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Ready Reference Center© Copyright 1999-2008
Middletown Thrall Library
- Zip Code Lookup
- Search by address, city, company or zip code.
- Ad Access
- Historical examples from 1911 to 1955. It concentrates on five main subject areas: Radio, Television, Transportation, Beauty and Hygiene, and World War II. You can browse by subject, get the history of the subject or use a timeline.
- Campaigns That Have Made a Difference
- Public service announcements from 1942.
- Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920
- Material includes ephemera, broadsides, cookbooks, particular products, etc.
- Information Please
- Combines the information of many almanacs. Info Please offers a library of up-to-the-minute facts, statistics, and historical records.
- Kids Almanac
- An up-to-date resource of topics and subjects useful for elementary and secondary students.
- Old Farmer's Almanac
- Contains current and long term weather predictions, planting charts, moon calanders, tide schedules, and common sense wisdom for every day of the week.
- Anatomy / Physiology at About.com
- Anatomy and physiology information on the brain, the heart, blood vessels and other structures of the body.
- Anatomy of the Human Body: Henry Gray
- Although not an exact copy of the print version, it has over 1200 illustrations and nearly all the definitions with a fast search feature.
- A Guided Tour ot the Visible Body
- Digitized images of sections of the body have been used to create animations and images in this tour of planes of sections and other introductory concepts in anatomy.
- Human Anatomy Online
- A detailed, illustrated view of the human anatomy with a descriptive A-Z index, and an animated presentation of how the body works.
- The Virtual Body
- MEDtropolis Virtual Body: Build a virtual skeleton bone by bone. Then take a narrated tour to learn about your brain, watch a heart pump lood, and find three "ums". Includes a choice of English or Spanish. PLEASE NOTE: This site requires the free Flash Plugin from Macromedia.com.
General Animal Information
- All About Birds
- Find out how to start the hobby of birdwatching. Includes scientific information on bird species with maps and pictures, as well as what conservation steps are being taken.
- Animal Bytes
- A collection of unique creatures in the animal kingdom. Searching is arranged by common name and category. Files include a color photograph, classification information, and useful facts about the animal.
- Animal Diversity Web
- Sponsored by the University of Michighan Museum of Zoolology. A highly informative classification of the animal kingdom. Includes a good search engine with an extensive updated links collection.
- Animal Omnibus
- A list of web sources indexed by the name of the animal.
- Animal Recordings
- Search for animal sounds collected by Cornell University.
- Biology Browser
- British Library Sound Archive
- Select animal sounds by animal group. Each one is listed alphabetically by common name.
- Encyclopedia of Life
- "The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is an ambitious, even audacious project to organize and make available via the Internet virtually all information about life present on Earth. At its heart lies a series of Web sitesone for each of the approximately 1.8 million known speciesthat provide the entry points to this vast array of knowledge. The entry-point for each site is a species page suitable for the general public, but with several linked pages aimed at more specialized users. The sites sparkle with text and images that are enticing to everyone, as well as providing deep links to specific data."
- Froghoo
- Search all of Amphibian Conservation Alliance's web links, news, articles and other amphibian resources.
- Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia
- "A completely revised and updated version of the original work published in Germany in 1960, this edition incorporates recent developments in the animal world as noted by prominent advisors and contributors from the scientific community."
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- You will find authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. Search by common name or scientific.
- Sites with Bird Songs
- A list of websites arranged geographically that have the songs of birds and some other animals.
Organizations - Animal Welfare and Protection
- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
- "The ASPCA was founded in 1866 as the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. The Society was formed to alleviate the injustices animals faced then, and we continue to battle cruelty today."
- The Humane Society of the United States
- International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
- USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
- "The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition." From the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- Antiques and Collectibles on the Web
- Top 10 things to remember, sites for restoration, conservation, value, appraisal organizations by type of item.
- Antiques Bulletin
- Antiquescare.com
- Advice from experts who are chosen because of their professional expertise, experience, detailed knowledge and craftsmenship.
- Tips of the Trade: Antiques Roadshow
- Select an area of interest and read the tips from the experts.
- Digital Archive of American Architecture
- Collection of digital images and explanatory notes covering American architecture from the 17th century to the 20th. Includes links to other architecture sites on the Web.
- Great Buildings Online
- Provides images of the world's greatest buildings throughout history with information on their architects, style, and historical context.
General
- Art Glossary
- Extensive glossary of artistic terms. Includes definitions of art periods/schools, genres, tools, techniques used in painting, drawing, and sculpture, and more. Provided by AskArt.com. See also their Art Styles page for information on abstract art, art deco, art nouveau, expressionism, surrealism, and other styles used by artists.
- Artcyclopedia
- "Guide to great art on the Internet."
- ARTSEDGE
- "ARTSEDGE offers free, standards-based teaching materials for use in and out of the classroom, as well as professional development resources, student materials, and guidelines for arts-based instruction and assessment." From the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
- A Brush with History:Paintings from the National Portrait Gallery
- A selection of portraits with brief biographical information on the sitter. Browse by sitter or artist.
- Dictionary of Symbols
- Endeavors to provide cultural significances of various symbols. Meant as an "aid" to exploration of how symbols in each work of art functions.
- Timeline of Art History
- A chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world, as illustrated especially by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
- WebMuseum
- Online exhibits of famous paintings
National Galleries (U.S.)
