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Home > Electronic Library 24/7 > Best of the Web

Best of the Web: Recommended Websites

Quick Links: Art | Business | Community | Computers | Consumers | Disability | Education | Elections | Entertainment | Genealogy | Green Living | Government | Health | History & Social Sciences | Job & Career Help Center | Language Learning | Law | Libraries | Literature | Magazines, News & Media | Maps & Geography | Music | New Americans | Newspapers | Phone Books & Directories | Reading | Reference | Science & Technology | Seniors | Sports | Statistics | Taxes | Testing | Travel | Weather

Art

  • 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.

Business

Company Information

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, The Currency Site : Foreign exchange news, conversion rates, and table of exchange.

Local Companies

Community

Computers

Consumers

  • Consumer.gov : Links to federal consumer information covering categories such as food, health, product safety, money, transportation, and identity theft.

  • 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 featured.

  • 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.

  • Consumers - California Attorney General : Information on how to file complaints against businesses, government agencies and officials, corporations, law enforcement officers, and how to deal with discrimination-related problems. Also includes an on-line complaint form.

  • California Contractors : Information from the Contractors State License Board about contractor licensing, hiring contractors, the construction process, filing construction complaints, and other matters relating to construction.

  • Identity Theft : This website of the Federal Trade Commission provides information on the crime of identity theft and steps to take to minimize risk and damage if a problem occurs. Information is available in English and Spanish.

  • FTC Consumer Education : Find advice on avoiding scams and rip-offs as well as tips on other consumer topics in this section of the Federal Trade Commission's website. Also offers a link to AnnualCreditReport.com, the only authorized online source for requesting a free credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies. Information is available in English and 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.

  • ForeclosureInfoCA.org : Provides information on foreclosures in California available in English and Spanish. Project of the Public Interest Clearinghouse, and the State Bar of California.

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Disability

  • 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
    Selected by a Santa Clara County librarian, 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.

  • Santa Clara County Library - Accessible Services -- Includes information about the Bookmobile, Homebound Services, and Services for the Visually & Hearing Impaired.

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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.

  • College Guides and Rankings
    A list of web sites including college, university, and graduate school guides and rankings selected by a Santa Clara County Librarian.

  • CollegeWeekLive
    Virtual College Fair where students can search colleges and visit with college admissions experts online.

  • Financial Aid
    A list of web sites on student aid and scholarships selected by a Santa Clara County Librarian.

  • 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.

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Elections

Entertainment

    Movies
  • All-Movie Guide

  • Internet Movie Database

  • Rotten Tomatoes

  • Movie Review Query Engine : Contains links to hundreds of film reviews from newspapers, magazines, and other online sources. Searchable by film title, and browsable by lists of festivals, recent releases and selection of the American Film Institute.

    Television
  • 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.


    Theater
  • 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.


    Additional
  • Gamespot : A computer and video gaming website that provides features such as news, reviews, previews, screen shots, movies, message boards and game guides.

  • Festivals : Searchable database of festivals and events worldwide.

  • Local Recreation and Entertainment : Links to events, festivals, and local attractions selected by a Santa Clara County Librarian.

  • Artsopolis : Online resource for arts and cultural information for Silicon Valley from the Arts Council Silicon Valley.

  • BayArea.com : Features local information from the San Jose Mercury News on entertainment and dining.

  • Metroactive : From Metro Publishing, arts and entertainment information for the San Francisco Bay area.

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Genealogy

Information collected by the U.S. Census from individuals becomes available to the public after 72 years. Some information is currently only available on microfilm.

Many vital records (Birth/Marriage/Divorce/Death) and local government censuses have been microfilmed, and might be available at the local vital records office or through the LDS Church.

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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.

  • Green Living Resources : Additional Green Living E-Resource sites selected by a Santa Clara County Librarian.

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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.

  • Country Information : Selected by a Santa Clara County librarian, sites providing country information.

  • 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.

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Health

History & Social Sciences

Job & Career Help Center

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.

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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.

  • Attorneys : A selection of sites listing attorneys and law firms compiled by a Santa Clara County librarian. Included is the Phoenix Data Center which lists local agencies providing free and low income legal services.

  • Legal Forms : A selection of sites selected by a Santa Clara County reference librarian.


