Here you will find resources that can answer quick questions. This is the place to come if you have "Ready Reference" type questions, which
are questions that can be answered using tools like encyclopedias, statistical resources, maps, dictionaries, or similar types of resources.
Click on a subject below to jump down the list to appropriate resources, or you can just browse the entire list (which is in alphabetical order by subject).
Acronyms
This website allows you to search for the meaning of over half a million
acronyms. Give it a try!
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Dictionaries and Thesauri
The original American English
dictionary is now online! Also available is an online thesaurus.
Author: Miriam Webster, Inc
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Location: Internet
The
Oxford English Dictionary is thought by many to be the definitive source for information about words of the English language. In addition to authoritative definitions, you'll also learn the history of the words of English.
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Location: Internet
Directories (phone, email, and zip codes)
Let's face it: it's tough to find email addresses. It's not like a phone number where you have to use your real name to register for one. But try
Bigfoot, an online email search tool. Good luck!
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The
Escape Artist website provides lookup services for postal codes around the world.
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Location: Internet
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USPS.com provides a simple tool for looking up postal codes for destinations in the United States.
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Encyclopedias and Almanacs
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The "standard" for encyclopeadic reference,
Encyclopedia Britanica provides access to some of their content and material for free through this website.
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Maps and Atlases
This
online resource from the Central Intelligence Agency provides country profiles and maps of countries from around the world.
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Location: Internet
Use
Google Maps to find a location, get driving directions, find businesses in a particular area (e.g. restaurants), and much more!
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This
map collection from the University of Texas represents one of the largest compilations of online maps in the world today. Includes historical maps as well as present-day info.
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Statistics
FedStats provides access to statistical information collected by U.S. Government agencies on an astounding array of topics (from alcohol consumption by state to unemployment to income to transportation and on and on!).
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NationMaster has stats on a wide range of topics from countries around the world. Even better, the site allows you to quickly compare, through graphs and numbers, the statisitc of your choice across many different countries.
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OffStats is a web portal that directs you to other sites offering statistical information on the topic of your interest. From the University of Aukland Library.
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Weights, Dates, Measures, and Currency
From the Department of Chemistry at the University of Berlin comes this powerful
conversion tool for changing metric units into English equivalents and vice-versa.
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Location: Internet
Wondering what time it is in Ulaanbaatar? Check out
this site and find out!
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Location: Internet
Access Rights: Available to General Public
Location: Internet