- National Gallery of Art
- National Museum of African Art
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- National Portrait Gallery
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Smithsonian Institution Museums
New York Galleries
- Art Museums in New York
- Brooklyn Museum of Art
- The Frick Collection
- Guggenheim Museum - New York
- Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
- New York Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Tate Modern Art
- Whitney Museum of American Art
Other State Galleries
- Art Museums in the United States
International Galleries
- Art Museums Worldwide
- Louvre
- Charitable Organizations - Office of New York State Attorney General
- Includes yearly "Pennies for Charities" report on fund raisers.
- Charity Navigator
- "Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,300 of America's largest charities."
- Guidestar
- The "donor's guide to the charitable universe", is a project of Philantropic Research Inc. Contains some information on 620,000 nonprofits. GuideStar powers the popular Internet guides NetworkForGood and JustGive.
- JustGive.org
- JustGive is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with the charities and causes they care about and to increase overall giving. Donations may be made from this one site.
- National Charities Reports Index
- The BBB Wise Giving Alliance helps donors make informed giving decisions to charities.
- Atlapedia
- Full color physical and political maps as well as key facts and statistics on countries of the world.
- Atlases and Maps
- A list of links to over 60 sites including earthquakes, relief maps, street maps, historical maps and much more.
- Color Landform Atlas of the United States
- Select a state and see a county map, shaded relief map, satellite map and other maps.
- Historical Atlas of the Twentieth Century
- Interactive maps of the 20th century trends, governments, and much more.
- The MapMachine
- Find nearly any place on Earth, and view it by population, climate, and much more. Plus, browse antique maps, find country facts, or plan your next outdoor adventure with our trail maps.
- Topozone
- Enter a place name or latitude and longitude coordinates and see a detailed topographical map.
- Auto Leasing: the Art of the Deal
- Auto Repair Center
- Accessible to current Middletown Thrall Library cardholders. Auto repair procedures and diagrams. Access information by specifying make and model of a car.
- Edmunds
- New or used prices, buyers advice, use VIN # to perform carfax history on a particular vehicle.
- FuelEconomy.gov
- From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Find and compare cars and their energy consumption and environmental impact scores. Sections include: Alternative Fuel Vehicles, New Fuel Economy Ratings, Find Your Car's Energy Impact Score, Energy Efficiency, EPA MPG Ratings, Hybrid Vehicles, Gas Mileage Tips, Gasoline Prices, Videos, Where Can I Buy Ethanol/E85/Flex-Fuel Vehicles?, News.
- How to Buy a Car
- How to research 10 important aspects of buying a new or used vehicle. This pathfinder from the Business, Science and Technology Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore helps you to find resources to research "ten important aspects" of buying a car. Many of the resources are freely available online or are available in Thrall's collection as well.
- Kelly Blue Book
- New or used prices on autos, mororcycles, personal water craft or snowmobiles. Lemon check feature.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Crash test results, recalls, auto safety hotline, and more.
- SaferCar.gov
- "The nation's premier source of vehicle safety information from the government." From the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Sections include: Defects and Recalls, Crash Test and Rollover Ratings, Become a Safer Driver, Tires, Air bags and safety, Buying a Safer Car, New Car Assessment Program.
- Biography.com
- A growing collection of brief sketches covering over 25,000 diverse personalities, including historical figures, politicians, sports, entertainers, and more.
- Biographical Dictionary
- This dictionary includes more than 27,000 notable men and women from ancient times to the present day. Please note: This site may not be viewable if you are using a web browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer.
- Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress
- Search by name, state, party and position from 1784 to the present. Includes the Continental Congress.
- Biographies of Women Mathematicians
- Biography Resource Center
- Accessible to current ANSER Library cardholders. A comprehensive database of biographical information on more than one million people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. Scroll down and click on 'Proceed' button.
- Biography Resources
- This is a meta site of general and specific sources for locating information on the famous, infamous, and obscure.
- Dead People Server
- An occasionally humorous but current source of concise biographies and obituaries.
- Care, Handling and Storage of Books
- Prepared by the archivists at the Library of Congress.
- Caring for Your Books
- Find out how to protect your books from damage due to environmental conditions, shelving, storage, handling and use.
- Your Old Books
- This guide produced by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries covers some frequently asked questions about rare books and book values.
- American Federal Holidays and Observances
- The American Secular Holidays page by Marcos J.Montes calculates dates of federal observances since 1776 and predicts dates into the future.
- Calendar & Clock Page
- A bare bones list of links for calendars of all types--rated a Top 5% Site.
- Calendar Zone
- ePrintableCalendars.com
- Create monthly calendars, yearly calendars up to 2018 in 3 different sizes.
- Business Statistics - BizStats.com
- Instant access to useful financial ratios, business statistics and benchmarks. Effective and understandable analysis of businesses and industries.
- Business and Company Resource Center
- Accessible to current ANSER Library cardholders. Information on over 400,000 US and international companies: histories; chronologies; rankings; investment reports; more.
- gethuman
- Databases of companies' customer service telephone numbers annotated with information on how to connect to a real person.
- Infospace Companies Online
- Search for a company website by entering either a company name or a keyword. Caution: There are sometimes inaccurate duplicate entries.
