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Clearinghouse of Professional Information
Ready Reference Resources
This section includes links intended to serve as an on-line reference collection. Public Libraries may want to link to this page from their
library website.
Topics include
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General Resources | Addresses and telephone numbers |
Agriculture|
Almanacs |
Animals |
Anthems |
Antiques |
Architecture |
Art |
Astronomy |
Automobiles |
Birds |
Biographies |
Business |
Calculators |
Calendars |
Canadiana |
Citations |
Consumer Information |
Countries |
Crafts |
Dance |
Dictionaries |
Elections |
Entertainment |
Fashions |For Parents |
First Aid |
Food |
French
Reference Resources (Centre Global d'Information) |
Gardening |
Genealogy|
Geography |
Government Information |
Grammar |
Health and Medicine |
Heraldry |
History |
House and Home |
Job Search |
Law |
Library Organizations |
Museums |
Music |
Myths |
News |
Nobel Prizes |
Patents |
Political Parties |
Postal Services |
Recycling |
Religion |
Robert's Rules |
Science |
Statistics |
Symbols |
Taxation |
Terrorism |
Time Clocks |
Toys |
Trade Directories |
Trademarks |
Travel |
Weather |
Weddings.
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indicates an item written by SOLS staff |
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indicates an item written by OLS-North staff |
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Clicking on certain topics will open a new window, if the link is to a topic included in an other Clearinghouse page |
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AskON / ON demande
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47 Alternatives to Wikipedia (About.com)
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100 Unbelievably Useful Reference Sites You’ve Never Heard Of
(TeachingTips.com)
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Best Free Reference Web Sites 2007(
Machine-assisted Reference Section (MARS), ALA.) This annual
series initiated under the auspices of MARS to recognizes outstanding reference
sites on the Web
- Canada Site
 Gateway to Canadian
information by the government of Canada.
- Canadian Information by Subject
(Library and Archives Canada)
- The Canadian Encyclopedia online
- Centre
Global d'Information
List of French ready references resources
- Digital Librarian: a librarian's
choice of the best of the Web maintained by Margaret Vail Anderson, a
librarian in Cortland, New York
- Internet Public Library Pathfinders This useful resource makes
available "home-grown guides written by IPL staff which are intended to help you get started doing research on a particular topic, both online and at your local library." There are currently over one hundred guides with new
ones posted regularly.
- iTools brings you several language tools like dictionaries and
translation tools, biographical and quotation resources, maps, stock quotes
- Libraryspot.com by StartSpot Mediaworks, developer and publisher of a family of information
sweet spots designed to make finding the best category-specific information on the World Wide Web a quick, easy and enjoyable experience.
- Project Wombat Project Wombat is an e-mail discussion list for difficult reference questions. Membership is free,
and non-members may submit questions for discussion. Project Wombat continues the many fine traditions started by the Stumpers list once offered by Dominican
University with some helpful new options.
- RefDesk.com Since 1995, Refdesk is a
free and
family-friendly web site that indexes and reviews quality, credible, and current web-based resources
- Search Tools
Links to sites selected by SOLS on this topic
- The Virtual Reference Library
The VRL is a subject-based, reliable, Internet information source with special focus on Canadian and Ontario information. The Virtual Reference Library offers
access to librarian-selected websites, self-guided research support, library information.
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Who's Alive and
Who's Dead The web site dedicated to helping you find out which of the
noted celebrities of our time are with us, and which ones have died.
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Wikipedia Web-based,
multi-language
Addresses and Telephone Numbers
- AgriWeb Canada
AgriWeb Canada is a national directory of Canadian agriculture and agri-food information resources available via the Internet. It is produced by librarians
and information professionals. It is regularly updated by new additions.
Search
By Subject
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology)
- eNature.com Online Field Guide is a searchable database for identifying more than 4,000 plant and animal species
of North America. The species accounts are from the best-selling National Audubon Society Field Guides, Regional Guides, and Nature Guides.
