home > electronic library 24/7 > best of the web: recommended websites

Best of the Web: Recommended Websites

Quick Links: Accessible Services | Animals | Arts | Business | Biography | Community | Computers | Consumers | Education | Elections | Employment | Encyclopedias & Dictionaries | Entertainment | Genealogy | Green Living | Government | Health | History | Language Learning | Law | Libraries | Literature | Magazines, News & Media | Maps & Geography | Music | New Americans | Newspapers | Philosophy & Religion | Phone Books & Directories | Reading | Reference | Science & Technology | Seniors | Social Sciences | Sports | Statistics | Student Resources | Taxes | Testing | Theater & Dance | Travel | Vehicles | Weather

Accessible Services

Find In-depth Information and Services offered at Santa Clara County Library for Accessible Services

• Disability.gov
  Provides information on federal resources and programs for Americans with disabilities, their families, and employers. Includes a link to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website which gives design standards, an information line, technical assistance, and a guide to disability rights.
  
  
• Family Village
  From the University of Wisconsin, this well organized directory integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities for persons with disabilities.
  
  
• MossRehab ResourcesNet
  Offers resources for persons with disabilities by category.
  
  
• California Department of Rehabilitation
  This department provides services and advocacy for the employment, independent living, and equality for persons with disabilities. The CA State Personnel Board  assists CA State departments in recruitment, employment, and retention of persons with disabilities including the collection, monitoring, and reporting of employment information regarding the representation of State employees with disabilities.
  
  
• Abledata
  Provides information on assistive technology and disabilities in general, including products and consumer reviews.
  
  
• Access Northern California
  Accessible travel information organized geographically and by categories, including lodging, transportation, museums, performing arts, parks, and sports.
  
  
• Prevent Blindness Northern California
  An index to local organizations and services to help people with vision loss or blindness.
  
  
• PHP | Parents Helping Parents
  A parent-directed family resource center located in San Jose providing guidance, support and services to children of all ages with any special need, their families and the professionals who serve them.
  
  
• Silicon Valley Independent Living Center
  An organization that offers services and resources to individuals with disabilities in Silicon Valley.
  
  
• 2-1-1 Santa Clara County Senior and Disability Services
  A local directory that lists services and information for both seniors and people with disabilities.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Disability
  A list additional disability resources on the web.
  
  
• Special Libraries
  Links to special library services for the disabled including talking books, braille materials, and playback equipment.
  
  [back to top]

Animals

• Animal Diversity Web
  An online database covering information about animals, which may include text, pictures, photographs and movies, and/or recordings of sounds.
  
  
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  Contains information concerning this agency’s mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. Links to information concerning Endangered Species and Wildlife Refuges are found here.
  
  
•  World Animal Net
  This network of animal protection societies covers over 3,000 affiliates in more than 100 countries.
  
  
•  AVMA’s Care for Animals
  The American Veterinary Medical Association provides information related to pet health and care, including printable brochures.
  
  
•  County of Santa Clara Division of Animal Care and Control
  This site gives information concerning pet licensing, programs and services (including spay-neuter), and provides links to other local animal care and control agencies.
  
  
•  All About Nature Animal Coloring/Info Pages
  This site provides fun and useful facts and activities, including a variety of animal printouts and online coloring pages.

Arts

• Artcyclopedia: the Fine Art Search Engine
  An index to online exhibits and information on museum-quality artists, searchable by artist name, movement, medium, subject, and nationality. Includes links to museums, images, and other online resources.

• Voice of the Shuttle: Art
  From the University of California, Santa Barbara, this searchable directory includes general art resources, museums, galleries, auctions, artists and works.

• Artnet
  A comprehensive site with links to artists, galleries, and events. The research library has articles from the Grove Dictionary of Art covering artists, materials and techniques, and styles and movements.

• Art History Resources On the Web
  Organized by time period, this site provides information on the history of art as well as museums and research resources.
  
  
• eHow-Crafts
  Contains step-by-step instructions for crafts such as knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, pottery, and jewelry making.
  
  
• Virtual Library Museums Pages
  A worldwide directory of museums that can be searched by name, type, or location.
  
  
• Museums and the Online Archive of California (MOAC)
  Provides browsable and searchable access to digital images from collections held by archives, museums, and libraries throughout California.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Local Area Information: Art Museums
  Links to selected Bay Area art museums.
  
  [back to top]
  

Biography

• The Biography Channel – Bios Search
  Search over 25,000 biographies by name or browse by category. This site also includes games, interviews, and video clips.
  
  
• Encyclopedia of World Biography
  Browse or search hundreds of biographies.
  
  
• Biography Center
  This is an index with biographies of famous or infamous people. The links have ratings and comments. 
  
  
• Dead or Alive?
  A resource that tracks whether famous people are dead or alive. There is a search function and interactive quizzes.
  
  [back to top]

Business

Find In-depth Resources for Starting and Running a Small Business

• Stanford Graduate School of Business (Selected Business Web Sites)
  This comprehensive database provides links to Internet resources to help with business research. There are subject categories such as accounting and taxes, corporations, finance and investments, management, and marketing.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Business
  Recommended sites for company information, international business, stocks, and more.
  
  
• Business.Gov
  The official business link to the U.S. Government. This site has a wealth of information clearly organized - a great starting place.
  
  
• California Business Portal
  From the Secretary of State, a portal for California business information, including a California Business Search for corporations and Limited Partnerships/Limited Liability Companies.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Business: Stock and Mutual Fund Information
  A variety of web sites on stock and mutual funds. The Big Charts Historical Quotes gives stock prices by day back to 1985.
  
  
• Chamber of Commerce Directory
  Find chambers of commerce worldwide by region, country, state, province, city, and chamber name.
  
  
• Kellysearch.com
  A business-to-business search engine to find suppliers worldwide. Provides information on products and services. Core sectors include engineering, plastics, catering, manufacturing materials, construction, logistics and electronics.
  

Company Information

• MasterSeek
  A business-to-business search engine to research company profiles, contact information, and descriptions of products and services worldwide.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Business: Company Information
  A selection of sites including Hoover's and Sweets for company research.
  
  
• Researching Companies Online
  A tutorial for finding free company and industry information on the World Wide Web.

International Business

• GlobalEDGE
  Michigan State University's Center for International Business Education and Research produces this list of links to worldwide business information. Includes country profiles, statistical and governmental resources, company directories, and business newspapers and periodicals.
  
  
• Export.gov (U.S. Government Export Portal)
  This site presents export related assistance and market information offered by the federal government.
  
  
• OANDA
  Foreign exchange news, conversion rates, and table of exchange.

Local Companies

• Doing Business in Santa Clara County
  Provides information on starting a business, permits, licenses, taxes, as well as business laws and regulations.
  
  
• Silicon Valley.Com (San Jose Mercury News)
  Provides current technology news and also publishes SV150, a database of the largest local, publically traded companies.
  
  
• Chron200 / Business Report
  The San Francisco Chronicle's searchable database of the top 200 publically owned companies in the Bay Area.
  
  
• Business Journal: Serving San Jose and Silicon Valley
  This online version of the local business publication by American City Business Journals Inc., provides in-depth coverage of the latest regional business news and industry trends.
  
  [back to top]

Community

• 2-1-1 Santa Clara
  Untied Way Silicon Valley provides this website and telephone service to connect people to free, non-emergency community, health, and disaster information.
  
  
• Community Information Program
  From the Peninsula Library System, this database includes information on clubs and organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
  
  
• HelpSCC: Information and Referral Database for Santa Clara County
  A searchable database of health and human service providers.
  
  
• Phoenix Data Center
  An index of free and low income services offered in Santa Clara County.
  
  
• Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley
  Find volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers, and information on voluntarism.
  
  
• VolunteerMatch
  This nonprofit service helps individuals find places to volunteer and helps nonprofits recruit volunteers.
  
  
• Silicon Valley Funders Directory
  From CompassPoint, a searchable database of funders of local nonprofit organizations. Also provides links to other CompassPoint services.
  
  
• Earth 911
  Offers resources on environmental services, events, and information, and a zip code search for community-specific information including local recycling centers and more.
  
  [back to top]
  
  

Computers

• National Academic Press (NAP)
  Publishes the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. In addition, the NAP publishes more than 200 books a year on a wide range of topics including computers and information technology. All PDF versions of books published by the National Academies Press (NAP) are available for free downloading.
  
