Kay Cunningham's List: Websites for Reference

Search tool for Google digitized books, devised by the university libraries involved

catalog.hathitrust.org - Preview

Google_books search_engines e-books on 2009-11-22 and saved by 12 people

The tool has a few features that Google lacks, said John P. Wilkin, an associate university librarian for the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He is leading the group formed by the colleges, which is called HathiTrust Digital Library. The killer app: HathiTrust's search lists every page that contains a user's search term, while Google's might return a partial list, said Mr. Wilkin. "That's a small amenity, but I think you'll see us continue to devote energy to that sort of tool," he added.

chronicle.com/...8901 - Preview

Google_books academic_libraries HathiTrust on 2009-11-22

LOC portal to world culture resources

international.loc.gov/...intldlhome.html - Preview

Library_of_Congress countries cultures reference on 2009-09-02 and saved by 56 people

Web portal for careers in television

careertv.com - Preview

television websites careers on 2009-09-02 and saved by 2 people

'Sites listed in BrainWeb detail more than 25 common brain diseases and disorders, and include some of the Internet’s best general neuroscience and health resources. They offer descriptions of conditions, FAQs (frequently asked questions), background for talking with physicians, treatment options, support information for families and caregivers, organization contacts, and sources for more information.'

www.dana.org/brainweb - Preview

reference websites science brain medicine on 2009-09-02 and saved by 4 people

New JSTOR tool, analyzing the use of words in scholarly writing. BETA.

dfr.jstor.org - Preview

JSTOR language linguistics data research on 2009-07-30 and saved by 9 people

'This database offers constitutions, charters, amendments, and other related documents. Nations of the world are linked to their constitutional text posted somewhere on the Internet. '

confinder.richmond.edu/ - Preview

constitutions government law reference on 2009-07-18 and saved by 23 people

MARSBest annotation: 'With prominent links to the President's Weekly Address, the National Budget, and the economic recovery plan, the searchable site also provides links for both current news ("The Briefing Room"), the administration's "Agenda" (nicely narrowed by topic), and ways to learn about "Our Government", especially the Executive Branch. "The Administration" lists the President, First Lady, Cabinet members, White House Staff and even the Vice-President and his wife; "About the White House" tours the building itself and its former residents, Air Force One, and Camp David.' \nAuthor/Publisher: The White House\nFee/Fee-based: Free\nDate reviewed: 03/08/09

www.whitehouse.gov - Preview

MARSBest 2009 presidency president executive_branch on 2009-07-18 and saved by 394 people

"The web site of the World Health Organization (WHO) tracks current international health emergencies and disease outbreaks, and offers extensive information on diseases and health issues affecting the global population. Visitors to the site will find an interactive Global Health Atlas with mapping interface, statistical databases covering the health status of each WHO member country, and full-text access to WHO’s publications, including journals, reports, and bulletins. The web site’s Fact Sheets provide excellent overviews of various international health topics and are an ideal resource for high-school and college students beginning their research."
Author/Publisher: World Health Organization
Free/Fee-Based: Free
Date reviewed: 3/1/09

www.who.int/en - Preview

MARSBest 2009 health disease WHO on 2009-07-18 and saved by 133 people

MARSBest annotation: 'This site is a resource that has grown over the course of 15 years from a site focusing on the metro system in Barcelona to a site called “metroPlanet” to its current incarnation with an international scope and convenient, easy-to-use maps of urban railway systems in the world’s largest cities on 6 continents. Users will mainly appreciate UrbanRail.Net for its quick, simple maps, but the site put together by a Berlin public transportation enthusiast and historian also features practical information such as transit pricing, links, and timelines of transportation history for each rail service or line.'
Author/Publisher: Robert Schwandl
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date Reviewed: 2/26/09

www.urbanrail.net/ - Preview

MARSBest 2009 transportation subways maps trains travel on 2009-07-18 and saved by 11 people

MARSBest annotation: 'Well organized, very interactive, and full of information for all, the EPA site offers news, local information, teacher resources, multimedia (videos, photos, audios), resources, and even a trivia quiz, all accessible from the homepage. The “For Youth” section includes tabs for elementary, middle, and high school students while “Work with Us” offers career, grant, and contract information. The site shows lots of depth, too, with navigation tabs for “Learn the Issues”, “Science & Technology”, “Laws & Regulations”, “Newsroom”, and “About EPA”; each is a treasure trove of information in itself, adding to the usefulness and comprehensiveness of the site.'
Author/Publisher: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Fee/Fee-based: Free
Date reviewed: 03/08/09

www.epa.gov - Preview

MARSBest 2009 EPA government environment on 2009-07-18 and saved by 152 people

MARSBest annotation: 'The Traffic.com site provides “free, real-time traffic information for your daily drives” and features real-time traffic and road condition information with drive time estimates. Selected metro areas feature a profile page with a NAVTEQ traffic map, a traffic summary with current incidents affecting traffic flow, events, and ongoing roadwork. Main roadways are highlighted as “hotspots” with a numerical ranking on a 1-to-10 scale in which 1 is “clear” and 10 is “jammed.” Free registration allows users to receive newsletters and daily traffic alerts via email.'
Author/Publisher: Traffic.com, Inc.
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date Reviewed: 2/26/09