- JungleWalk.com " ... large
compilation of video and audio clips, which is currently the primary focus of
this site, should complement other available animal directories in the web.
Please do not copy images from this site except for personal use. Most images
have been adapted from images obtained from royalty-free sources. The original
references are provided under all images, please visit the respective site for
your image needs."
- PetStation The guide to natural and enlightened pet-keeping. Directory of information
about all types of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, horses, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, aquarium fish and more.
- Species at Risk
Environment Canada
- Anthems of the World Extensive collection anthem sound files in midi format. Text of the national anthem,
when available, is in either the country's language or English or both.
- National Anthems: links to a variety of Web sites that offer the music of the anthem (as au, wav, or midi
sound files) as well as the text in either the native language or English or both
- Artcyclopedia: the guide to museum quality art on the internet. Browse/search by artist, links to museum sites,
image archives, and other online resources.
- Inuit Art
(Isaacs Gallery) Portal to Inuit art in Canada
- World Wide Arts Resources A comprehensive registry of visual arts information world wide.
Associations
- Biography
and People (Marquette University) Lists biographical sites in many areas
-
Canadian
Women in History
(About.com)
- World Biographical Index
(Trinity western University, B.C.) Database contains about 2.4 million short biographical entries for prominent
individuals who lived in North and South America, Western and Central Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania.
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All About
Birds (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology) A really excellent resource for birds,
which includes species from all over the world with range maps, songs, colour
photographs, etc. And it's easy to navigate, too. I use this a lot for people
who are getting interested in birdwatching, or wanting to identify birds in
their backyard.
- Avibase: the world bird database
This site is managed by Denis Lepage and hosted by Bird Studies Canada, the Canadian copartner of Birdlife International.
- Electronic Resources on Ornithology
- Book stores see
Literature and Fiction Sources
List of sites compiled by SOLS on this topic
See also Trade Directories
See also Festivals
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Canadiana:The Canadian Resource Page
- Early Canadiana Online
(ECO) is a collaborative research project to provide Web access to a digital
library of primary sources in Canadian history from the first European
contact to the late 19th century. The collection is particularly strong in
the subject areas of literature, women's history, native studies and the
history of French Canada.
- Multicultural Canada
(Simon Fraser University) This digitization project grew from our
conviction that the cultural groups that make up our country have little-known
stories that need to be researched and told. Through newspapers, interviews,
photographs, print and material culture people tell us who they are.
Cities:
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Canadian
Consumer Information Gateway
(The Office of Consumer Affairs) Brings together on a single website the very
best consumer information, tools and services available from the most objective
and reliable sources.
- Consumer Guide Car prices and product reviews.
- Consumer Reports Online
- Consumer Search
Product reviews
- Consumer World A public service, non-commercial guide cataloguing over
2000 of the most useful consumer resources.
- Wishabi.ca
Canadian consumer information website that offers advanced tools for product
research in order to help Canadians make the most informed decisions while
making purchases. Wishabi is a Toronto based next-generation shopping
application only available to Canadians. Wishabi makes it easy for Canadian
consumers to find items in Canadian dollars from both sides of the border and
allows users to leverage their Facebook social connections to help them shop.
Wishabi combines crowd sourcing with automated systems to bring the best deals
to Canadian consumers.
See also Geography
- Altapedia Online
Contains full color physical and political maps as well as key facts and
statistics on countries of the world.
- ArabDataNet US Arab Business Information Network
- Background Notes: full text US
State Dept. Background Notes,
history, geography, government, politics, economy, etc.
- Country Profiles (BBC News) Full
profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background
of countries and territories, and background on key institutions.
They also include audio or video clips from BBC archives.
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InfoNation Advanced
(United Nations) is an easy-to-use, two-step database
that allows you to view and compare the most up-to-date statistical data for
the Member States of the UN.