• Learning and Technology Services Online
  From the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, this site offers guides to a variety of software and computing applications including Microsoft Office.
  
  
• Electronic Services Computer Training
  Printable handouts on computer basics, Microsoft applications, Internet, email and other topics, provided by the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
  
  
• Mouse Exercises
  Simple exercises to help you get acquainted with using a computer mouse.
  
  
• Mouserobics
  Exercises on how to use a computer mouse from the Central Kansas Library System.
  
  
• Peter's Online Typing Course
  An interactive typing tutorial with lessons and exercises.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Library Search Engine Guides
  Some choices to help you better utilize a variety of search engines.
  
  [back to top]
  
  

Consumers

• Consumer Guides and Protection for Citizens
  Links to Federal consumer information including credit, travel, recalls, fraud, debt, scams and more.
  
  
• Federal Reserve Board: Consumer Information
  A source of advice and warnings about financial topics, products, and scams including the new credit card rules.
  
  
• Consumer Action
  Supported by a national non-profit consumer education and advocacy organization, this website offers a variety of resources including a searchable consumer services guide, tools for resolving consumer complaints, non-legal advice hotline and educational publications. Multilingual materials and services are included.
  
  
• Consumer World
  A comprehensive database of over 2000 useful consumer resources on the Web. This site offers information concerning consumer banking, credit card and mortgage rates, Standard & Poor's and others' Insurance Company Ratings, hospital ratings, consumer agencies, and both Kelley and Edmund car price guides.
  
  
• Consumer Product Reviews
  A selection of sites giving product reviews and ratings.
  
  
• Vehicle Purchasing Information
  This link provides information on a number of issues related to vehicle purchasing and leasing, including crash test data, car prices, and several buyer's guides.
  
  
• Better Business Bureau
  Provides the latest news and alerts, business reports, find a local BBB on file or file a complaint online. In addition they have Charity Reports called the Philanthropic Advisory Service (PAS).
  
  
• Non-Profit and Charity Information
  A list of sites evaluating charitable and non-profit organizations compiled by a Santa Clara County librarian.
  
  
• California Department of Consumer Affairs Wiki
  This site can help Californians become informed consumers by learning their rights and allows you to file a complaint or verify a license. For a complete list of the boards and bureaus that belong to the CA Department of Consumer Affairs, view the DCA Boards/Bureaus.
  
  
• Consumer Alerts, Information & Complaints
  Information from the California Attorney General’s Office on how to file complaints against businesses, government agencies and officials, corporations, law enforcement officers, and how to deal with discrimination-related problems. Also available in Spanish.
  
  
• FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection
  Find advice on avoiding scams and rip-offs as well as tips on other consumer topics from the Federal Trade Commission. They offer a link to information on identity theft and AnnualCreditReport.com, the only authorized online source for requesting a free credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies. Information is also available in Spanish.
  
  
• Energy Efficiency
  A consumer's guide to energy efficiency and renewable energy from the U.S. Department of Energy. Explore options for saving energy and using renewable energy at home, at work, and while driving.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Assessor's Office
  Provides the assessed values of property in Santa Clara County by address or parcel number.
  
  
• Foreclosure In California
  This site provides information on mortgages and foreclosures and where to go for help. Also available in Spanish.
  
  [back to top]
  

Education

• The Internet Public Library: Education
  This directory of online educational resources includes K-12 education, higher education, adult education, and more.
  
  
• Students.gov
  Led by the U.S. Department of Education with collaboration between federal agencies and the education community, this site is a student-centered information portal of federal services and information on education, careers, government, and more.
  
  
• California Department of Education
  Provides a wealth of information on education issues in California. Includes links to the Academic Performance Index (API) (reports, guides and information on the accountability program measuring the academic performance and growth of schools), Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Results (program information and measurements on how well students are learning basic academic skills), and Content Standards (descriptions of the the knowledge, skills, and concepts that students should acquire in each grade level).
  
  
• Santa Clara County Office of Education
  Includes current news and facts about education related issues, resources for educators, school district resources for families, a public school directory, public education job opportunities, and more.
  
  
• Ed-Data
  Offers clear and comprehensive fiscal, demographic and performance information on California's K-12 public schools.
  
  
• Private School Universe Survey
  Locate private schools throughout the United States with this database from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.
  
  
• Online Guide to Bay Area Private Schools
  A comprehensive guide to private K-12 schools in the San Francisco Bay Area containing school lists by county, links to private and parochial schools and information on private school education in the Bay Area.
  
  
• Home School Association of California
  A statewide non-profit organization that offers information and support to anyone with an interest in homeschooling.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook: Education - College Guides and Rankings
  A list of web sites including college, university, and graduate school guides and rankings.
  
  
• CollegeWeekLive
  Virtual College Fair where students can search colleges and visit with college admissions experts online.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook: Education - Financial Aid
  A list of web sites on student aid and scholarships.
  
  
• CollegeBoard
  Includes College Board test dates, online registration for the SAT and online SAT scores. Find information on taking the GED.
  
  
• WorldWideLearn
  A list of online sources and electronic learning resources, including degree programs, tutorials, workshops, training opportunities, and professional continuing education.
  
  
• Vocational Schools Database
  A database of private postsecondary vocational schools in the United States organized first by state then by training occupation.
  
  [back to top]
  

Elections

• Registrar of Voters, County of Santa Clara
  Includes information on local elections, voter registration, and absentee voting.
  
• Candidates and measures
  
• Check your voter registration status in the Santa Clara County
  
• Do you need to re-register or just update your registration?
  
• Find your representatives
  
• Permanent absentee voting
  
• Voter registration form
  
• Voting by mail
  
• Voting early
  
  
• Project Vote Smart
  A national non-profit voluntary effort tracking and providing information; such as voting records, issue positions, campaign finances, and voter registration.
  
  
• Smart Voter
  From the League of Women Voters of California, this site presents customized, non-partisan information on local and state ballot measures, candidate links, voter registration materials, past election results, and your personal ballot and polling location.
  
  
• Easy Voter Guide
  From the League of Women Voters of California, this site presents nonpartisan information on local propositions, candidates, educational materials, voter registration information in different languages, and a printable guide.
  
  
• California Elections - 2011, System Reference Center
  A directory of links on the issues, news, research, voter's guides, and information for programming, ordering handouts and tent cards.
  
  
• Annenberg Political Fact Check
  This nonpartisan nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major US political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.
  
  
• Open Secrets
  From the Center for Responsive Politics, this non-partisan, non-profit research group tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy.
  
  [back to top]
  

Employment

Find In-depth Resources Available on the Web and at Santa Clara County Library Through Our Job & Career Help Center

• Vocational Information Center: Career and Technical Education
  A directory of online resources for career exploration, technical education, workforce development, and more.
  
  
• CareerOneStop
  Learn about different careers, find career information, and locate career resources from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Employment and Training Administration. They also developed O*NET, an interactive database for exploring and searching occupations, valuable for workers and students looking to find or change careers.
  
  
• JobStar
  Salary information, careers, job ads, job fairs, and hotlines for Northern and Southern California.
  
  
• The Riley Guide
  One of the first and best job hunting sites on the Net, this site also serves as a how-to guide.
  
  
• Job Hunt
  Employment portal linking to Internet-accessible job resources and services.
  
  
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
  Provides descriptions of jobs, working conditions, training and education requirements, salaries, and employment prospects. From the U.S. Department of Labor.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Career and Job Information
  A listing of web sites for employment searches.
  
  
• California Employment Development Department
  Information on Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, job training, payroll taxes, and labor market information, and occupational guides. Also links to job listings for both employers and job seekers.
  
  
• Work2future
  Local and online resources and services for employers and job seekers in southern Santa Clara County.
  
  
• Nova
  Local and online resources and services for employers and job seekers in northern Santa Clara County. Youth ages 14-24 can find online resources at Youth@Work.
  

Resume Guides:

• Resume Companion
  A resume builder that does the writing for you, with over 50,000 job phrases to choose from.
  
  
• Susan Ireland’s Resume Site
  Provides help and advice with resumes, cover letters, job interviewing, and job search. Also provides some information in Spanish.
  
  
• Purdue OWL: Workplace Writers
  Resources for workplace writers and people writing during the job search process including  cover letters and resumes.
  
  
  
• Santa Clara County Employee Services Agency
  A listing of current Santa Clara County employment opportunities. Job descriptions, salary ranges, filing dates, and instructions for applying online are included.

