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Ready Reference Websites
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Internet Public Library Ready Reference Collection - Although fewer sites are included than in some of the other ready reference sites, these are quality resources chosen by experienced librarians.
Refdesk.com - This site provides links to a wide range of resources with a minimum of annotation. Includes sections called Fast Facts (375 links), Quick Reference (300 links) and Facts Encyclopedia (7000 links covering 73 subjects).
DeskRef: Sources for Quick Answers - 15 ready reference categories, most of which are subdivided. All links are annotated and allow the user to rate their usefullness.
LibrarySpot - Includes links to online libraries, reference sites, current events topics and online exhibits. Also links to lists such as Oprah's picks and Caldecott Medal winners.
MEL - Michigan Electronic Library Reference Desk - This site takes a broader approach than some. The homepage consists of a long, 2-column, annotated A-Z list of subjects.
Librarians' Index to the Internet - Links point to an extensive collection with lengthy annotations, a hierarchical organization and search capability.
Digital Librarian: A Librarian's Choice of the Best of the Web - Basically an alphabetical title list that features excellent annotations and groups similar hyperlinked resources into paragraphs.
Direct Search - Search Tools and Directories - A growing compilation of links to sites that contain data not easily or entirely accessible from search engines.
Best Information on the Net - Provides annotated links for an alphabetical list of topics. Also has resources by major, for the disabled, for students, for librarians, hot topics and online reference sources. Site does not support keyword searches.
Acronym Search - Easy lookup for common acronyms. Includes a reverse directory.
The Glossarist - A comprehensive directory of glossaries (subject dictionaries) on all subjects.
OneLook Dictionaries - Offers access to hundreds of general and specialized dictionaries. It will search for your word on the Internet and then provide links to its listing within the dictionaries indexed as well as a link to the dictionary's home page.
Reference at Bartleby.com - A searchable mix of old classic works (such as the 1919 edition of Bartlett's Quotations and a 1918 version of Gray's Anatomy) and newer sources (year 2000 editions of the World Factbook and the Columbia Encyclopedia).
WordOrigins.com - Provides origins to unusual words and phrases. Includes a section called Biztechdictionary that covers slang and jargon used in high tech industries.
WordReference.com - Translation dictionaries for a number of languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, German and Russian as well as links for other languages.
YourDictionary - Allows quick lookup of word in a dictionary or thesaurus and permits use of wildcards to find words you cannot spell.
Martindale's The Reference Desk - Provides a vast collection that is particularly strong in science, medicine, weather and Internet resources.
InfoMine: Scholarly Internet Resource Collections - Links to over 20,000 academically valuable resources.
Indiana Libraries Internet Quick Ref - Composed of 21 well chosen categories. The site is searchable and includes a link allowing reorganization in category outline form, similar to a table of contents.
Academic Info - A gateway to college and research level resources. About 250 to 500 new sites are added each month and given in a separate list.
BUBL LINK 5:15 Catalogue of Selected Internet Resources - BUBL (Bulletin Board for Libraries) features a searchable, annotated reference collection with a British flavor, arranged by subject, Dewey classification, country and type of work.
Best Information on the Net (BIOTN) Reference Resources - This site furnishes a highly selective compilation of annotated sources with a preference shown to full text.
Quick Reference - UT Library Online - Located at the University of Texas, this site presents a good list of minimally annotated links organized by both subject and title.
THOR - The Virtual Reference Desk - Offers 9 annotated categories, arranged by type of work, and a limited number of general sources.
UCSD Libraries Reference Desk - Well-designed and accessible, this site targets basic reference with barely annotated resources listed in 18 categories.