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The World Factbook
(CIA)
- Dance : The
Ballet Information on ballet, its history, great dancers, and the ballets
themselves
- Databases
accessible via the Internet see Search Tools
- Le grand dictionnaire
terminologique
Bilingual Canadian dictionary containing 3 million terms in French and
English covering 200 areas of activity.
- OneLook Dictionaries, the Faster Finder Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus,
Third Edition. 1995.
- Visual Dictionary Online
(Merriam-Webster) When you know what something looks like but not what it’s
called, or when you know the word but can’t picture the object, The Visual
Dictionary has the answer. In a quick look, you can match the word to the
image.
- Word Search: Search Dictionaries, Thesauri and Encyclopedias
Education
- First Nations Resources
Links to sites selected by SOLS on this topic
- Festivals.com
Popular and widely used Web site devoted exclusively to the worldwide festival
industry and the premier resource on the Internet for festivals and
community events around the globe.
- Bissonnette on Costume.
A visual dictionary of fashion (Kent State University Museum)
- Fashion Era Contains 615
content rich, illustrated pages of Fashion History, Costume History, Clothing,
Fashions and Social History
- Fashion History M.E. LaZerte High School Library
(Edmonton, Alberta) Pathfinder on fashion history
- Period Clothing 101
(The Children of Fort Langley web site) Links
page to Web sites of interest to re-enactors
Flags:
Flowers:
See also Countries
- Atlas of Canada
- The Canadian Atlas Online
(Canadian Geographic)
- Country Studies (Library of
Congress) Presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and
the social, economic, political, and national security systems and
institutions of countries throughout the world. This Web site also contains
brief, more up-to-date
Country Profiles on select countries.
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Geoconnections Discovery Portal.
See
Maps and Images Use this section to unearth a vast array of sources for maps, satellite images, aerial photos and more. The information provided by these governments,
agencies, and organizations can help you turn questions into answers, observations into insights, theories into facts.
- Geographical Names of Canada
- The Map Library (United Nations) and
World Macro Regions and Components
- Maps and Geography Guide (National Geographic)
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National Geographic Publications Index 'what a useful tool. Now you can
turn all of those issues of National Geographic sitting in your basement or
on your office shelves into a useful research tool. This
bibliographic database contains indexing (title, author, subject,
date) for major National Geographic Society publications including National
Geographic magazine back to 1888.
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Bill Tracker
Status of legislation (bills) before the federal Parliament.
- Canada Site
First point
of access to information about the Canada and its government
- Canadian Representatives Abroad
directory
of Government of Canada diplomatic and consular missions overseas and is also a resource for finding Canada-based staff at those missions
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Goverrment Electronic
Directory Services
(Public Works and Government Services Canada)
- Governments on the WWW: Comprehensive database of governmental institutions on the World Wide Web: parliaments,
ministries, offices, law courts, embassies, city councils, public broadcasting corporations, central banks, multi-national organisations etc.
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How Canadians Govern Themselves
(Library of Parliament) Excellent readable source
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Profiles of MPPs, House documents, Hansard data, etc.
- Publications Ontario Online.
E-commerce site for the
purchase of provincial government publications for depository libraries and others.
- Rulers This site contains lists of heads of state and heads of government (and, in certain cases, de facto leaders
not occupying either of those formal positions) of all countries and territories, going back to about 1700 in most cases.
- Settlement.org
This user friendly resources is aimed at new immigrants but will be useful
for all Ontarians wanting to access government information relating to employment, schools, health, etc.
Insurance Information and
Resources
(Insurance Canada)
- Media Awareness Network
offers practical support for media education in the home, school and community and provides Canadians and others with information and "food for thought" on
our fast-evolving media culture. It's also a place where educators, parents, students and community workers can share resources and explore ways to make
media a more positive force in children's lives.
- Media Literacy Online Project: Comprehensive media literacy resource
collection for educators provided by the College of Education, University of Oregon.