[back to top]

Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

• Encyclopedia.com
  A collection of online encyclopedias with pictures, facts and videos that provides reference entries from published sources like Oxford University Press and Columbia Encyclopedia.
  
  
• Wikipedia
  Is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project with millions of articles on many subjects that anyone can edit.

Dictionaries

• English Dictionaries from Diccionarios en internet
  Provides a selection of dictionaries for the English language, as well as dictionaries for other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and more.
  
  
• The Free Dictionary
  A comprehensive collection of dictionaries by subject including medical and legal together with encyclopedias in various languages. Also includes games such as word matches, spelling bees, quotation of the day, and more.
  
  
• The Visual Dictionary
  Definitions are organized by way of image and grouped into various themes and topics.
  
  
• Wordnik: All The Words
  Is an online dictionary and language resource that provides dictionary and thesaurus content from the 2008 American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Wordnik provides example sentences showing words in context. It allows users to contribute information, such as recorded pronunciations, tags, and suggestions for new words. Flickr images are used to illustrate some words.

[back to top]

Entertainment

Film & Television

• AllMovie Guide
  A film and TV database featuring in-depth reviews, biographies and descriptive content.
  
  
• Internet Movie Database
  A comprehensive database of films and TV.
  
  
• Rotten Tomatoes
  Movie trailers, previews, and compiled reviews.
  
  
• Movie Review Query Engine
  Contains links to hundreds of film reviews searchable by title, and lists festivals, recent releases, and selections of the American Film Institute.
  
  
• Chicago Sun-Times: Roger Ebert
  Movie reviews, essays, and interviews from the famous film critic.
  
  
• Hulu
  An online video service that offers a selection of clips and full episodes of  television shows and movies.
  
  
• Free Documentaries
  Free Streaming Independent Documentary Films.
  
  
• TVGuide
  This site offers daily TV highlights, current TV listings searchable by zip code and type of service, and brief articles on news and personalities.
  
  
• Zap2it - TV Listings Guide
  Source for current shows on TV with news, listings, and channel information.
  
  
• Museum of TV
  Includes educational programs and a searchable database of television, radio, commercial and news archives.

Games

• Games
  Play puzzle, hidden object, arcade games and more!
  
  
• Yahoo! Games
  Play arcade, board, card, and other puzzle games.
  
  
• Gamespot
  A computer and video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, screen shots, movies, message boards and game guides.
  
  
• allgame    
  Entertainment information database for video games.

Events

• Karen's Reference Notebook -Local Area Information: Recreation and Entertainment
  Links to events, festivals, and local attractions.
  
  
• Eventful
  Find local events in your town or across the world.
  
  
• Festivals
  Searchable database of festivals and events worldwide.
  
  
• LiveSV
  Online resource for arts and cultural information for Silicon Valley.
  
  
• Entertainment - San Jose Mercury News
  Features local information on entertainment and dining.
  
  
• Metroactive
  Arts and entertainment information for the San Francisco Bay area.
  
  [back to top]

Genealogy

Find In-depth Resources Available on the Web and at Santa Clara County Library Via Our Genealogy Resources portal

• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
  Over 50,100 links that have been categorized and cross-referenced in over 120 categories.  Includes the Social Security Death Index, RootsWeb, and World Connect Project. This is a great place to begin your genealogy search.
  
  
• WorldGenWeb Project
  Volunteer genealogical organization dedicated to the free access of genealogical information by anyone in the world. The project is divided into 15 world regions; then individual countries are divided by provinces, states, or counties.  This includes USGenWeb Project, California USGenWeb Project, and Santa Clara County GenWeb Project.
  
  
• FamilySearch
  The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints has put its extensive family history database online. There is access to the Ancestral File, the International Genealogical Index, and the Family History Catalog. Visit this site to find and share family history information.
  
  
• Vital Records Information - United States
  This site contains information about where to write for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates from each state, territory, and county of the United States.

Local Genealogy Libraries

• Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society
  Includes information about the society and a surname index to their files on early settlers of Santa Clara County.
  
  
• Santa Clara Family History Center
  Operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a branch of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  
  
• California Room Database
  Index to historical information on San Jose, Santa Clara County, and California located in the San Jose Public Library’s California Room.
  
  
• Sutro Library
  Branch of the California State Library with a large genealogy and family history resource collection. Its catalog is included in the California State Library Catalog
  
  
• National Archives & Records Administration (Pacific Region)
  Provides historical government records and resources.

[back to top]

Government

• GovSpot
  A user-friendly, topical portal to government information.
  
  International
  
• The World Factbook
  From the Central Intelligence Agency, maps and information on countries around the world. Also from the CIA, World Leaders provides a listing of heads of state and cabinet members of foreign governments.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Country Information
  List of selected sites on the web providing information on countries worldwide.
  
  
• Political Resources on the Net
  International directory of links to political parties, organizations, governments, and media.
  
  
• Embassy World
  Worldwide directory of embassies, consulates, and U.N. missions.
  
  
• United Nations
  Information on the U.N. and its international agencies.
  
  
  Federal
  
• USAGov :
  The official portal to government information and services, including a link to GovBenefits a guide to available federal, state, and local benefits and assistance programs.
  
  
• GPO Access
  The Government Printing Office offers this site for accessing many online federal databases such as the Core Documents of U.S. Democracy (major documents of the United States from 1776 to the present) and the United States Government Manual (information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches).
  
  
• Forms.gov
  Provides forms for the 500 government services mostly used by the public.
  
  
• United States Copyright Office
  Information, publications, records, forms, and related information regarding copyrights.
  
  
• United States Postal Service
  Offers zip-code look-up, stamps online, rate calculator, change of address, and other postal services and information.
  
  
  State
  
• State and Local Governments on the Net
  Provides quick access to the home pages of each state. This site also links to national, multi-state, and other organizations related to state government.
  
  
• State of California
  Information on California, including history, travel, business, government, legislature, and state agencies.
  
  
• Department of Motor Vehicles
  This site presents information on vehicle registration, driver licenses, identification cards, and publications including the California Driver Handbook.
  
  
• Unclaimed Property Information
  The California State Controller's Office provides access the searchable database of the California Unclaimed Property Bulletin Board. It also has information on related laws, publications, and forms.
  
  Local
  
• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  The home page of this regional planning agency owned and operated by the cities and counties of the San Francisco Bay Area includes information on demographics, economy, current issues, the environment, and earthquakes.
  
  
• County of Santa Clara
  A searchable home page on Santa Clara County government including the County Executive's office, the Board of Supervisors, and various county agencies.
  
  [back to top]

Green Living

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Pacific Southwest Region 9)
  Environmental public resource including air, water, soil, and industrial studies for the Pacific Southwest Region. The national EPA site (http://www.epa.gov/) also includes Climate Change, Where you Live-Community Profiles, and Envirofacts.

• Living Green
  Californians Against Waste present information about conserving resources, preventing pollution, and protecting the environment through waste reduction recycling policies and programs.

• Center for the Development of Recycling
  The official recycling and reuse source for Santa Clara County.

• Santa Clara Valley Water District
  Providing wholesale water supply and flood management to the county. Includes reference on water resources, conservation, and water quality reports.

• H2OUSE
  Investigate your water saving opportunities in each area of your home.

• Spare the Air
  From the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, this site notifies residents when the air quality is forecast to be unhealthy and includes five day forecasts, smog reduction programs, and ozone information.

• Household Products Database
  Presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this site has health and safety information on household products. Learn about what's in household products, potential health effects, and safety and handling.

• Karen's Reference Notebook - Green Living
  Additional Green Living E-Resource sites.
  
  [back to top]

Health

• MedlinePlus
  Provides consumer health information from various government agencies such as the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health. It also includes health news, drug information , herbal medicine, a medical encyclopedia, and access to medical journal articles, plus much more.
  
  
• CAPHIS – Web Sites You Can Trust
  The Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the American Library Association presents their top 100 list of health sites.
  
  
• NOAH: New York Online Access to Health
  This searchable directory provides access to consumer health topics and includes definitions, care and treatment, and links to information resources.
  
  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  This is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. This site is a good source of information concerning the latest health emergencies (especially infectious diseases and foodborne pathogens). It also covers such topics as various diseases and conditions; emergency preparedness; injuries, violence & safety; traveler’s health; and workplace safety & health.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Health Information
  Includes information about prescription drugs, health professionals, nutrition, mental health, and other health topics.
  