- Hoovers.com
- Reference USA
- For Middletown Thrall Library Cardholders. Directory information for 120 million households and 13 million businesses in the U.S. Includes reverse phone number searches. Allows you to search by name, yellow page heading and/or location.
- ThomasNet
- All Recipes.com
- Epicurious
- Food Dictionaries and Encyclopedia
- Links to food sites compiled by the USDA.
- Food Lover's Companion
- Enter a term, the name of the food or spice and find a brief description or history.
- Food Network
- Making Non-Vegetarian Dishes Vegan-Friendly
- From the Vegetarian Resource Group.
- Measurements, Cooking Times, and Conversions
- Find answers to questions about baking with sugar and sugar substitutes to turkey cooking times.
- RecipeSource.com
- Sustainable Table
- Created to celebrate shopping smarter, eating healthier, and enjoying an abundance of fresh, locally-grown products. Includes recipes, cookbook reviews and more.
- Vegetarian Society
- World Health Circle of International Cooking
- Click by country or category.
- CIA World Factbook Online
- Country Studies
- Prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, this site contains studies of over 90 countries. Users may search or browse resources.
- Political Database of the Americas
- From Georgetown University, this is a major source of information on elections, political parties, and constitutions in the Americas.
- Portals of the World
- Selective links providing authoritative, in-depth information about the nations and other areas of the world.
- Enchanted Learning's Crafts for Kids
- Instruction on crafts made from items you have around the house. Arranged by subject matter. This version is free, but there is also a subscriber version that is ad free and has printer friendly pages.
- Home Sewing Association
- Check out the enthusiast section for very helpful and informative sewing guidelines as well as patterns and instructions for sewing projects.
- Origami Club
- Site contains many diagrams and animations of the folding process that you can control.
- Women Folk: The Art of Quilting
- Quilt history, patterns and their stories through history.
- Acronymfinder
- You can enter the exact acronym, "begins with" or a key word from the acronym.
- Cambridge Dictionaries Online
- Search several different dictionaries including the Advanced Learner's Dictionary, American English, and the International Dictionary of Idioms.
- Dictionary.com
- Includes a thesaurus.
- Merriam-Webster Online
- Dictionary and Thesaurus
- Netlingo
- A list of acronymns and text messaging shorthand.
- OneLook Dictionaries
- Query more than 500 general and specialized dictionaries at once. Links to all of them organized by topic.
- Reverse Dictionary
- "The reverse dictionary lets you go from a concept/idea/definition to words and phrases used to describe that concept."
- RhymeZone
- Type in a word to find its rhymes, synonyms, definitions and more.
- Roget's New Millennium Thesaurus
- Read carefully to avoid advertisements. The search box is currently at the very top of the page, and all advertisements are marked as such.
- Roget's Thesauri
- Includes Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus and Roget’s International Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases. Provided by Bartleby.com.
- Synonym.com
- Type in a word to find its synonym, antonym or definition.
- Visual Dictionary
- Browse by category or type in an object. An image is displayed with all its parts labeled using English or French terms.
- A Web of On-line Dictionaries
- From Afrikaans to Yiddish--more than 800 dictionaries in 160 languages. Lists dictionaries which specialize in specialized topics such as advertising, dentistry or fishing and travel.
- WordNet
- This database from Princeton University can be used simply as a thesaurus or to do lexical research. Click on "Use Word Net Online" to do a search.
- Your Dictionary
- More than just a site of standard English dictionaries and thesauruses, this site also includes over 200 foreign language dictionaries and translator programs as well as specialized dictionaries for professional vocabularies like medicine, business, and computer science.
- ADA Home Page: Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Includes policies and related enforcement information, laws, specialized consumer topics (Guide to Disability Rights Laws, ADA Questions and Answers, ADA Designated Investigative Agencies, ADA Mediation Program), and more. Provided by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
- DisabilityInfo.gov
- "DisabilityInfo.gov is a comprehensive online resource designed to provide people with disabilities with quick and easy access to the information they need. DisabilityInfo.gov is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in partnership with 21 other federal agencies."
- MedlinePlus: Disabilities
- Sections include: Overviews, News, Diagnosis/Symptoms, Nutrition, Related Issues, Research, Financial Issues, Clinical Trials, Journal Articles, Dictionaries/Glossaries, Directories, Organizations, Law and Policy, Statistics, and more. Provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Benefits for Children with Disabilities
- Information on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
- Developmental Disabilities
- Covers topics such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Hearing Loss, Intellectual Disability, Vision Impairment. Additiona sections include: Monitoring Developmental Disabilities, Research about Developmental Disabilities, Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, Educational Materials, Developmental Disability Data Sets. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
- Disability FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions about Laws, Guidelines, and Services
- "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supports a variety of service and advocacy programs for persons with disabilities as a part of a government-wide approach."