    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. There is also a North County branch at 270 Grant Ave., Palo Alto, (650) 324-6529

  • 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.

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Libraries

Literature

  • LitLinks : Includes the genres of fiction, poetry, essays, drama and critical theory with lists of authors and relevant annotated links to websites.

  • English Literature on the Web : This comprehensive literature site that includes both English and American literature links.

  • Voice of the Shuttle : Links to theory, author home pages, journals, and criticism for literature in English from Anglo-Saxon to contemporary literature.

  • 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.

  • Poetry Portal : A guide to Internet resources for the study and writing of poetry. This site includes links about poetry online, events, courses, styles, and publishing.

  • 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.

  • Study Guides : Links to selected sites from a local librarian.

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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.

  • 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.

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Maps & Geography

  • Oddens' Bookmarks
    Browse a wide selection of links or search by country and category.

  • Maps and Geographical Information
    A selection of sites provided by a Santa Clara County librarian.

  • 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.

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Music

New Americans

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.

    Local Newspapers

  • San Jose Mercury News

  • San Francisco Chronicle

  • Metroactive -- Homepage for the Bay Area Metro Papers, including searchable archives.

  • Santa Clara County Newspapers

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Phone Books & Directories

  • Telephone Directories
    Compiled by a Santa Clara Librarian, this site has 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

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Reading

  • 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.

  • Book Resources
    Maintained by a local librarian, this directory 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.

  • What to Read, Watch, and Listen To
    Databases, booklists, staff picks, book discussion kits, book discussion groups, and more tools to help readers of all ages find great books, audio books, movies, and music. You can also subscribe to a selection of 20+ free electronic newsletters, NextReads, to receive great book suggestions by email.

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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 : Selected by a Santa Clara County librarian, 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.

  • Ask a Librarian Now : Chat online with a professional librarian who is ready to answer your reference questions 24 hours/7 days per week. A free service sponsored by cooperating public libraries including the Santa Clara County Library.

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Science & Technology

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.

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Sports

  • Everyrule.com : From major sports to card games, find the rules of the game in the "largest database of rules in the world."

  • Virtual Library of Sports : Links to current sporting events, news, results, and more.

  • Sport Quest : This international site links to information on sports, coaching, sports training, sports medicine, physical education, and sports science. It has information on professional sports, college sports, disabled sports, women, Olympics, and more.

  • Sports Network : Pro and amateur sports standings, scores, stats, news and much more.

  • CBS Sportsline : Sports news, schedules, fantasy sports, and sports links.

  • CNN : From CNN and Sports Illustrated, this gives current sports news and scores with worldwide coverage.

  • ESPN : Up-to-the-minute scores and news, with links to all major and most minor sports.

  • World Games : Official site for the World Games with information on sports, athletes, and news.

  • The Olympic Movement : This official International Olympic Committee (IOC) site lists past and future games, biographies of Olympic athletes, and features current Olympic and sports news. Searchable in French or English.

  • United States Olympic Committee (USOC) : Features biographies of U.S. Olympic athletes of the past, present, and future in addition to news on Olympic games, symbols, ticketing, and more. Links to sports such as the Paralympics, Pan American and World University games.

    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

  • Lacrosse : San Jose Stealth

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Statistics

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Consumer Price Index : From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is one of the most commonly cited indicators of inflation. It is a monthly measure of the average change in prices over time of a fixed list of goods and services. The California Consumer Price Index is published by the State Division of Labor Statistics & Research.

  • 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.

  • Counting California : From the California Digital Library and the State Library of California, this site provides access to current and historical data about the state. Users may collate and integrate data by topic, geography, title, and provider.

  • 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 : Statistical information sites selected by a Santa Clara County Librarian.

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Taxes

Locating Tax Forms

  • All libraries in the Santa Clara County System have a limited number of basic tax forms and tax preparation guidebooks during the tax season. However, 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.

  • Tax Information
    Additional tax resources including the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and AARP’s Tax-Aide program.

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Testing

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.

  • Travel Guides and Reservations
    A selection of online travel guides and reservation sites compiled by a local librarian.

  • 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.

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Weather

 
Santa Clara County Library, 14600 Winchester Blvd., Los Gatos CA 95032-1817
Last Revised: March 03, 2010
email: webmaster@library.sccgov.org
(c)2010 SCC Library