  
• MayoClinic.com
  Presents comprehensive health and medical information including sections on Diseases and Conditions A-Z, and Q&A with Mayo specialists.
  
  
• Aetna InteliHealth
  Intelihealth teams up with the Harvard Medical School to provide a wide range of information in order to help you live a healthier life. This covers information on diseases & conditions, healthy lifestyle choices, and health topics that cover every member of the family. It also includes an ‘Ask the Expert’ feature.
  
  
• Family Doctor.org
  The American Academy of Family Physicians presents health and medical information for the whole family.
  
  
• Healthfinder
  From the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, an easy to use gateway to information and web resources on health topics. Includes information in Spanish.
  
  
• Medpedia
  This wiki, edited by physicians and Ph.Ds, is an online collaborative encyclopedia and resource for information about health, medicine and the body that is intended to be a reference source for both medical professionals and the lay-public. Many organizations, such as the Stanford School of Medicine and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, have united to support this project.
  
  
• Red Cross
  The American Red Cross provides a variety of online print publications. From short and quick reference booklets to comprehensive manuals, they provide information that can help you cope with numerous health-related situations. Included is a manual for Responding to Emergencies, a Babysitting Handbook, a Swimming and Water Safety Manual, and a Wilderness and Remote First Aid emergency reference guide. For a full list view this link.
  
  
• Merck Manuals
  Online access to the authoritative Merck collection of healthcare manuals. They include the Merck Manual Home Edition (medical reference), Manual of Health and Aging, Manual of Geriatrics, Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, and Veterinary Manual.
  
  
• PubMed
  Search for citations and full-text journal articles.
  
  
• National Academic Press (NAP)
  Publishes the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. In addition, the NAP publishes more than 200 books a year on a wide range of topics including health and medicine. All PDF versions of books published by the National Academies Press (NAP) are available for free downloading.
  
  
• Lab Tests Online
  Information on clinical lab tests that are part of routine care, as well as diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases. This site is from the professional societies representing the lab community.
  
  
• California Nursing Home Search
  This site provides comparative information about the quality of California's nursing homes. The California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform operate a similar website.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Health and Human Care
  This public portal provides access to information on services provided by Santa Clara County covering various health and human services. These services cover such things as having a baby, child care, disease prevention, injury rehabilitation, elder care, and death and bereavement.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Hospitals
  Links to local hospitals.
  
  
• Bay Area Health and Medical Libraries
  Compiled by the PlaneTree Health Library, this list includes health and medical libraries that allow various types of access to the general public. Some are specifically set up to help community members find information, while others primarily serve physicians and offer limited services to the general public. Access policies, open hours, and reference availability vary widely so please call ahead first to inquire.
  
  [back to top]
  

History

• Best of History Web Sites
  Links to hundreds of quality world "history-related" web sites.
  
  
• History on the Web
  From the University Libraries of the University of Washington, this site provides links to world history sites by topic, region, or time period.
  
  
• HyperHistory Online
  Presents world history using a combination of lifelines, timelines, and maps. The information progresses from a quick overview to more in-depth, and can be searched by people, history (of civilizations), events, maps, and options.
  
  
• PBS History Shows
  Watch favorite PBS history programs, covering various subjects in history, online. Choose from full programs, shorts, or previews.
  
  
• Digital History
  An interactive, multimedia site for students and teachers on American
  history -- fun and educational.
  
  
• History Matters
  This site is a gateway to web resources on U.S. history; first-person primary documents in text, image, and audio; and guides to analyzing historical evidence.
  
  
• American Memory (Historical Collections of the National Digital Library)
  This multimedia website contains digitized historical documents, photographs, sound recordings, moving pictures, books, pamphlets, maps and other resources from the collections of the Library of Congress and other institutions.
  
  
• Primary Documents
  Access to primary documents from throughout American history can be found here. A Chronology of US Historical Documents is from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. The National Archives and Records Administration has its own chronological list of documents, plus background and citation info, at Our Documents-100 Milestone Documents.
  
  
• H-California
  A listing of sites on California history.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Local Area Information: History
  An annotated listing of Internet resources on the history of Santa Clara County and the Bay Area.
  
  [back to top]
  

Language Learning

• BBC Languages
  Provides free learning of seven major languages like French and Spanish with free audio and video programs. Also offers a section called “Quick Fixes” (essential phrases) in 36 languages from Basque to Ukrainian.
  
  
• Livemocha
  A social-networking site, which offers structured lessons for beginner and intermediate language learners. Users get started by clicking on the language they speak and the language they want to learn and then connect with a worldwide community of native speakers to practice reading, writing, and speaking exercises.
  
  
• Language Learning Library
  A basic guide to learning foreign languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
  
  
• WordReference Dictionaries
  Provides free online bilingual dictionaries.
  
  
• Google Translate
  Translate text, webpages and documents by entering text or a webpage URL, or by uploading a document.
  
  
• Activities for ESL Students
  Quizzes, tests, exercises and puzzles to help you learn English as a Second Language.
  
  
• U.S.A Learns
  A free web site funded by the U.S. Department of Education to learn English. Improve basic reading, writing, speaking and life skills.
  
  
• Learn American English Online
  A website for ESL students to improve their English vocabulary and grammar. Learn from seven levels of instruction (in order: blue, red, yellow, green, purple, orange,  and violet).
  
  
• La Mansión del Inglés
  A language learning website aimed at Spanish speakers who want to learn English.
  
  
• Santa Clara County 2-1-1
  A listing of services and programs throughout Santa Clara County that offer language instructions and ESL.
  
  
• ESL (English as a Second Language) Class Search
  Sponsored by the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations and Immigrant Relations and Integration Services (IRIS), this search tool accesses a database of ESL courses and providers within the county.

[back to top]

Law

• Legal Information Institute
  From Cornell Law School, a gateway to extensive materials on law, including court opinions, summaries of legal topics, full text legal journals, and current events.
  
  
• Guide to Law Online
  Part of the site prepared by the Law Library of Congress, this is an annotated guide to international, national, and state government and law sites. The California guide is divided into categories: constitution, executive, judicial, legislative, guide, and general sources.
  
  
• Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet
  From the Library of Congress, this is a searchable database with information on Congress, bills and laws, the Congressional Record, committee reports, and historical documents.
  
  
• Your Public Law Library
  From the Council of California Law Librarians, links designed for self-represented litigants, an online basic research class, plus a variety of links to legal sites. Translated into several languages, including Spanish and Chinese.
  
  
• LawHelpCalifornia.org
  Provides Californians with referrals to free and low-cost legal help organizations and information on legal rights. Information is organized by subject.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Law: Attorneys
  A selection of sites listing attorneys and law firms. Included is the Phoenix Data Center which lists local agencies providing free and low income legal services.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Law: Legal Forms
  A selection of sites offering legal forms.
  
  
  International Law
  
• NYU Law Library
  A guide to international legal databases from the New York University School of Law.
  
  
• World Legal Information Institute
  Provides links to law-related web sites worldwide.
  
  
  Federal Law
  
• U.S. Code
  This database contains the general and permanent laws of the United States.
  
  
• Federal Register
  Official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and presidential documents.
  
  
• Code of Federal Regulations
  A codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government.
  
  
• U.S. Supreme Court
  FindLaw's searchable database of the Supreme Court decisions since 1893.
  
  State & Municipal Law
  
• California Law
  California law consists of 29 codes covering various subject areas, the state constitution, and statutes. Provides access to California Bills and legislative histories.
  
  
• California Courts
  Maintained by the Judicial Council of California, this site provides information on the California Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, links to County Courts, the Self-help Center, forms, rules and procedures, and current events.
  
  
• Court Resource Center
  From the Santa Clara County Bar Association, a site providing access to local, state, and federal court information covering rules of court, calendars, procedures, and judges profiles.
  
  
• California Code of Regulations
  This database contains all 27 titles with the exception of Title 24 (California Building Standards).
  
  
• California Tenants
  From the California Department of Consumer Affairs, this is a guide to the rights and responsibilities of residential tenants and landlords. It covers such issues as the eviction process, security deposits, and unlawful discrimination.
  
  
• California Local Codes And Charters
  From UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies, this site contains links to California city and county codes and charters currently available online.
  
  Local Resources
  
• Santa Clara County Law Library
  This website presents basic information on the San Jose location.
  
  
• Self-Service Center, Superior Court of California
  Legal information, court forms, court descriptions and locations, case and calendar information. Provides in-person self-help assistance at the Self-Service Center Office and the Courtmobile van.
  