Area Schools
- Chester Union Free School District
- Cornwall Central School District
- Florida Union Free School District
- Goshen Central School District
- Greenwood Lake School District
- Highland Falls - Fort Montgomery Central School District
- John S. Burke Catholic High School
- Marlboro Central School District
- Middletown City School District
- Minisink School District
- Monroe Woodbury Central School District
- Newburgh Enlarged City School District
- New York Military Academy
- Orange-Ulster Board of Cooperative Educational Services
- Pine Bush School District
- Port Jervis City School District
- Tuxedo Union Free School District
- Valley Central School District
- Wallkill Central School District
- Warwick Valley Central School District
- Washingtonville Central School District
Curriculum Development
- ARTSEDGE
- "ARTSEDGE offers free, standards-based teaching materials for use in and out of the classroom, as well as professional development resources, student materials, and guidelines for arts-based instruction and assessment." From the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
- ERIC
- "ERIC provides free access to more than 1.2 million bibliographic records of journal articles and other education-related materials and, if available, includes links to full text. ERIC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES)."
- The Gateway
- Sponsored by the National Education Association, this site organizes exemplary curriculum units and lesson plans. Drop-down menus help limit to the subject and narrower topics in each field of education. Materials are included for levels from Pre-K to higher education and continuing education as well.
- New York State Learning Standards
- "Learning Standards, Assessments, Publications and Resources for the Core Subjects" as well as "The Learning Standards and Alternate Performance Indicators for Students with Severe Disabilities." Provided by the New York State Education Department.
- Publications Catalog of the NYS Education Dept.
- All K-12 curriculum guides are listed and described in this catalog which downloads in PDF format. Any guide can be ordered by mail from Albany. Ordering information is listed on page 1. Note: You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com to view this document.
- Scholastic: Technology Tools, Organizers, and Templates for Lesson Planning, Classroom Management, and Teaching
- Scholastic provides a variety of tools, and downloadable guides, and other resources for educators.
General
- Educaton Sites
- Links to New York State education sites for all grade levels.
- The Educator's Reference Desk
- Brings you the resources you have come to depend on including lesson plans, links to online education information, and 200+ question archive responses.
- ERIC
- "ERIC provides free access to more than 1.2 million bibliographic records of journal articles and other education-related materials and, if available, includes links to full text. ERIC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES)."
- Elderhostel
- FREE (Federal Resources for Educational Excellence)
- "More than 1,500 federally supported teaching and learning resources are included from dozens of federal agencies. New sites are added regularly." From the U.S. Department of Education in cooperation with various other U.S. Government agencies.
- Middletown Teacher Center
- New York State School Districts
- School "Report Cards" from NY State
- Posted by the NY State Education Department based on local schools test results.
- SchoolTree.org
- Listings for over 140,000 public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, and school districts in the United States. Click on the state to begin.
- U.S. Dept. of Education
Home Schooling
- American Homeschool Association
- Founded in 1995 to network homeschool advi\ocates around the country, this association site offers links about the history of home schooling, catalogs of materials,articles about homeschooling practice and effectiveness and an online newsletter.
- Eclectic Homeschool Online
- Find articles from a Christian perspective on homeschooling, materials to purchase and reviews of other materials.
- Home Instruction Questions and Answers
- New York State Education Department regulations for home instruction.
- Homeschool.com's Top 100 Web Sites
- National Home Education Research Institute
- NHERI conducts and collects research about homeschooling and publishes the research journal called the Home School Researcher.
- Teach-At-Home
- Categorized links, homework help, feature articles, educational news, and a "fast facts about home schooling" section. Includes a searchable index.
OpenCourseWare (OCW)
- Lectures Archive: A World of Ideas
- "This site catalogues video and audio lectures on academic topics according to discipline, theoretician and topic."
- MERLOT - Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching
- "Find peer reviewed online teaching and learning materials. Share advice and expertise about education with expert colleagues. Be recognized for your contributions to quality education."
- OCWFinder
- Browse OCW materials by area of interest.
- OERCommons: Open Educational Resources
- "Welcome to OER Commons, a global teaching and learning network of free-to-use resources - from K-12 lesson plans to college courseware - for you to use, tag, rate, and review."
- OpenCourseWare Consortium
- As described on their "About Us" page: "An OpenCourseWare is a free and open digital publication of high quality educational materials, organized as courses. The OpenCourseWare Consortium is a collaboration of more than 100 higher education institutions and associated organizations from around the world creating a broad and deep body of open educational content using a shared model."
- OpenLearn LearningSpace
- "The OpenLearn website gives free access to course materials from The Open University. The LearningSpace is open to learners anywhere in the world."
- Top 100 Open Courseware Projects
- Note: this list has a publication date of May 2007.
- World Lecture Hall
- Locate OCW materials at different colleges. Search provided by the University of Texas at Austin.
- The Election Process: Election of the President and Vice President, Senators, and Representatives
- For grades 3 to 5. From Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government. Here are links to web pages for other grades: grades 6-8, 9-12
- Election Statistics
- "Since 1920, the Clerk of the House has collected and published the official vote counts for federal elections from the official sources among the various states and territories. These documents, out of print for many years, have been collected and scanned in a format to make them once again available to researchers and students." From the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Elections Vote411
- One-stop source for information on local and national election issues.
- Presidential Elections Data (1828 - Present)
- From the American Presidency Project
- U.S. Electoral College
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ), How Electors Vote, historical results, and links to election-related resources from NARA (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
- Voting and Elections
- Sections include: Learn about Elections and Voting, Registering to Vote and Voting, Volunteering and Contributing to the Election Process. From USA.gov
- Are You Ready?
- From FEMA
- Get Prepared
- The American Red Cross has information for being prepared from home, school, work and in the community. Includes information for specific types of emergencies, and what teachers should know, as well as a home emergency plan.