- Campfire Song Book:l yrics of 150 songs, by title and subject, from South African
Scout Association.
- The Classical Music Navigator (West Kentucky U) "Information
on 444 classical composers, arranged in a format designed to help users expand their awareness of the musical literature on the
basis of their already-existing likes."
- Instrument Encyclopedia
This site has been archived, but still contains useful
information on more than 140 artifacts from the
Stearns Collection at the
University of Michigan. Resources include a glossary of musical terms, information about museum instrument collections in Canada and the United States, and other WWW sites featuring instrument collections.
- Music Resources on the Internet An extensive collection of free music graphics and annotated links to music information, resources, graphics, newsgroups, discussion lists, organizations, publications, and more are at this website. Although emphasis is on classical and jazz genres, many general resources are listed as well.
- mymusicindex.com This web site was created as a quick-reference, informational music resource consisting of a collection of related music links. This web site was specifically designed for music educators, students and others interested in accessing information in the areas of music education, specifically, choral, general, and instrumental music.
- Sheet Music: spans the years 1780 to 1960, but its strength is 19th and early
20th century American popular music, more than 26,000 pieces of music are searchable by keyword or browsed by box number or cover
art. Information includes: title; composer; lyricist; arranger; publication; forms of composition; instrumentation; first line;
first line of chorus; dedicatee; engraver, lithographer, artist; and subject. Part of Special Collections at the Milton S.
Eisenhower Library of The Johns Hopkins University.
- Song Lyrics; Libretti William and Gayle Cook Music Library Indiana University School of Music
from the
- Worldwide Internet Music Resources. William and Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University School of Music.
The William and Gayle Cook Music Library at Indiana University is ranked among the top academic music libraries in the United States.
The Electronic Music Resources Librarian maintains the Music Library's Website and the Worldwide Internet Music Resources Directory.
- CBC Archives
On this Web site
you'll find a selection of radio and television clips from the Archives of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- CBC National Radio News
- CNN International see also CNN'sSpecial Report section - great for
school projects
- Canada.com Site Map
- Canadian Newspapers Association
:
contains links to
Canadian newspapers online, plus connections to online newspapers worldwide, other newspaper organizations with Web sites, journalism resources,
journalism schools, and other related items.
- Canadian NewsWire
- Internet Public Library : Online Newspapers: guide to the world's
newspapers
- NewsConnect
TPL's gateway to news from
home and around the world
- NewsLink: International, multilingual newspapers
- NewsWire, Canada
Canada's largest news
release database from Canadian corporations, governments, unions, associations, and Public and Investor relations agencies. Check here for
legislation, grants, etc.
- Nobel Prize Internet Archive
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The Ultimate Guide to Online Newspapers (Canadian Newspaper Association)
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Philosophy in Cyberspace: comprehensive guide to the world
of philosophy with evaluated, annotated links to resources on such topics as aesthetics, ethics, feminism, logic, epistemology, metaphysics, listservs,
newsgroups, electronic resources, philosophy departments, organizations, jobs, and even humour.
See also Elections
- Symbols in Christian Art and Architecture
- SYMBOLS.com contains more than 2,500 Western signs,
arranged into 54 groups according to their
graphic characteristics. In 1,600 articles their histories, uses, and meanings
are thoroughly discussed. The signs range from ideograms carved in mammoth
teeth by Cro-Magnon men, to hobo signs and subway graffiti.
Trade Directories
See also Countries
- Fodor's: guide books and website
offers current and discerning shopping, dining, hotel, and culture
recommendations, as well as compelling features and articles that convey the
essence of each destination
- Insiders' Guides Online Guides to American destinations
- Mapquest: interactive atlas and map, driving directions, planning travel
and much more.
- Travel.gc.ca
(Canada.
Dept of Foreign Affairs) For travel advisory, updates, tourist visas
requirements
- Travelocity Canada
- Via Rail Canada
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