  [back to top]

Libraries

• Library of Congress On-line Catalog
  A link to the on-line catalog, a database of approximately 12 million items in the Library's collection.
  
  
• California State Library
  This site provides information on the services, collections, and products of the State Library, including links to the California Library Directory and the California Digital Library.
  
  
• Local Libraries
  A listing of public, academic, and special libraries serving our communities.
  
  
• Interlibrary Loan
  Shows how to request material not owned by the Santa Clara County Library if you have a Santa Clara County library card and how to check on your Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
  
  [back to top]
  

Literature

• Subject Research Guides: Literatures in English
  This is a directory of internet resources for literature research from Rutgers University.
  
  
• LitLinks
  Includes the genres of fiction, poetry, essays, drama and critical theory with lists of authors and relevant annotated links to websites.
  
  
• Internet Public Library On-line Literary Criticism Collection
  Contains over 1600 critical and biographical websites about authors and their works that can be browsed by author, title, and literary period.
  
  
• Project Gutenberg
  The first provider of free eBooks online. There are over 33,000 free titles to download to your computer or portable device.
  
  
• Poetry Foundation
  This online poetry magazine includes an easy to use way to find poems with their Poetry Tool.
  
  
• a.k.a. Also Known As
  Helpful for identifying author pseudonyms, aliases, nicknames, working names, pen names, and legalized names.
  
  
• Writer's Handbook
  This site offers instructional materials related to writing, including grammar, style, and citing references in your paper. Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Writing Center.
  
  
• Citations and Writing
  Find citation style, writing, and grammar guides here as well as some brief citation handouts.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Literature: Study Guides
  Links to selected study guides on the web.
  
  [back to top]
  

Magazines, News, & Media

• Yahoo-News and Media
  A directory with links to newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV networks, and other news sources by subject, type or region.
  
  
• ABYZ News Links
  A directory to online news sources from around the world. It is primarily composed of newspapers but there are also links to broadcast stations, internet services, magazines and press agencies.
  
  
• DailySource
  A non-profit news site with a mission to provide high quality news and information from leading sources across the Internet.
  
  
• HeadlineSpot.com
  This site provides the latest headlines and links to newswires, newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and online sources by topic and region.
  
  
• CNN Interactive
  A site for current news with feature stories, images, special categories, as well as access to articles from the past year.
  
  
• BBC News
  World edition of the BBC with the latest news, business, and sports, along with international radio and TV.
  
  
• Zap2it.com TV Resources
  Provides an international directory of TV stations, including those that do not have websites.
  
  
• Radio-Locator
  A listing of over 10,000 radio stations worldwide. Can be searched by location and by call letters.
  
  
• MagPortal
  A search engine and directory for finding online magazine articles.
  
  [back to top]
  

Maps & Geography

• Oddens' Bookmarks
  Browse a wide selection of links or search by country and category.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Maps and Geographical Information
  Additional map and geography resources available on the web.
  
  
• Interactive Maps - United States
  Consumer oriented mapping services, including Google, MapQuest and Yahoo, allow users to locate businesses, street addresses, and driving directions.
  
  
• Interactive Maps - International
  Consumer oriented mapping services, including Multimap and ViaMichelin provides street-level maps and driving directions.
  
  
• Google Earth
  View satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. Need to download the viewer. Not available for in-library use at this time.
  
  
• PCL Map Collection
  From the University of Texas Perry-Castaneda Collection Map Library, an excellent collection of online international maps, including historical maps, city maps, and outline maps.
  
  
• United Nations Cartographic Section
  A very assessable collection of country profile maps, thematic maps, and peacekeeping maps.
  
  
• National Atlas
  Maps that capture and depict the patterns, conditions, and trends of American life.
  
  
• USGS National Mapping Information
  A searchable database of geographic features in the United States. Information includes name, type, elevation, population, latitude and longitude, and links to maps.
  
  
• TopoQuest
  Excellent online source for the U.S. Geological Survey topographical maps. Search by place name or latitude and longitude on this interactive site covering the entire United States.
  
  
• USGS Earthquake Information Center
  From the U.S. Geological Survey,a variety of information on earthquakes around the world. The Earthquake Hazards Program of Northern California provides the latest quake information for California, including real time earthquake maps.
  
  
• ABAG Geographic Information Systems
  Provides hazard planning maps for the 9 Bay Area counties. 
  
  
• Historic Topographic Maps of California
  San Francisco Bay Area -- From UC Berkeley, provides web access to historic topographic quadrangles from 1895 to the present.
  
  
• Map Collections
  Map images from 1500 with a focus on the Americana and Cartographic Treasures of the Library of Congress. Organized by category and searchable by keyword.
  
  
• Map History / History of Cartography
  Listing of over 1,200 image sites for early maps.
  
  [back to top]
  

Music

• UCSB Library - Subject & Course Guides – Music
  Extensive musical links provided by the University of California Santa Barbara Arts Library including digital collections and online music databases and indexes.
  
  
• Teoria
  This website on music theory includes articles, reference, interactive exercises, and software. Also available in Spanish.

• MusicTheory.net
  Includes introductory and intermediate music theory lessons, ear trainers, and books.

• Music Library & Listening Center
  A collection of links to Web resources about the study of folk and primitive music arranged by categories by the University of Washington.

• AMG All Music Guide
  Comprehensive database of recorded music, this site contains ratings and reviews of more than 400,000 record albums. Search by artist, album, song title, music style, and label. Find information on new releases, biographies of musicians, and discographies of both in and out-of-print titles.

• Karen's Reference Notebook - Arts and Entertainment: Music
  Links to a selection of sites for music, including music charts, awards, and song lyrics.

• Music Collections
  Online index to San Jose Public Library's extensive music holdings available in the Choral Music Collection, Magazine Music Collection, Sheet Music Collection, Songs/Songbooks Collection, and Stock Music Collection.
  

  Local Music Resources

• The Choral Project

• San Francisco Symphony

• San Francisco Opera

• Opera San Jose

• San Jose Jazz

• San Jose Symphonic Choir

• San Jose Wind Symphony

• South Bay Folks

• South Bay Guitar Society

• Symphony Silicon Valley

  [back to top]

New Americans

• ImmigrantInfo.org
  Information on citizenship and immigrant programs in Santa Clara County.
  
  
• Immigration and Citizenship
  U.S. government information about visas, immigration, citizenship, naturalization, adoption, and more.
  
  
• Welcome to the United States
  A 100-page guide for new immigrants in more than 10 languages.
  
  
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  This official website of the federal government agency USCIS (formerly known as the INS) contains office locations and hours, forms, laws, service information and more.
  
  
• Infopass
  Schedule appointments with immigration information officers at USCIS offices.
  
  
• Civics and Citizenship Study Materials
  Study guides for the naturalization test.
  
  
• Citizenship Study Guide
  Prepare for the citizenship test by using quizzes, flashcards, and practice exercises.
  
  
• Visas
  An official source of information about U.S. visa policy and procedures.
  
  
• Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
  Offers specific information for getting a Social Security Number.
  
  
• ESL Class Search
  Check here for English as a Second Language Classes in your city.
  
  
• TOEFL
  This official site of the Test of English as a Foreign Language includes tutorials, practice questions, and information.
  
  [back to top]
  

Newspapers

• NewsLink
  A News portal site with links to U.S. and foreign newspapers, magazines, radio and television networks.
  
  
• OnlineNewspaper.com
  A web portal with thousands of newspapers from around the world organized by region and country.
  
  
• International News Archives
  A list of links to non-US news archives available on the Web.
  
  
• U.S. News Archives
  Provides links to United States news archives available on the Web.
  
  
• Chronicling America
  Maintained by the Library of Congress as a work in progress this digital resource provides historical newspapers from all the states and U.S. territories published from 1880-1910. Includes a directory or profile of American newspapers published between 1690-present.
  
  
• Google News Archives Search
  Provides an easy way to search and explore historical news about events, people and ideas from around the world. Results can be displayed in other languages. An automatically generated timeline is also available.
  
  
• The Wall Street Journal
  Published Monday through Friday, providing news and financial information. Some content may be available for full-text retrieval for up to two years. As an alternative to searching their online site directly, perform a more precise search in Newspaper Source Plus via EbscoHost to retrieve article title and date. Next copy/paste the desired title into the search box of the Wall Street Journal online edition. Specify a date range to see if full-text content is accessible.
  