- Don't Be Afraid -- Be Ready
- From Ready.gov
- Encyclopedia Britannica
- Accessible to current ANSER Library cardholders.
- Encyclopedia.com
- Encyclopedia Smithsonian
- Helps answer frequently asked questions about the Smithsonian with links to resources on subjects from Art to Zoology.
- Encarta
- From Microsoft
- World Book Encyclopedia
- Accessible to current Middletown Thrall Library cardholders. Articles, multimedia, photographs, maps, animations, special reports, and more
- Envirolink
- Provides access to thousands of online environmental resources.
- Image Archives
- The Global Invasive Species Team of the Nature Conservancy has collected images of invasive species that are grouped by genus name.
- Invasive and Noxious Weeds
- Prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, you'll find links for the Federal Noxious Weed List as well as links to lists for individual states.
- Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States: Identification and Control
- Has pictures as well as the scientific names and distribution maps for each plant.
- IUCN Red list of Threatened Species
- Search by categories, region, continent or country.
- List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Fish & Wildlife Species of New York State
- National Oceanagraphic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Includes satellite images, news articles, photos, and cool web sites.
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
- World Wildlife Fund
- Learn more about endangered species and the places where they live, and the global threats that put all living things in harm's way.
- Conversion Factors for Energy Equivalents
- How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurements
- CIA Factbook: Flags of the World
- Flag Rules and Regulations
- How to display, the sizes and flag code of the American flag.
- The Flag of the United States
- Historic and current flags by the number of stars and other interesting facts.
- Flags of the World (FOTW)
- Devoted to vexillology, and not just flags of states and nations.
- World Flag Database
- A list of all the countries, territories and sub-national regions covered by the database. Contains basic information on the country, including its formal name, capital city, area, population, currency, languages, and religions. The flags include the national and state flags, ensigns, and sub-national flags. Where countries have changed their flags in the last few years the old flag is also shown.
- Math Reference Tables
- Tables for algebra, geometry, trigonometry and many more.
- Online Mathematics Library
- Online Mathmatics Library was compiled from math sites by staff at Empire State College. Links are to sites offering information on basic math skills through calculus.
- S.O.S. Math - Mathematical Tables and Formulas
- Wolfram MathWorld: The Web's Most Extensive Mathematics Resource
- MathWorld is a comprehensive and interactive mathematics encyclopedia intended for students, educators, math enthusiasts, and researchers.
- Card Games
- Rules and information on card and tile games from around the world
- Everyrule.com
- Rules to sports, board games, kids games, TV game shows, casino games, computer games, card games, etiquette and every other rule.
- The Game Cabinet
- Rules and strategy for mostly board games.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension - Home Gardening
- "Ecologically sound, science-based practices for use in your home garden"
- Garden Web: the Internet's Garden Community
- Pest Identification
- Compiled by Clemson University, you'll find links to websites for pests such as weeds, insects and plant diseases.
- Selected Internet Resources: Gardening
- Includes links to government agencies, botanical gardens and societies and associations. From the Library of Congress
- GeoHive
- Find population statistics of regions, countries, provinces and cities.
- How Far Is It?
- Uses data from the US Census and a supplementary list of cities around the world to find the latitude and longitude of two places, and then calculates the distance between them.
- National Atlas of the United States
- by the US Geological Survey
- National Geographic
- States of the United States
- A web directory of good links to information on the 50 states including statistics, history, government and tourism.
- U.S. Gazeteer
- World Geography
- Find a geography glossary and many tables, such as latitude and longitude of cities, principal rivers, earthquake and volcano facts and much more.
- Federal Agency 800 Telephone Numbers
- Foreign Embassies of Washington D.C.
- Foreign Government Resources on the Web
- Governments on the World Wide Web
- Includes links to individual countries and their departments on the Web as well as geographical groupings.
See also our
GovSites Government Information web guide.
- Hospital Compare
- You will see some of the recommended care that an adult should get if being treated for a heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia, or having surgery. Information is not available for children's, psychiatric, rehabilitation or long-term care hospitals.
- Merck Manual of Medical Information
- Similar to the print version. Search alphabetically or by topic.
- New York State Hospital Profile
- Maintained by the New York State Department of Health, this website provides the following information for each hospital in New York State: Available services, licensed beds, quality of care measures, volumes and types of procedures performed, and contact information. Consumers are able to use the "My Hospital" feature to compare hospitals.
- New York State Physician Profile
- "Nursing Home Compare" from Medicare.Gov
- Provides detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country. Can limit by state and county.
- A Biography of America
- Covers events from prehistoric America to 1999.
- A Chronology of U.S. Historical Documents
- Documents from pre-colonial times to the present arranged chronologically up to the 2004 State of the Union Address.
- The American Presidency Project Document Archive
- Primary documents from the Presidents Washington to Bush can be found here. Search by month and year or keyword. Included are inaugural addresses, fireside chats, radio addresses, executive orders and much more.
- History World
- Consists of 400 separate histories and 4000 events. Includes timelines, tours, and special articles. WHATWHENWHERE section is searchable by theme, date, and location.
- Internet History Sourcebooks Project
- Collections of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts presented cleanly (without advertising or excessive layout) for educational use.
