - Gives sun and moon data, moon phases, eclipses, and related astronomical data. (U.S. Navy)

U.S. News & World Report Rankings - 'America's Best Colleges, Graduate Schools, High Schools, Hospitals, Health Plans, Nursing Homes, Cars & Trucks, Leaders, Places to Retire, and Places to Work in the Federal Government listed all in one place.'

Virtual Reference Shelf - Almanacs, associations, clocks, calculators, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, quotations, statistics, and other online reference books. (Library of Congress)

Visual Dictionary - Thousands of images arranged by topic provide labelled illustrations for a wide variety of objects, from stadium scoreboards to strawberries to VCRs. Includes audio pronunciation. (Merriam-Webster; commercial site)

Vital Records - This site was organized for hurricane victims, but much of the information here will be useful to anyone who needs to replace lost or stolen documents, including birth/marriage/death certificate, immigration papers, driver's license, passport, tax return, social security/Medicare card, and even damaged money. See also Vital Records: Documents Issued in the U.S.. (U.S. government sites)

Yahoo Shortcuts - A quick way to find airport information, area codes, exchange rates, maps, movies, news, patents, sports scores, stock quotes, weather, zip codes and more. Google Features and Soople offer similar search options. (Commercial sites)

Year in Review (Fimoculous) [UPDATED!] - A compilation of links to hundreds of 'Year in Review' and 'Best of the Year' lists ranging from the useful or informative to the downright ridiculous, taken from standard sources as well as the offbeat. Arranged by category. (Compiled by blogger Rex Sorgatz)

Your Dictionary - Quick English dictionary & thesaurus lookup with audio pronunciation for each word, plus a huge directory of links to online dictionaries, including foreign language dictionaries, specialty / technical dictionaries (covering over 100 subjects from accounting to wine), and thesauri. Word games & puzzles, too! (Commercial site)

How-To Sites

Beehive - Information, interactive tools, and other resources for dealing with money, health, jobs, school and family. You can customize The Beehive for your geographic location. (Nonprofit organization: One Economy Corporation)

Correspondence Style Guide - A detailed guide to correct written and electronic communications, including e-mail etiquette, gender-neutral language, and forms of address. NOTE: Some information is specific to UMW (University of Mary Washington). See also Forms of Address (Evergreen State University). Business Writing offers guidelines for writing effective business letters, with samples of letters covering differerent specific situations, along with guides for writing business memos, emails, resumes, and more. Use the left-hand menu to access guides for other types of writing, including scholarly writing, science writing, writing for the Web, and speeches & presentations (Colorado State University).

Dummies.com - The home page from the publisher of the popular 'For Dummies®' books offers a selection of how-to articles, videos, and step-by-step features on technology, money, lifestyle, health, travel, and recreation. Now also offers podcasts. (Commercial site)

Etiquette Tips - A collection of tips on correct behavior for everyday occasions. Use the left hand menu to choose a specific topic; use the menu tabs at the top to access additional tips for business, weddings, kids & parents, and more (Emily Post Institute). See also Disability Etiquette new for an outline of correct behavior when interacting with people who have disabilities (National Center on Workforce and Disability).

GCF Learn Free - Free tutorials, articles, and other learning materials aimed at helping you improve the technology, literacy, and math skills needed for success in both work and life. Covers a wide range of subjects from operating ATMs and reading subway maps to using office software and running a home-based business. Free registration required. (Nonprofit organization: Goodwill Community Foundation)

Hobby Directory - Google directory of organizations devoted to dozens of hobbies from astronomy to yo-yos.

Monkey See - Free access to a growing collection of professionally-produced and user-generated how-to videos on a wide variety of topics, including Careers & Education, Health & Fitness, Hobbies & Crafts, Home & Garden, Love & Relationships, Personal Finance, Sports & Leisure, Beauty & Fashion, and more. When you select a video, the presenter's credentials are provided on the right-hand side of the screen, under the 'Expert' tab. (Commercial site)

Search Engines, Search Tools, Q & A

Computers: Search Engines & Web Directories - South Plainfield Public Library's annotated list of the best search engines and web directories.

Q & A New Jersey - 'A network of experienced New Jersey librarians offering free live, interactive search assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.' A service of the New Jersey Library Network.

Ask a Librarian - Before you use the Library of Congress's 'Ask a Librarian' service to get answers to your research and reference questions, first consult your local library — we will often be able to respond more quickly, and are better able to identify and respond to your specific and ongoing needs. Once you have exhausted local resources, however, try the 'Ask A Librarian' service; you will generally receive a response within 5 business days. You can also chat online with subject specialists at certain hours. When using the 'Ask A Librarian' service, your message should explain what resources you have already consulted. See also Government Information Online (GIO) for help via live chat or e-mail on almost any subject, from 'government information librarians who are experts at finding information from government agencies of all levels (local, state, regional, national international).'

Google News Archive Search - Search news by keyword(s), then limit your results to a specific range of dates, or organize your results list chronologically with the TIMELINE button. You can also use the Advanced News Search to enter more specific search terms and limits.