  Local Newspapers
  
  
• San Jose Mercury News
  
  
• San Francisco Chronicle
  
  
• Metroactive -- Homepage for the Bay Area Metro Papers, including searchable archives.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Newspapers
  
  [back to top]

Philosophy & Religion

Philosophy

• Voice of the Shuttle: Philosophy
  Database of philosophical websites provided by the University of California, Santa Barbara, English Department.
  
  
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  Created in 1995 entries are maintained by experts in the field.
  
  
• Individual Philosophers
  A collection of links to websites, articles, texts and translations organized by alphabetical and chronological indexes, with some general sites.

Religion

• Virtual Religion Index
  Virtual Religion Index analyzes and highlights important content of religion-related websites.
  
  
• Religions
  Information on featured religions and beliefs provided by the BBC.  The site includes a multi-faith calendar.
  
  
• Internet Sacred Text Archive
  Archive of online books about religion, mythology, folklore and the esoteric on the Internet.
  
  
• Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
  This website complements the PBS program which provides news coverage and analysis of national and international events in the religious world.  It features individual show transcripts, streaming video of weekly reports, full transcripts of interviews with notable guests, related articles dealing with significant issues in religion and ethics news.
  
  
• Pluralism Project: Directory of Religious Centers
  Directory of 4500 religious centers in the United States.  Does not include Christian or Jewish centers.
  
  
• Encyclopedia Mythica
  Internet encyclopedia of mythology, folklore, and religion.

[back to top]

Phone Books & Directories

• Karen's Reference Notebook - Directories: Telephone Directories
  Provides annotated links to a variety of residential and business directories, including toll-free directories, international directories, and area code information.
  
  
• Country Calling Codes
  An interactive resource to find international dialing code or time zone for any country.
  
  
• All Area Codes
  This site was designed to allow easy look up of area codes of all the states, cities, and other areas serviced under the North American Numbering Plan.
  
  
• Infobel
  A worldwide phone directory of international residence and business listings. Offered in multiple languages.
  
  
• AT&T AnyWho
  A web-based international directory to consumers and businesses with flexible searching options.
  
  
• FindLinks
  Phone numbers for persons or businesses nationwide. Narrow your search by city and state or subject heading. Reverse lookup and email addresses are available.
  
  
• Switchboard
  Phone numbers for persons or businesses. Searches can be made nationwide with just a name, or can be narrowed by city and state. Reverse lookup and email addresses are available.agencies.
  
  
• Internet 800
  This site lists 800 and 888 numbers regardless of long-distance carrier, and is searchable by product, service, and company name.
  
  
• Gethuman
  This site features customer service reviews, tips and information to get contact help and receive better service, as well as a large database of company phone numbers that reach human customer service reps.
  
  
• Non-911 Emergency and Non-emergency Numbers for Santa Clara County Communities
  
  [back to top]
  

Reading

Find Additional Resources such as Booklists, Staff Picks, Book Discussion Kits, etc. under What To Read, Watch and Listen To: Adults, Teens & Kids

• Web Sites for Book Lovers
  From Morton Grove Public Library, a selection of sites on all aspects of reading, book discussion groups, publishers, and related topics.
  
  
• Bookspot
  A resource for readers, featuring book reviews, news, reading lists, and author and publisher information.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Literature: Books
  Includes links to websites of bookstores, online books and audiobooks, book reviews, and book discussion groups.
  
  
• Overbooked
  Providing information about new and notable fiction and nonfiction. Includes booklists, new book information, and other online resources.
  
  
• Readers Advisory Link Farm
  Extensive list of links to Readers Advisory resources compiled by a Library Science professor. This directory is arranged by type of resource and also by genre.
  
  
• Award Annals: Book Awards
  Lists all the major book awards describing the books and ranking them in their category.
  
  
• Series and Sequels
  A listing of fiction books for adults which are part of a series, or are sequels to earlier novels. Can be searched by author, title and series name or characters.
  
  
• Based on the Book
  Find book, short story, and plays that have been made into movies. Search by book, or movie title. From the Mid-Continent Public Library.
  
  
• BookTour
  Search for author appearances and literary events happening near you.
  
  
• DailyLit
  Read sections of books online or register to have sections of books or audiobooks emailed or sent to your RSS feed automatically.
  
  
• LibraryThing
  Catalog your own library in a virtual bookshelf and discover what others are reading in this online community.
  
  
  [back to top]
  

Reference

• Librarians' Internet Index
  A searchable, annotated directory of more than 4,700 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians.
  
  
• Library Spot
  Annotated links to online research tools such as almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, statistics, libraries and much more.
  
  
• Virtual Reference Shelf : Selected Web Resources
  Compiled by the Library of Congress -- A collection of Internet links arranged alphabetically by multiple subject categories.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook
  A directory of highly useful and informative sites arranged by subject.
  
  
• Bartleby.com - Reference
  Provides a collection of reference sources on a wide variety of topics.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Library - Ask a Librarian Now
  Our professional and friendly team of librarians is always ready to answer your questions, help you get started with research, find an elusive fact, and recommend a great book. Reference services are free and for all ages. Contact us via text, IM, e-mail, chat or talk with us in person or by phone.
  
  [back to top]
  

Science & Technology

• Scirus
  Award-winning science-specific search engine with special features to help pinpoint science web pages, peer-reviewed articles, scientific conferences, abstracts and patents. Accesses a large database of scientific, technical, and medical journals.
  
  
• INFOMINE - Biology, Agriculture and Medical Sciences
  From the University of California, this site provides well organized access to important university level research and educational tools on the internet covering most major life, agricultural and medical subjects. Each record includes an annotation and in-depth indexing terminology.
  
  
• INFOMINE - Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computing & Math
  From the University of California, this site provides well organized access to important university level research and educational tools on the internet covering most major subjects in physical sciences, engineering, computing and math. Each record includes an annotation and in-depth indexing terminology.
  
• National Academic Press (NAP)
  Publishes the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. In addition, the NAP publishes more than 200 books a year on a wide range of topics including engineering and science. All PDF versions of books published by the National Academies Press (NAP) are available for free downloading.
  
  
• SciCentral
  Gateway to over 50,000 sites pertaining to over 120 specialties in science, engineering, and medicine.
  
  
• Science Daily
  This site is an online news source that covers science, technology and medicine. Easily searched by topic, it is updated frequently.
  
  
• Science Information
  From the Librarians' Index to the Internet, a gateway to sites on a variety of science topics; such as, animals, astronomy, environment, mathematics, and technology.
  
  
• Cornell Math and Science Gateway
  From Cornell University, this is an annotated subject guide to resources in mathematics and science.
  
  
• Science.gov: Firstgov for Science
  Browse a wide range of subjects in this searchable "gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U. S. Government agencies, including research and development results".
  
  
• Eric Weisstein's World of Science
  In addition to in-depth encyclopedias of mathematics, physics, astronomy, and chemistry, this site features brief biographies of scientists, who can be searched by gender, historical period, branch of science, nationality, and awards.
  
  
• Animal Diversity Web
  From the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, this is an online database covering the natural history of all types of animals. It includes classification, description, ecosystem roles and conservation status in its coverage of each animal.
  
  Local Science Centers
• California Academy of Sciences
  
  
• Chabot Virtual Science Center
  
  
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
  
  
• Computer History Museum
  
  
• Exploratorium
  
  
• Fujitsu Planetarium at De Anza College
  
  
• Hiller Aviation Museum
  
  
• Intel Museum
  
  
• Lawrence Hall of Science
  
  
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
  
  
• NASA/Ames Research Center
  
  
• University of California Observatories / Lick Observatory
  
  
• Tech Museum
  
  
• YSI - Youth Science Institute
  
  [back to top]

Seniors

Find a Larger Directory of In-depth Resources for Adults 50Plus

• Seniors Citizens’ Resources: USA.gov
  View topics about and for senior citizens, including retirement, health, housing, taxes, and travel.
  
  
• Social Security Online
  The official web site of the Social Security Administration contains forms and publications in a downloadable format, as well as current and proposed Social Security regulations and other information of interest to seniors.
  
  
• BenefitsCheckUp This site from the National Council on Aging helps seniors with limited income find programs to help pay for prescription drugs, utilities, food, and other needs.
  
  
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development
  Offers information on a wide variety of housing issues for seniors; such as reverse mortgages, choosing nursing homes, and federal housing programs.
  