- The Web Chronology Project
- The site consists of a series of hyperlinked chronologies developed by the instructors and historical articles prepared by students intended for use in history classes.
- WhoWhatWhen Interactive Historical Timelines
- WhoWhatWhen is a database of people and events from 1000 A.D. to the present. Create graphic timelines of periods in history and of the lives of individuals.
- Calendar and Holidays
- Religious and secular holidays celebrated around the world. There is also a Holidays in America section. Provided by Infoplease.
- Earth Calendar
- Search for holidays by date, country, religion as well as the lunar phases for the current and next year.
- Holidays Around the World: A Festival of Lessons
- Information and activities for teachers and students. See also Education World's Holidays and Special Days Center
- Holidays: A Sampler from Around the World
- A list of major holidays celebrated worldwide. Provided by Scholastic.
- Holidays and Celebrations
- Food, meals, appetizers, cakes and pies, desserts, recipes, and other cooking and dining ideas for various celebrations. Provided by Epicurious.
- Holidays and Observances
- A website directory of holidays and related activities. Provided by Yahoo.com.
- Holidays and Parties
- Food, meals, appetizers, cakes and pies, desserts, recipes, and other cooking and dining ideas for various celebrations. Provided by The Food Network.
- How Stuff Works: Holiday Channel
- "The Holidays Channel includes background information, activities and stories about various holidays and celebrations throughout the year."
- Snopes.com: Urban Legends about Holidays
- Exploring rumors, misconceptions, and other aspects of various holidays throughout the year.
- Appliance 411
- Most frequently requested information about major home appliances and their manufacturers.
- Do It Yourself
- Home Improvement How-To info and home repair tips help answer basic questions in Do It Yourself projects.
- Do It Yourself Resources
- Collection of links to internet sites from Autoshop to Your New Home.
- Home Maintenance & Repair
- Full text articles on topics of home maintenance and repair. Includes information on stains, cleaning, minor household fixes, etc.
- eHow: How to Do Just About Everything
- Expert Village
- The how to video site where you can learn just about anything, including self defense techniques, free magic tricks, how to tie a neck tie, and nearly everything in between.
- How to Do Things
- Categories include: Automotive, Business, Careers, Computers & Internet, Education, Electronics, Family & Relationships, Fashion & Personal Care, Finance & Real Estate, Food & Drink, Health & Fitness, Hobbies, Holidays/Holiday Celebrations, Home & Garden, Pets & Animals, Religion & Spirituality, Sports & Recreation, and Travel.
- Mahalo: How To
- Browse by category. Categories include: Beauty, Careers, Crafts, Dance, Education, Fashion, Finance, Fitness, Food, Holidays/Holiday Celebrations, Internet, Language, Music, Pets, Relationships, Sports, Travel, Video Games, Writing
See also the links below for more "how-to" information:
- Automobiles - Repairs, buying and selling (new and used vehicle values, car ratings)
- Booklovers - Starting/running a book club, reading recommendations, locating authors/titles/bestsellers/awarded books/series and sequels
- Careers/Employment - Job hunting, interviews, cover letters/resumes, Civil Service job postings
- Colleges & Universities - Preparing to attend, selecting a college or university
- Consumers - Credit reports, insurance, law, money, records, Social Security cards, seniors, travel
- Crafts - Projects, patterns, supplies, and activities
- Education - Curriculum development, general education resources for students and teachers
- Home - DIY (Do-It-Yourself), home improvements, house repairs
- Investing - Terminology, stocks and bonds, mutal funds, commodities/futures/options, personal finances and banking
- Research Papers - Doing research, citations, bibliographies
- Technology - How things work, repairs, gadgets, future trends
Clip Art & Illustrations
- Clip Art Directory
- Clip art websites by topic. Provided by Google Directory.
- Web Clip Art
- Directory of clip art and clip art providers. Provided by About.com.
Databases & Collections - Historical Archives
- American Memory Exhibit
- Browse or search documents and photographs from American history. Provided by the Library of Congress.
- American Museum of Photography
- Historical features, works of famous photographers, exhibits, and more.
- Hudson River Valley Heritage
- "Providing online access to historical materials from New York State's Hudson River Valley"
- Local History Images
- Provided by Middletown Thrall Library.
- LIFE Photo Archive
- Search millions of photographs from the 1750s to the present.
Databases and Collections - Multiple Topics
- Morgue File
- Search or browse downloadable stock photos.
- National Geographic Photographs
- Nature, environmental, scientific, multicultural, and other photographs.
- Photography Collections
- Directory of major photography exhibits. Provided by LII.org.
- Picture Collection Online
- "For those who seek knowledge and inspiration from visual materials, the Picture Collection Online presents more than 30,000 digitized images from books, magazines and newspapers as well as original photographs, prints and postcards, mostly created before 1923." Provided by the New York Public Library.
- USA.gov: U.S. Government Photos and Graphics
Image Creation & Editing Software
- Blender
- 3D computer graphics. Image and animation creation software.
- GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
- Draw, paint, convert, or edit images, photographs, and computer graphics.
- Inkscape
- Create vector style diagrams and illustrations.
- Other Image Software
- Listings provided by Google Directory. See also their Image Manipulation directory.
Image Search Engines
- All the Web: Image Search
- AltaVista Image Search
- Ditto.com
- Fagan Finder
- Search multiple image archives.
