Contents of this page:
Web Search Tools | Citing Sources
Almanacs | Atlases | Biographical Dictionaries | Dictionaries | Encyclopedias | Quotations | Thesauruses
Calendars and Time | Conversion Tools | Countries | World Religions
Homework Help | Ask the Experts | Associations
Web Search Tools: The Internet has different kinds of search tools to find information. If you know how they work, you'll be smarter than most people about searching the net.
Search Engines: Individual search engines each have specific designs and features that allow you to enhance your search, such as advanced searching or Boolean searching.
Google analyzes hyperlinks or sites linking to a particular site. They can rely on the collective expertise of other sites to help determine the value of a site.
This is a relatively new search engine that searches over 300 million sites. It produces many useful and relevant documents.
A search engine that answers specific questions and defines words and terms. Side column ads can be easily ignored.
Metasearch Tools: Metasearch tools search multiple search engines simultaneously. Metasearchers don't have the specific designs and features of the individual search tools.
Searches 14 search engines. Results are ranked by relevancy, with search tool information included.
Searches various other search engines, then organizes the results into groups based on titles, URL's, and descriptions.
Subject Directories: These tools differ from the other tools because individuals maintain them, such as librarians who report satisfaction from people in libraries. You can benefit from what other people have found useful.
Organizes, selects, and evaluates information resources on the Internet. A variety of resources can be accessed via the "Search this Site" feature or by browsing subject headings.
Librarians Index to the Internet
An annotated subject guide to resources selected and evaluated by librarians during their work in libraries helping the public. Very useful resources.
Citing Sources for Writing & Research: Style guides provide models and assistance as you document your sources.
Use the resources provided for the Technology Connections class to find models for correct citation formats.
- MLA Works Cited offers easy to use models
- Brief MLA Works Cited - Modified source list for middle school use
Citation Machine
Citation Machine is an interactive Web tool designed to assist teachers in modeling the proper use of information property. Students are welcome to use the site as well. This is a free service of David Warlick's Landmark Project.
Citation Maker
Use the online form appropriate to each source type to easily create a citation in correct form. Options for saving are given.
Documenting Sources
Read an explanation of how to cite information sources for over twenty types of information sources. This is the work of Diana Hacker.
Almanacs: Almanacs are good for statistical data, and basic information about places and events.
Information from the online version of the print almanac. Limited and not as thorough as the print version.
Presents national summary data and state population estimates, based on the Statistical Abstract of the U.S., a print volume of U.S. data available in all libraries and in .pdf format online.
United States census data
Atlases & Geography: Picturing the earth's surface in a variety of ways, atlases also provide key facts and statistics about areas of the world.
Physical maps and facts about countries of the world
Colorful maps of various world locations
World Atlas from Holt, Rinehart & Winston
Colorful atlas of the world
Get atlas maps of the world and United States. Pinpoint exactly where something is with "map machine." (Note: if the Back to button won't let you return, use the dropdown history arrow to find this page.)
Allows you to use dynamic, interactive maps that are draggable so you can easily view the adjacent parts of a map. You can type in the name of a region or neighborhood and see any part of it as easily as with a regular street map.
Enter an address or intersection, and get a map of the location with driving directions.
Outline maps, with or without labels, which may be copied for personal or classroom use
Online reference maps and Landsat (satellite) images. U.S. state maps include a raised relief map, elevation map, rivers map, political map and roads/cities map. These link to state and city satellite images. There are also
country maps paired with Landsat images.
Biographical Dictionaries: These dictionaries provide brief information about famous persons, living or dead.
Covers more than 28,000 notable men and women who have shaped our world from ancient times to the present day.
This site that helps you keep track of which famous people have died and which are still alive.
Dictionaries: Dictionaries provide meanings of words, concepts, and ideas.
Brief definitions of words
American English dictionary as well as other useful dictionaries
VoyCabulary.com
Follow the steps to make the words on any web page into links so that you can look them up in a variety of dictionaries with just one click.
YourDictionary.com
Look up words, access dictionaries for 280 languages, links to specialized glossaries, word puzzles and word of the day. Warning: popup ads.
Encyclopedias/General Information: Use encyclopedias to begin your search and get the overview of a topic.
World Book Online Reference Center
The web version of the World Book encyclopedia used in schools
Information Please Encyclopedia
Limited information, but useful for starting information
Quotations: Who said memorable things?
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
Quotations from famous individuals. Search by full text, author, keyword or time period.
Quotations from famous individuals. Allows full text, category or author search.
Quotations from famous individuals. Search by subject area like sports, literary, special occasion, topics, etc.
Thesaurus: These tools provide synonyms for words, with the goal of making your writing more interesting.
Synonyms for words
Synonyms for words
Magazine and newspaper indexes: These provide a search tool to locate a particular article in a magazine or newspaper. Note: Some are subscription tools (paid for by libraries and available to their users) which index the magazines on newsstands. Others are free tools that index less-well known or free periodicals.
Free tool: FindArticles.com is an archive of published articles that you can search for free. Constantly updated, it contains articles dating back to 1998 from more than 300 magazines and journals. Warning: popup ads.
Free tool: Find individual articles from many free magazines by browsing the categories or using the search engine.
Subscription database: 1600 full-text magazines online. Available in all Bellingham school libraries and from home with remote password. Check with your librarian to find out how.
Subscription database: Magazines, books, newspapers, tv programs, pictures, maps, and more. Available in all Bellingham school libraries and from home with remote password. Check with your librarian to find out how.
Calendars and Time: Time Lines and other resources for time measurement.
What time is it anyplace in the world?
In this 10,000 year calendar, you can enter a date, find out what day of the week it was, and what happened on that day.
Navigates through 3,000 years of world history with links to important persons of world historical importance.
Country Information: Political, historical and geographical information about countries of the world.
Information about countries of the world, available as of 1 January 2003. Selected data and maps will be updated periodically during the year.
Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries.
Information about the Chiefs of State of various countries
Guide to Religions of the World: BBC
Outlines the history and basic beliefs of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. Each religion is described in terms of its origins, founders, practices and divisions.
Conversion Tools: A directory of resources that will calculate a variety of weights and measures.
How much is the (Euro, Thai Baht, Italian lire, etc.) worth in American dollars today?
Internet Public Library Conversion Tools
Provides links to just about any conversion you might want to make: weights and measures, cost of living, inflation, currency, relocation salaries, roman numeral dates, time zones, etc.
Homework Help Sites: Many libraries and others offer homework help to assist students with common curriculum questions.
A free online learning center that features subject guides for English, foreign languages, math, science, and social studies.
Multnomah Library Homework Help page
Organized by homework topics, this service also provides free chat with a librarian to help you with homework.
Assists students in grades 4-12 with homework assignments. Sites are selected that are free from extensive marketing and pop-up ads.
Indexes quality Internet sites and assists visitors in navigating these sites. Since 1995, Refdesk free and family friendly.
Great web sites for students up to age 14.
DeskRef: Best Source for Quick Answers
DeskRef is maintained by the Ramapo Catskill Library System and contains selected "best resources for quick answers."
Ask the Experts: When all else fails and you haven't found the answer to your question in the above sources, you can ask a real live person to help you.
A list of experts is organized for you by the subject area of their expertise.
Associations and Organizations: Look up groups people who have formed clubs, associations and foundations. Is there one in your interest area?
Internet Public Library Associations
Guide to web sites of prominent organizations and associations