  
• Medicare
  Provides information on the federal government's Medicare program, including resources on medigap insurance, prescription drug assistance programs, and nursing home directories. State information can be found at the Department of Health Care Services on Medi-Cal.
  
  
• Senior Legal Hotline
  This site provides free legal advice, assistance, and education for seniors.
  
  
• Agis – Eldercare, Long Term Care, and Caregiving Information Resources
  This site provides a wide range of eldercare information, including a national database of facilities and special care providers. The California Nursing Home Search also provides comparative information about the quality of California's nursing homes.
  
  
• California Department of Aging  
  This site offers information on a broad range of home and community based services provided by this department. Links are also provided to local Area Agencies on Aging.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Senior Services Information Sheet
  Provides a directory of programs offering senior connected community services.
  
  
• HelpSCC: Information and Referral Database for Santa Clara County
  A searchable database of health and human service providers with a section for Seniors.
  
  
• AARP
  This American Association of Retired Persons resource will point you toward sites on money, work, legal issues and more.
  
  
• Exploritas
  This nonprofit organization provides affordable and educational adventures for adults 55 and older.
  
  [back to top]

Social Sciences

• Open Directory - Science: Social Sciences
  A comprehensive human-reviewed directory of links organized into categories and maintained by volunteer editors.
  
  
• Pew Internet & American Life
  The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, provides domestic and global information on attitudes, issues, and trends.
  
  
• ProCon.org - Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues
  This nonpartisan site encourages critical thinking and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward format.
  
  
• National Academic Press (NAP)
  Publishes the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. In addition, the NAP publishes more than 200 books a year on a wide range of topics including behavioral and social science. All PDF versions of books published by the National Academies Press (NAP) are available for free downloading.
  
  
• American Memory
  A collection of primary source materials related to American culture and history. This is an on-going project of the Library of Congress.
  
  
• American Cultural History: The Twentieth Century
  Organized by decade from 1900-1999, this site presents information, suggested print sources and Internet resources on American culture and history.
  
  
• American Rhetoric
  Search the online speech bank for over 5,000 full-text, audio, and video streaming versions of American public addresses.
  
  [back to top]

Sports

• Sports Rules
  A concise reference guide containing explanations of the rules and guidelines of numerous sports, which can include diagrams of the playing surface, a list of equipment, and a glossary.
  
  
• Sports KnowHow.com
  Provides you with information on the Governing Bodies and Rules for various sports. There are links to playing surface dimensions, the history of the sport, and some how-to-play information.
  
  
• Sports Network
  Pro and amateur sports standings, scores, stats, news and much more.
  
  
• Sports Reference
  Statististics and resources for major sports.
  
  
• World Games
  Official site for the World Games with information on sports, athletes, and news.
  
  
• The Olympic Movement
  The official sites for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), The United States Olympic Committee (USOC), The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the Special Olympics.
  
  
• NCAA.com
  An NCAA/Turner Sports Interactive site that features information on the member schools and the sports governed by the National Collegiate Atheletic Association (NCAA). A NCAA.org site provides many of the NCAA Playing Rules for these sports.

Sports on TV

• CBS Sportsline
  
• CNN
• CSNBayArea.com
  
• ESPN
  

Local Teams

• Baseball -- Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Giants
  
• Basketball -- Golden State Warriors
  
• Football -- Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Sabercats
  
• Ice Hockey -- San Jose Sharks
  
• Soccer -- San Jose Earthquakes

Statistics

• United Nations Statistics Division
  A gateway to global statistical information concerning international trade, national accounts, energy, industry, environment and demographic data as well as, on social statistics. In addition, UNdata provides a single entry point to statistical resources of the UN system.
  
  
• Global Health Observatory (GHO)
  Is the World Health Organization’s gateway to health-related statistics from around the world.
  
  
• Statistical Resources on the Web
  From the University of Michigan, this is a comprehensive, annotated directory arranged by subject for resources about statistics on the web. There are topics such as business and industry, finance and economics, cost of living, demographics, housing, health, and labor.
  
  
• NationMaster
  Contains statistics that can be used for comparing countries as well as individual country statistical profiles.
  
  
• OFFSTATS (Official Statistics on the Web)
  Browse by country, region, or topic for statistics from official sources found on the web. Includes links for topics such as demographics, economics, finance, crime, and industry data.
  
  
• Databases & E-Resources at the Library of Congress on Statistics
  Provides a list of external e-resources on statistics (numeric data) and an annotated list of reference websites on statistical databases and data sets.
  
  
• The Census
  From the U.S. Census, this site organizes population, income, housing, and economic data from the census. It includes the Statistical Abstract of the U.S., American Fact Finder, population clocks, and more.
  
  
• FedStats
  Provides access to statistics and information produced by more than 100 U.S. Federal agencies. Includes subjects such as population, income and poverty, education, health care costs, energy use, and crime.
  
  
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  Is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. It includes the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the most commonly cited indicator of inflation.
  
  
• California Department of Finance – Research
  Provides demographic data for state planning and budgeting, as well as, economic forecasts and analyses of various economic developments for the State of California. The California Statistical Abstract, which provides a compilation of data on social, economic, and physical aspects of the State, is also included. 
  
  
• Kidsdata
  Provides statistical information on the health and well being of children in communities across California.
  
  
• MLA Language Map Data Center
  Contains information about the number, ages, and percentage of speakers of languages in a state, county, city, and zip code.
  
  
• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  Includes Bay Area Census information and Projections, forecasts of population, housing, jobs, and income for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Region.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Statistics
  Provides statistical information sites.
  
  [back to top]
  

Student

For additional homework links, please visit our Teen webpage for Homework Help

• BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helper
  A one-stop hub that provides links to educational resources such as math, science, social studies, languages, history, music, art, and computers.
  
  
• Discovery Education
  Offers free student resources in the form of interactive games, videos, contests, virtual labs and activities on subjects such as science, English, social studies, math and more.
  
  
• Great Web Sites for Kids
  Maintained by children’s librarians of the American Library Association, Great Web Sites for Kids offers hundreds of links to exceptional websites for kids, parents, caregivers and teachers.
  
  
• Create a graph
  Offers bar, line, area, pie and X-Y graphs and charts to create from scratch.
  
  
• ProCon.org
  Is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity offering pros and cons of controversial issues for critical thinking and education. This is a great resource to use as a starting point for freshman college students as well as teachers when researching a topic on a controversial issue.
  
  
• Science Fair Project Ideas
  Free science fair project ideas for grades K-12.
  
  
• Wolfram|Alpha
  Is an answer engine that provides answers to facts and data across a wide range of topics, including math, science, history, geography, technology, and more.  View the example page for information on how to best perform a query.
  
  
• World Fact Book
  Maintained by the CIA the World Fact Book provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. The Reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.

[back to top]

Taxes

Locating Tax Forms

• The Santa Clara County Library District does not distribute printed tax forms or booklets for either the State of California or the IRS. However, all libraries in the District have reproducible Federal tax forms that patrons can photocopy, as well as public computers from which Federal and State forms and instructions can be printed or downloaded. Librarians cannot provide tax assistance.

• Tax forms can be downloaded and printed from state and federal websites:
  Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov
  California Department of Revenue www.ftb.ca.gov

• Employer and information forms such as W-2, 1098 and 1099 forms must be ordered directly from the IRS.

• Income tax forms for other states can be located through the Federation of Tax Administrators.

  Contacting the IRS

  Phone:	Live Assistance: Mid Jan.-April 15 Monday - Friday (7am - 10pm) Saturday (10am - 3pm)	1-800-829-1040
  	Order Forms & Publications: Monday - Friday (7am - 10pm)	1-800-829-3676
  	Teletax Topics:	1-800-829-4477
  	Taxpayer Advocate Office	1-651-312-7999 or 1-877-777-4778
  	Hearing Impaired:	1-800-829-4059
  Local office:	IRS 55 S. Market St. Third Floor San Jose, CA 95113	1-408-817-6747 Monday -Friday (8:30am - 4:30pm)
  Website:	www.irs.gov
  Where to File Addresses for Individual Taxpayers

  Contacting the California Franchise Tax Board

  Phone:	Live Assistance: Monday - Friday   (7am - 6pm)	1-800-852-5711
  	Order Forms:	1-800-338-0505
  	Hearing Impaired:	1-800-822-6268
  Local office:	Franchise Tax Board 96 N. 3rd Street 4th floor San Jose, CA 95112	1-800-852-5711 Monday - Friday (9am - 9pm)
  Website:	www.ftb.ca.gov
  Where to File Addresses for Individual Taxpayers

  
  
• Tax Resources on the Web
  A directory of web-based tax resources organized by subject.
  