www.traffic.com - Preview

MARSBest 2009 traffic transportation maps on 2009-07-18 and saved by 63 people

MARSBest annotation: 'The Writing Lab at Purdue houses 200 free writing resources and instructional materials for students, teachers, and trainers. Included are formatting and style guides, grammar and mechanics, internet literacy, ESL, job search and technical writing, and research. There are sections geared to writing for specific disciplines (e.g. experimental report writing in psychology) and forms (e.g. writing about poetry). This site provides the nuts and bolts needed to jump start any writing project.'
Author/Publisher: The Online Writing Lab, English Department, Purdue University
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date Reviewed: 2/26/09

owl.english.purdue.edu - Preview

MARSBest 2009 writing grammar on 2009-07-18 and saved by 472 people

MARSBest annotation: 'PubChem is a search tool for chemical information, divided into three areas: Compounds, Substances, and BioAssays. Full entries provide detailed information with the most basic information—a general description, the molecular weight and formula, the structure, plus a Table of Contents (ToC) for the full entry—all easily found “above the fold.” Use the ToC or scroll down to retrieve more advanced information, such as bioactivity results, synonyms, chemical actions, detailed properties, and more. Each module is fully interlinked with the other sections of PubChem as well as resources in ToxNet and PubMed, providing full access to toxicology resources and the medical literature, and allowing users access to as much or as little of the chemical information as they need.'
Author/Publisher: National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date reviewed: February 16, 2009

pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Preview

MARSBest 2009 chemistry databases science on 2009-07-18 and saved by 33 people

MARSBest Annotation: 'Drawing on the trusted Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR®), this site provides information for prescriptions drugs, over-the-counter medications, and herbals/supplements. Included are recommended dosage, side effects, possible food and drug reactions, and in many cases pictures to assist with drug identification. But PDRHealth extends far beyond drug information. It also offers excellent overviews of numerous diseases and conditions, from kidney stones and migraines to teething and Cushing Syndrome. And there is even of listing of clinical trials, searchable by region and illness, for those living with cancer or rare diseases. This well-organized, authoritative, and attractive site is a must-have for anyone needing drug information.'
Author/Publisher: Thomson Reuters
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date Reviewed: 2/25/09

pdrhealth.com - Preview

MARSBest 2009 prescription_drugs on 2009-07-18 and saved by 2 people

MARSBest annotation: 'The National Ocean Service (NOS) studies, monitors, and protects coastal and marine areas in the United States. The NOS web site offers detailed information about the agency’s activities, including access to educational videos and weekly podcasts on various coastal science topics. The site also hosts more than 1,000 up-to-date nautical charts, tide level data updated every 10 minutes, and beautiful photography in an image gallery. Teachers will find games, activity suggestions, and lesson plan ideas for students in grades 3-12. This site is an excellent resource for students, teachers, mariners, and anyone interested in America’s coastal ecology.'
Author/Publisher: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date reviewed: 3/1/09

oceanservice.noaa.gov/ - Preview

MARSBest 2009 oceans government on 2009-07-18 and saved by 11 people

MARSBest annotation: 'The National Gardening Association (NGA) offers a wide array of useful gardening content for consumers and educators. Gardeners can consult the weed and pest libraries, food gardening and plant care guides, regional reports, and how-to articles. They can also browse the useful Q and A database and the buyer’s guide. The most impressive feature is the NGA Plant Finder, searchable by plant type, hardiness, light, flower color, and more. In addition, there is a special “Kids Gardening” section loaded with activities and classroom projects. For those who prefer to view gardens rather than dig in the dirt, there is a public garden locator. Two green thumbs up!'
Author/Publisher: National Gardening Association
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date Reviewed: 2/25/09

www.garden.org/ - Preview

MARSBest 2009 gardening on 2009-07-18 and saved by 20 people

MARSBest annotation: 'LocalHikes “provides information on local hiking opportunities near both large and small metropolitan areas in the United States.” It’s possible to search the site for suggested hikes or walks nearest you, by drilling down by geography, hike “content,” or through a quick ZIP code search. Profiles of each hiking destination include highlights, a one-to-four-star ranking, hike time, elevation gain, and links to other useful content like a topographic map image, and photos.'
Author/Publisher: LocalHikes, Inc.
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date Reviewed: 2/26/09

www.localhikes.com - Preview

MARSBest 2009 travel hiking maps trails on 2009-07-18 and saved by 31 people

MARSBest annotation: 'The LocalHarvest Web site offers a nationwide directory of farmers’ markets, small family farms, and organic food sources. Visitors to the site can find local farms, markets, Community Supported Agriculture programs, and food-related events searching by zip code or state, or by using the interactive map. The site also offers a monthly newsletter, recipes, and blogs written by LocalHarvest members. This is a definitive resource for anyone interested in buying local and/or organic food and produce.'
Author/Publisher: LocalHarvest
Free/Fee-Based: Free
Date reviewed: 3/1/09

www.localharvest.org - Preview

MARSBest 2009 food shopping on 2009-07-18 and saved by 214 people

MARSBest annotation: 'Ah, finally - a map system that does it all. This free service offers detailed street and terrain maps, robust locator tools to find addresses/businesses/places, and a route planner for traveling by car, public transport, or walking. Live traffic conditions for several cities are available as well. For those who need visual cues, Google Maps provides that too. Its fascinating "Street View" shows 360° panoramic street-level views, inviting users to virtually walk and explore the area. This is available in many U.S. cities and in several countries abroad. There is also a feature for those wanting to create their own maps. No more fumbling with folding paper maps, just click on this great site.'
Author/Publisher: Google
Free/Fee-based: Free
Date Reviewed: 2/26/09

maps.google.com - Preview

MARSBest 2009 maps Google travel on 2009-07-18 and saved by 1890 people