- Google Image Search
- Picsearch
- Yahoo! Image Search
- Valuation Guide for Items Donated to the Salvation Army
- A list of the average prices in their thrift stores for items in good condition. This list is for your guidance only.
- Various tax forms and publications
- Links for Investors guide
- Fitch Ratings of Insurance Companies
- A service offering up-to-date ratings of insurance companies.
- Insurance Company Ratings Lookup
- Enter a company name or search by rating.
- Opposing Views.com
- This website explores a variety of issues from different perspectives. "Experts" on issues as well as Internet users comment on each topic. Users can also participate in polls on topics.
- Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
- This database can be used to explore a variety of "pro" (for) and "con" (against) viewpoints on numerous topics. Browse or search for an issue and view full text articles to learn more about different positions, controversies, arguments, disagreements, and similar opinions shared by scholars and experts. For Middletown Thrall Library cardholders.
- ProCon.org
- ProCon.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is "Promoting education, critical thinking, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a simple, nonpartisan primarily pro-con format."
- Sirs Knowledge Source
- SIRS Knowledge Source is described as "a general reference database containing thousands of full-text articles exploring social, scientific, health, historic, business, economic, political and global issues. Articles and graphics are selected from 1,600 domestic and international publications and are indexed primarily according to Library of Congress subject headings."
- I Love Languages(formerly "The Human Language Page")
- Comprehensive catalog of language-related Internet resources
- Languages on the Web
- Mango Languages
- With free registration, website provides access to some online language lessons in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Russian, Greek, Mandarin Chinese, German, and Italian.
- Modern Language Association Language Map
- View and compare color coded maps of the United States as a whole or by each state. Bar graphs can be created by state, zip code, town, city or county.
- OmniGlot: A Guide to Written Language
- Find alphabets currently in use as well as decorative and religious alphabets.
- Tell Me More
- Online language learning program available to Middletown Thrall Library card holders.
- The People's Law School
- Created by the NYS Bar Association. This is designed to serve as a practical, informative guide for people without formal legal training. Topics covered include civil lawsuits, wills and estate planning, criminal law, traffic violations, matrimonial law, and the lawyer/client relationship. The book, Understanding the Law: A Practical Guide for New York Residents is also available online. You will need to have Windows Media Player and the Adobe Reader to access this information on the Internet.
- Get Ready to Read
- Activities and educational materials for literacy development. Also includes resources for parents, educators, and librarians. A Spanish (Español) edition is also available. Provided by the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD).
- The Key: a Newspaper for New Readers
- The Key provides reading material for adults with limited reading skills. These include adults who have not completed their high school educations, those learning English and those with learning disabilities. It s free of copyright for nonprofit, education purposes only.
- Letter Generator
- You will be prompted to fill-in information to create friendly and business letters.
- Literacy Resources
- Online Writing Lab from Purdue University
- This site has some good basic information on writing for various reasons.
- Reading Is Fundamental
- Educational activities and games promoting literacy and reading comprehension. Sections include: Reading Planet, Leading to Reading, Reading Activity Calendars, Read Along Stories for Kids, Literacy Games for Kids, Printable Parent Guides, Booklists, News, e-Cards, and more.
Please see our Rediscovering Literature guide.
- NY State
- North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries
- Global Lottery Affiliates
- FindArticles.com
- Click here for the list of publications indexed by FindArticles.com
- MagPortal.com
- Click here for the list of publications indexed by MagPortal.com
- AskCity
- "Find Businesses, Events, and Movies for most cities in the U.S." From Ask.com.
- Blank Outline Maps of the Countries and Continents of the World
- Google Maps
- Maps, driving directions, business locations, and more. Users without high speed Internet might prefer to use the HTML-only edition of this service.
- Library Spot's Maps
- Includes links to maps collections, U.S. maps, world maps, and specialized maps such as aerial, zip codes, space, topographic, and many more.
- MapQuest
- Generate maps of locations as well as driving directions to and from destinations. You can also locate places by address and find attractions and services local to those areas, including hotels, dining locations, stores, schools and universities, museums, libraries, and more.
- Maps for Students
- A collection of free, mainly historical digital maps for educational use. It gives teachers and students an expanding set of small-scale reference maps for classroom and personal use. Each may be downloaded from the website in multiple formats. A blank version of each map is "suitable for map quizzes and customization."
- Modern Language Association Language Map
- View and compare color coded maps of the United States as a whole or by each state. Bar graphs can be created by state, zip code, town, city or county.
- Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
- Rare Map Collection
- A collection of more than 800 historical maps of America spanning nearly 500 years.
- Yahoo Maps
- Maps, driving directions, business locations, and more. Two versions currently: one for dialup users, one for broadband users
- Interactive Mathematics Puzzles
- A Maths Dictionary for Kids
- An illustrated, animated, and interactive dictionary of math terms. Browse terms alphabetically by clicking on the first letter of the term you want to look up.
- MathWorld: Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics
- The web's most complete mathematical resource, assembled over more than a decade by Internet encyclopedist Eric W. Weisstein.
- Online Mathematics Library
- Online Mathmatics Library was compiled from math sites by staff at Empire State College. Links are to sites offering information on basic math skills through calculus.
