Reference Resources

Internet Directories

• Internet Public Library -- The Internet Public Library is a public service organization and a learning/teaching environment at the University of Michigan School of Information.
• Librarian's Index to the Internet -- provide a well-organized point of access for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected Internet resources

Online Reference Services

• JerseyClicks -- New Jersey's statewide portal that allows users to search all at once the statewide full-text databases offered by the New Jersey State Library.
• MAINStreet -- a universal portal to the Morris Automated Information Network (M.A.I.N. Inc.), a consortium of 37 Morris County public libraries and the Morris County Library.
• New Jersey Statewide Reference Center -- contains annotated links to that answer many common reference questions.   It has been modeled after the Librarian's Index to the Internet, but with more focus on New Jersey information. 
• Q and A NJ -- a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week, reference service from the New Jersey Library Network. 
• Reference @ MCL -- Morris County Library provides online resources for a wide variety topics, including Aging Parents, Career Resources, and Entrepreneurial Information. It also offers an Online Reference Service, limited to its hours of operation.

• BJ Pinchbeck's Homework Helper:I'm not a chemist, but a reader who says this site is a "Great resource for chemists, molecular biologists, and others."
• Citing Sources -- a link from Duke University Libraries' excellent Guide to Library Research.  Includes topics such as citing sources in the text of your paper; compiling your bibliography; and avoiding plagiarism.
• * ChemSpider - Database of Chemical Strutures and Property Predictions: Part of the Discovery Channel, this site includes more than 360 links to informational sites and is organized by subject.
• DiscoverSchool.com: Includes study tools, mind twisters, clip art, and other homework help.
• EHistory -- timelines, biographies, book lists, images, and maps covering world and American history, ancient to modern
• *FactBites - Where results make sense:
"What do you get if you cross a search engine with an encyclopedia? Factbites," where the search results page itself includes key sentences from each of the sources retrieved. Uber-researcher Mary Ellen Bates, in her BatesInfoTip Newsletter recommends this as a "useful filter on search results that may help you find in-depth answers quickly."
• Fashion Era -- contains 565 content rich, illustrated pages of Fashion History, Costume History, Clothing, Fashions and Social History
• *FreeFullText.com:
"provides direct links to over 7000 scholarly periodicals which allow some or all of their online content to be viewed by ANYONE with Internet access for free (though some may require free registration)."
• * Food Time Line:
"Ever wonder what foods the Vikings ate when they set off to explore the new world? How Thomas Jefferson made his ice cream? What the pioneers cooked along the Oregon Trail? Who invented the potato chip...and why?" (foodtimeline)
• *Government Innovators Network:
The news media never talk about government when it's working well, but in fact, state, local, and regional government agencies are coming up with thousands of ideas for better service to their communities. You can find documents, news stories, multimedia, awards, and upcoming events about them here. Search or browse through broad categories or through Innovation Awards. (A search for LIBRARIES retrieved nearly 300 items.)
• High School Ace:
A homework helper site that is designed for high school students and organized by subject.
• History News Network -- historical spin on current affairs provided by George Mason University's Center for History and Media Studies
• The Internet Public Library:
Includes a wide variety of resources for research, reference, projects, and homework.
• MAPS - Modern American Poetry -- biographies, criticism, and bibliographies from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Mythology:
Compiled information about world mythology (especially Greek and Roman) presented by Windows to the Universe.
• NASA's Imagine the Universe -- web resource for students.
• Noodletools:
MLA (Modern Language Association) free bibliography composer to help you create bibliographies and works cited pages.
• NobelPrize.org -- facts, biographies, acceptance speeches, and the history of the Nobel prizes for Literature, Physics, Medicine, Chemistry, Economics, and Peace.
• Opposing Viewpoints:
Information on both side of a wide range of controversial topics.
• *The Periodic Table
• The Princeton Review -- explore schools and careers; improve your score on the SAT, SAT subject tests, and many others; and find scholarships and aid.
• Search Engine Showdown -- Description and analysis of the major search engines, advice on searching the web, and the latest news about the Internet.  Maintained by Greg Notess, reference librarian at Montana State University.  See also his basic and advanced tutorials for searching the web.
• Shakespeare on the Web -- full-text of all the plays.
• Shmoop Literature -- Summaries, analysis, themes, characters, and more!
• Shmoop Poetery -- Themes, interpretations, technique, and more!
• Shmoop US History -- Cram sheets, dates, people, places, analysis, and more!
• *Study Spanish: A free online tutorial for all levels.
• Thesaurus.com
• Today in History -- find out what happened on this date in history, or search the archives for another date. Sponsored by the Library of Congress.
• World Religions:
Introductions, links, and articles about many of the world's religions.
• Writing and Research: Includes a detail listing of the 23 basic steps in the research process.
   
  *sites are recommended by LVMS or WMCHS teachers!
  *Websites compiled by Marylaine Block at Neat New Stuff.

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Dictionaries & Thesauri

• Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names -- look up a place name or type or a nation; provided by the Getty Museum.
• Merriam-Webster Online -- free access to dictionary and thesaurus lookups and Word Central for kids, and limited free access to Britannica Online.
• Your Dictionary.com -- a language portal to more than 2500 dictionaries and grammars in over 300 languages, and to games that build language skills.

Encyclopedias & Fact books

• Encarta Reference -- limited free access to an encyclopedia, English dictionary, and atlas.
• Encyclopedia.com -- more than 57,000 frequently updated entries from the Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.
• InfoUSA -- information about the United States, aimed at foreign audiences but a good reference for all; provided by the U.S. Department of State.

Local Schools

• Long Valley Middle School
• LVMS Library
• Washington Twp. Public Schools
• WMCHS Library
• West Morris Central High School

Databases & Search Engines

Why is a database better than Google or other Internet search engines?

That's easy! ANYONE can put ANYTHING up on the web.
Just because a search engine picks it up does not mean that the information is accurate. But a database, on the other hand, is a resource that the library purchases. So the information that you find there is reliable just like the information in a book or a periodical.
(They also "count" as a book or periodical, not a website, when you are citing your sources for a school project!)

Click HERE to take a look at our
Library Databases
to see which one will be most helpful
for your curent assignment!

Questions? Need help?
Call the library and ask for the Reference Desk!
908.876.3596