Google Scholar - A Google search engine which searches only scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from all broad areas of research. NOTE: Many sources retrieved in search results will NOT be available free of charge.

Research Beyond Google - Guide to searching the 'invisible web' to find authoritative information sources on a variety of subjects. (Online Education Database; commercial site)

WorldCat - Search over 1 billion items (books, cds, dvds, articles) in more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. Enter a title, author, or keywords in the search box. Click on a title in your searc results and enter your zip code to get a list of the nearest libraries holding that title. You can also set up a free account to create lists, bibliographies and reviews. (WorldCat/OCLC)

Web Directories

Alcove 9: Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Web sites - Selected links to a wide variety of free online information in arts, biography, books, history, computers, education, language, literature, psychology, sociology, government, and more. (Library of Congress)

CEOExpress - Hundreds of general and business links ranging from financial news to weather reports. (Commercial site)

Computers: Search Engines & Web Directories - South Plainfield Public Library's annotated list of the best search engines and web directories.

CyberTimes Navigator - A selective directory of useful sites created for New York Times reporters, covering search engines and reference sources, government, politics, business, media, health, travel, entertainment, and sports; last revised 2/07. The Journalist's Toolbox is updated more frequently; search by keyword, or use the category menu on the left, which includes links to archived entries at the bottom (Society of Professional Journalists).

Internet Public Library - Mega-site with links to hundreds of web sites on a wide range of topics, arranged by broad subject area (science & technology, arts & humanities, health, business, computers, social sciences). Also includes links to online reference tools (dictionaries, almanacs, etc.) and periodicals, and resources for kids and teens. (University of Michigan)

Multnomah County Library: Research Topics - Hundreds of links arranged by broad subject categories. (Note: Some resources are accessible only to Multnomah County Library users.)

Audio / Video Resources

The South Plainfield Public Library offers FREE AUDIO BOOK DOWNLOADS for your PC or MP3 player! You can choose from among hundreds of titles, including bestsellers, classics, or your favorite genres. Now works with iPODs, too!

For more educational and cultural audio & video content, see EDUCATION; SITES FOR SENIORS; and HOMEWORK LINKS.

PLEASE NOTE: While the sites listed below offer many informative and entertaining resources, they may also include controversial opinions, content which is inappropriate for children, and/or material which some users will find offensive. The library cannot monitor and has no control over the vast quantity of resources available on these sites, and cannot be responsible for their content. Please use these resources with caution.

Blinkx Video Search - Searchable directory of millions of hours of news, entertainment, business, sports, & user-generated video. Includes a 'safe search' option. (Commercial site)

Fora TV - A large collection of video lectures, discussions and debates from a wide variety of sources, covering arts, business, education, health, politics, religion, science, technology, and more. Use the top menu bar to browse videos by topic. See also Big Think for 'hundreds of hours of direct, unfiltered interviews with today's leading thinkers, movers and shakers,' and TED Talks , an archive of thought-provoking talks by the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers on a broad range of topics in technology, design, entertainment, science, business, the arts, and global issues.

Google Video - Search for video content from all over the web, including YouTube. (Commercial site)

I-Tunes Podcasts - Allows you to download or subscribe to over 150,000 free audio and video podcasts from independent creators as well as big names like HBO, NPR, ESPN, The New York Times, and more. Works with Mac or PC; requires free I-Tunes software. (Apple Inc.)

Juice Podcast Receiver new - This free, open-source software for downloading and managing audio podcast subscriptions is an easy-to-use alternative to iTunes.

Library of Congress Webcasts - Online videos on a wide range of topics, including biography, history, culture, education, government, literature, religion, and science & technology.

Library Spot Podcast Directory - A selected list of podcasts related to books, libraries, language, and education. (Commercial site)

New York Public Library Webcasts [UPDATED LINK!] - An outstanding collection of audio and video webcasts of library events, such as lectures by a wide variety of innovative thinkers, prominent authors and artists. Includes the Conversations from the Cullman Center series, LIVE from the NYPL, Performing Arts series, small business how-to seminars, and more.

NPR Podcasts - Radio podcasts on a wide variety of topics including entertainment, books, current affairs, science, technology, business, and more. See also American Public Media Podcasts new . For more online radio options, see our NEWS / MEDIA page.

Smithsonian Podcasts - Podcasts on art, science, technology, and culture, from the Smithsonian Institution.

Visual Resources Online - Annotated links to about 20 online digital image collections created by libraries, archives, and historical societies across the United States, offering digital high-quality images of photographs, maps, and other primary materials (American Library Association). For more good online image collections, see the South Plainfield Public Library's Pictures links.

WGBH Forum Network - Live and archived webcasts of free public lectures on the arts, science, society, business, technology, and more.

Yahoo! Video - Another way to find both commercial and user-contributed video content. Yahoo! Music offers commercial music, music video, and online radio. For another online radio source, see Pandora Internet Radio . (Commercial sites)