- Practical Algebra Lessons
- Find lessons on introductory through advanced algebra topics. Also provides practical tips, hints, examples of common mistakes, and an extensive selection of word problems. Browse the listing or use the "search" box at the top of the page.
- Regents Prep Center
- Developed by the Oswego City School District, this site has old regents exams and answers for Math A, Math B, as well as the sciences and history exams. It includes study guides for each subject.
- SOSMATH!!!
- The Wolfram Functions Site
- Formulas and graphics about mathematical formulas. Contains nearly 90 thousand formulas and features a "Function of the Day."
For biographies of mathematicians see also:
Biography
- "Antoine frame-of-reference method"
- Examples of everyday item equivalences for metric units of length, mass, volume, and temperature.
- ConvertMe.com
- Interactive calculators for many measurement systems.
- ConvertIt
- Quick and easy measurement converter.
- A Dictionary of Units
- A summary of most of the units of measure used around the world. Also includes the conversion factors needed to change them into a 'standard' unit of the SI.
- How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measure
- Online Conversion
- Currency Converter for 164 Countries
- Origins of Money and of Banking
- "All sorts of things have been used as money at different times in different places." Defines Money based on its functions.
- Treasury Reporting Rates of Exchange
- Currency equivalency rate in an easy table for the current quarter.
- Academy Awards Database
- "The Academy Awards Database contains the record of past Academy Award winners and nominees." Includes a basic and an advanced search as well as statistical lists.
- All Movie Guide
- Search not only by title and actor, but also by author, location, technical criteria or creator.
- Independent Critics
- Three critics with different points of view review movies and DVDs. You'll also find top 10 lists and their columns.
- Internet Movie Database
- Kids-in-Mind: The Parents' Guide to Movies and Video
- Provides "objective, non-critical assessments of the potentially objectionable material contained in movies." Movies are listed by release date and can be searched by title. Each movie is given a rating on a scale of 0-10 in three distinct categories- sex and nudity, violence and gore, and profanity.
- Movie Review Query Engine
- Search for reviews for over 410,000 movies or use one of the prepared lists.
- MuseumSpot
- Guide to museums and other cultural information on the Web.
- Museums of the World
- Directory of museum websites throughout the world.
- Museums in the US
- by name or category.
- A-Z Lyrics Universe
- Provides the words to popular songs.
- The Aria Database
- Diverse collection of information on over 1000 operatic arias. Designed for singers and non-singers alike.
- Classics for Kids
- Podcasts, games, educational activities, and historical information on classical music and composers. To play games (such as "Compose Your Own Music" or "Name Notes"), follow the Games link at the top of the page. Games require the Adobe Flash plugin. Provided by Cincinnati Public Radio and sponsored by GE, Naxos Audio, Time Warner Cable, and others. Note: A few "sponsored links" direct you to Amazon.com.
- Essentials of Music
- Encyclopedic information on musical eras and composers. Includes an extensive glossary of musical terms. Website provided by Sony Music Entertainment and W.W.Norton.
- The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
- Contains over 29,000 pieces of music and focuses on popular American music spanning the period 1780 to 1960. All pieces of the collection are indexed on this site and a search will retrieve a catalog description of the pieces. An image of the cover and each page of music will also be retrieved if the music was published before 1923 and is in the public domain.
- Music
- A variety of trivia and lists about music, musicians. Includes summaries of recent and past famous recordings by year and genre. Provided by infoplease.com.
- Music Databases
- These music databases featuring information and music are freely available to Middletown Thrall Library members: African American Song, American Song, Classical.com Classical Music Library, Contemporary World Music, Smithsonian Global Sound.
- Musical Scores
- A directory of links to online sheet music and scores as well as images.
- MusicWeb Encyclopedia of Popular Music
- Nearly 4000 entries, mostly performers, but also songwriters, producers and record labels.
- New York Philharmonic Kid Zone
- A fun and interactive website designed to introduce young people to the orchestra. Sections include: Orchestra Station, Game Room, Musicians' Lounge, Composers' Gallery, Instrument Storage Room, Instrument Laboratory, Conductor/Soloist Dressing Rooms, Newsstand, and Composition Workshop. Requires the Adobe Flash plugin.
- Online Music Scores
- Only links to sites with scores that may be downloaded for free.
- Song Lyrics on Yahoo!
- A database of lyrics for over 400,000 songs: The lyrics are displayed as images, most likely to prevent copying and pasting of text, but they are said to be "official" lyrics, as opposed to other lyrics sites which can have incorrect/incomplete lyrics uploaded by users.
Myths & LegendsMythology, Folklore, Folktales, Legendary Characters & Stories | [ Return to Main Menu ] |
- The Age of Fable, or Beauties of Mythology
- Online edition of book by Thomas Bulfinch. Search or browse. Sections include: Stories of Gods and Heroes, King Arthur and his Knights, The Mabinogeon, Hero Myths of the British Race, and Legends of Charlemagne. Provided by Bartleby.com.
- Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
- Nearly 20,000 entries about various words and their origins, literary and Biblical characters, myths, legends, symbols, literature and literary allusions, folklore, history, and more.
- The Camelot Project
- A vast archive of original Medieval and Modern texts as well as scholarly works about King Arthur, Arthurian lore, Camelot, and the Holy Grail. Provided by the University of Rochester.
- Classical Mythology