  
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms and Publications
  This site includes tax forms and publications for the current tax year and prior years since 1992. It also links to a variety of tax information provided by the IRS.
  
  
• Franchise Tax Board (FTB) Forms
  From the State of California's Franchise Tax Board, this site offers tax forms, instructions, and publications from the current tax year and prior years since 1994. It also has links to tax forms of other California state agencies.
  
  
• United States Tax Code On-Line
  The text of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 of the U.S. Code with full-text search option.
  
  
• California Revenue and Taxation Code
  Table of contents and text of the code from the California Legislative Counsel's site for California Law. A keyword search is also available.
  
  
• State Tax Forms
  This site links to tax forms of other states.
  
  
• Sales Tax Rates for California
  Provided by the California State Board of Equalization, this site includes California city and county sales and use tax rates.
  
  
• Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office
  Information on how to look up property records, access maps, contest your assessed property tax value and other data from the Assessor's Office.
  
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Tax Information
  Additional tax resources including free tax assistance from Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), 2012 VITA sites (PDF), and AARP’s Tax-Aide program (toll-free phone number 1-888-227-7669).
  
  [back to top]

Testing

• Exam Proctoring
  Find libraries that offer exam proctoring.
  
  
• Pensacola State College Library – Test Preparation Guides
  A directory of testing resources for various standardized tests.
  
  
• ETS
  ETS develops, administers and scores a variety of tests for various age groups and subjects. Tests include SAT, GRE, TOEFL, etc. To view a full list of ETS tests, visit the Tests & Products page.
  
  
• 4Tests
  Provides free, online practice exams for high school, college, professional, and standardized tests.
  
  
• TestTrade.com
  A one-stop place for study questions, test preparation materials and examinations concerning college and professional tests.
  
  
• majortests.com
  Practice tests and resources for high school, college and graduate tests.
  
  
• Kaplan Test Prep
  Provides resources on a variety of college, graduate and professional tests. Select a test to search by zip code for services and events, including free event information.
  
  
• The Princeton Review
  Find free online practice tests and search for free practice events by Princeton Review.
  
  [back to top]

Theater & Dance

• Performing Arts Encyclopedia
  A guide to the performing arts resources at the Library of Congress (including web presentations) covering collections of scores, sheet music, audio recordings, films photographs, and other materials. It includes databases, and a special Performing Arts Resource Guide.
  
  
• Theater - The New York Times
  The NYT theater coverage including news, reviews, blogs, interviews, and videos for shows from Off Off Broadway to London.
  
  
• Theatre History on the Web
  A gateway to numerous sites of interest to anyone interested in all periods and aspects of theater history around the world.
  
  
• Internet Broadway Database
  Historical and current production information for New York Theater.
  
  
• Playbill On-Line
  Includes United States and London theater listings, industry and celebrity news, seating charts, and links to other theater sites.
  
  
• Theatre Bay Area
  Information on local productions.
  
  
• Voice of Dance
  A global dance directory covering message boards, reviews from top critics, calender listings for dance performances, a local class finder, discount tickets, and more.
  
  
• A History of Social Dance in America
  Using the resources of the American Antiquarian Society this site presents an illustrated history of all aspects of social dance in the the United States.
  
  
• Ballroom Dancers.com
  Learn dance steps  from around the country and around the world using videos accompanied by written instructions. This site allows you to sample music, look up terms, find a partner or a place to dance, plus much more.
  
  
• American Ballet Theatre - Online Dictionary
  An online ballet dictionary with illustrations and interactive features.

  [back to top]

Travel

• TripSpot
  Features travel guides, transportation, accommodations, destination ideas, maps, and travel news.

• Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory
  Guide to official tourist information sources, including government tourism offices, convention and visitors bureaus, and chambers of commerce.

• Karen's Reference Notebook - Travel Information
  A selection of online travel guides and reservation sites.

• Maps and Geography
  This category includes a selection of mapping services and geographical information.

• Airtimetable
  Presents airline timetables, arrivals and departures, flight tracker, airline seat maps, and an airline and airport locator.

• Ships and Cruises
  Provides cruise information including a cruise line directory.

• Travel by Train
  Links to worldwide railway lines and their schedules, such as the Eurail.

• Bureau of Consular Affairs
  Information from the State Department about travel in other countries including travel warnings, visa information, passport services, and an index of topics.

• Transportation Security Administration for Travelers
  From the Transportation Security Administration, this is the traveler and consumer center providing up-to-date and comprehensive information on aviation security.

• Travelers' Health (CDC)
  This site for international travelers gives vaccination requirements, disease outbreaks, food warnings, and country health information from the National Center for Infectious Disease and Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

• Elderhostel
  Provides the online catalog of the organization's worldwide educational travel programs for people 55 and over.

• California Find Yourself Here
  From the California Division of Tourism, this site provides tourist information and links for California including accommodations, attractions, transportation, entertainment, events, and recreation.
  
  Parks - National, State, and Local

• Recreation.gov
  Find U.S. recreation information and reservations for campgrounds, tours and wilderness areas.

• U.S. National Park Service
  Find a U.S. National Park, discover history, and explore nature.

• Park Search
  From L.L. Bean covering America's parks and recreational areas.

• California State Parks
  The official state site for camping, reservations, and events.

• Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation
  Find maps and reservation information for 28 recreational areas in the County.

• Transit 511
  Sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, this site contains current transit information for the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties including maps, schedules and fares for buses, trains and ferries.
  
  [back to top]
  

Vehicles

• Karen's Reference Notebook – Automobile Consumer Information
  This link provides information on a number of issues related to vehicle purchasing and leasing, including crash test data, car prices, and several buyer's guides. Includes links to Kelley, Edmunds, and Nada.
  
  
• Car Care Guide
  This covers major service and minor maintenance instructions which can be applied to almost every vehicle. The Car Care Council also has the guide in Spanish.
  
  
• ProCarCare
  ProCarCare’s car care guide is a complete reference on maintenance, systems and more. à A car care reference manual providing maintenance recommendations, information on major vehicle systems, and more.
  
  
• carbibles.com
  Learn everything the DIY car enthusiast needs to know about basic car maintenance with detailed information and charts.
  
  
• AutoMD
  Online auto repair manuals and videos include illustrated steps, tools needed and estimated time to finish.
  
  
• Motorcycle Manuals
  Free motorcycle shop manuals and parts manuals can be found here as well as on this Online Parts & Shop Manuals page which organizes them by country.
  
  
• Old Car Manual Project
  This project collects original manuals and car brochures for older vehicles that can be viewed online.
  
  
• Car Crazy Central
  Car enthusiasts will find exciting online TV shows and videos exploring many types of vehicles.
  
  
• Car Talk
  Car advice, tips, troubleshooting, and answers to your car questions from NPR.
  
  
• Best Parking
  A “parking search engine” that helps you find the cheapest and closest parking garages and lots in major North American cities and 79 airports including San Francisco.

Official Services:

• U.S. Department of Transportation
  
  
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  
  
• Crash testing and highway safety
  
  
• fueleconomy.gov -- from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency
  
  
• California Highway Patrol

[back to top]

Weather

• World Weather Information Service
  The World Meteorological Organization provides official observations and forecasts from National Meteorological Services in a centralized source.
  
  
• Weather Underground
  This site offers weather information for worldwide locations, including current conditions, hourly forecasts, radar and satellite maps, and historic weather data back to 1945. Find details from the EPA about the UV index.
  
  
• Weather Channel
  From the television weather channel, you can access local, national, and international current weather conditions and forecasts.
  
  
• National Weather Service
  This site provides weather forecasts, watches, and warnings for the United States including the greater San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey.
  
  
• CDC Natural Disasters
  Learn how to prepare for and respond to a variety of extreme weather and natural disasters from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  
  
• San Jose Climate Page
  Displays current and historical climate information, records, and sunrise/sunset tables for San Jose, California.
  
  
• Spare the Air in the Bay Area
  Provides current air quality forecasts, ozone levels, and alternative transportation information.  
  
  
• The Old Farmer’s Almanac
  Access weather predictions, long range and weekly forecasts, radar, weather history, and webcams from the source of the print Old Farmer's Almanac.
  
  [back to top]