A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Reference

Religious Studies

Research


Reference

Academic Info
The major component of the site is its subject Index, other sections are Reference Desk and student center. Subject index lists topics ranging from African American history to world history, with topics in humanities, social sciences, and sciences in between. Material is added and updated almost daily.

Best Information on the Net
This highly selective directory of Internet resources is intended primarily for undergraduates. The "Hot Paper Topics" and "Resources by Major" sections provide easily navigable ways for students to find carefully selected Internet materials for their research. "Hot Paper Topics" provides 26 categories, some having submenus (e.g. bioethics, includes abortion, animal rights, euthanasia, general bioethics sources, genetics and cloning, and stem cell research) and some covering timely issues like "same sex marriages" or standbys like "gun control" and "smoking". "Resources by Major" offers 39 major categories. A separate alphabetical index lists all subjects. Special lists include reference sources and news and current events links. Some categories, divided by user type - students, faculty, or librarians - include research links, information literacy, copyright and plagiarism information, career and educational planning resources, teaching tools, review sources, digitization and preservation, and advice on everything from voting to laundry.

College and University Rankings
The site provides links to ranked list for general/undergraduate institutions, graduate research programs, business, law, and international institutions.

Information Please: On-Line Dictionary, Internet Encyclopedia, & Almanac Reference
It contains the contents of an encyclopedia, a dictionary, and several almanacs. This site is strictly for ready reference.

Lives, the Biography Resource
A megasite made up of links and important biographical sites on the Web, created by Kenneth P. Lanxner. This valuable site links both to biographies of individuals, alphabetically arranged, and to collections of biographies-e.g. General Collections, African Americans, Women, Civil War, Holocaust, Professions, National and Regional Sites, Historical Eras.

NYPL Digital Gallery
The New York Public Library has digitized over a quarter million images from primary sources and printed materials from their world class collections of manuscripts, maps, posters, prints, photographs, books and ephemera. Organized in several dozen discreet areas under seven broad categories, the digital collections range from art historical classics such as Goya's Disasters of War to just about any subject, from science to engineering, history and New York. The site has a powerful search engine and provides the ability to compile a personal list. For those who cannot be in New York, this is the next best thing.

Research 101
Research 101 is an interactive tutorial about conducting research, developing research questions and understanding how information is produced and distributed. Its organizing principle is the concept of information cycles. The site is a nondisciplinary perspective on information cycles presented in a publicly accessible framework that can be licensed free by other academic libraries. The site mixes visual interest with intellectual challenge, and its intuitive navigation scheme functions reliably.

Virtual Reference Shelf
Compiled by the Library of Congress and composed of materials drawn from Internet Public Library Reference Service, Librarian’s Index to the Internet and Refdesk, the range of general and subject specific reference sources offered by VRS compares favourable to a well-stocked public library. Sources are arranged by broad topic and type of source with links to several choices.

Refdesk.com
MVRD has “three goals: 1) fast access, 2) intuitive and easy navigation, and 3) comprehensive content, rationally indexed.” It is particularly useful for new surfers of the Web and has great value as a ready reference tool.

iTools [Formerly titled Research-it!: your one-stop reference desk]
Researchers can access the latest electronic versions of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus as well as specialized dictionaries for rhyming, computer terms, pronunciation, and acronyms. Highly recommended for all levels of students, or any-one needing basic reference answers.

The New York Times – College Times
College Times is designed “to help college students and faculty find the latest information related to their fields of study and integrate NY Times content into their academic lives.” One valuable feature is an e-mail alert service that allows users to select subject areas of interest and to be notified when articles on that subject are published. College Times can provide guided access to a well-regarded current news source at no cost.

NewsDirectory.com: a Guide to English-Language Media Online
Anyone who needs foreign and domestic news in English will find this site a delight. Besides newspapers around the world, it also gives access to magazines, TV stations, news tickets, trade associations, airports, and many more. The site is continually updated.

NewsPaperLinks.com
Links seem to be updated regularly. Maintained by the Newspaper Association of America, the site is designed to “keep up with industry online efforts.” Toward this goal, links are provided to information about technical news, products, conferences, diversity, marketing and the digital cutting edge.

U.S. News Archives on the Web [Formerly itled Newspaper archives on the Web]
Newspaper Archives on the Web provides links to Web versions of 62 US newspapers from 29 states and their full-text and online back files. Providing links to archives distinguishes this site from more extensive Web sites with links to newspapers that offer mainly current news or special features. Newspaper articles from the 1980s to the present.

World News
Founded in 1998, the World News Network provides access to over 500 media  sources and 4000 thematic and regional news sites in numerous languages at its Web site. The main page's top half features links to major news stories, with links across the very top to stories on business, science, society, and sports; news photographs; Web-accessible broadcasts; the site map; site archives; and feedback. Further down the page are links to regional news from North America, Europe, Asia , the Middle East, South America, Africa, Australia and the Caribbean. At the bottom are links to the previous week's news. Links on the left refer users to sites covering world and regional news, entertainment, social and cultural affairs, science, sports and business. Also offered are a search engine for obtaining company financial information. The main page is very organized and easy to navigate.

Religious Studies

Bible Gateway
This site is intended to be a tool for reading and researching scripture online, Bible Gateway is loaded with features such as multiple translations and languages, audio Bibles, and multiple search options. The user may choose from 81 Bibles currently available, comprising 56 searchable texts, 12 audio Bibles and 13 e-books. There are 16 different translations and 29 available languages. This search form allows the user to type in a term, such as abortion and receive the definition of the word, relevant Bible passages, and the option of searching both full-text articles and headings within the database.

Buddhanet.net
This Buddhist information and education network is an outstanding example of the use of technology to create a multisectarian online community rich in shared resources. The aim of Buddhanet.net is to create a virtual Sangha, or community of Buddhists in the English-speaking world, and it strives to provide Buddhists from all traditions with tools to help them develop their practice. Although its primary audience is believers, this site is also useful for scholars of Buddhism. Reference tools, such as time lines of Buddhist history, a global directory for Buddhist organizations and teachers, and up-to-date news are included. This content rich site features a clear navigational structure and efficient search engine. The well-designed pages load quickly. Updated constantly, it is remarkably successful in its comprehensive, well-organized approach and in serving as an on-line forum.

Catholic Web Resources
It attempts to cover most Catholic areas of interest and study, from core resources such as the Vatican Web site to general ones on topics such as prayers and theologians, to the most current Catholic blogs. Even though the site is intended to be a selective guide to Catholic Web pages, there are links to so many well-documented and authoritative sites. Most of the resources linked from this site are fundamental and established sources for Catholicism. The site is organized into 3 sections: the first, Daily Links, includes a daily scripture reading, the saint of the day, a daily meditation and even a prayer before surfing the net, the second part is Basic Information on Catholicism and the third and largest part is Links to Resources. This Web site will be a valuable portal for everyone from Web surfers to Catholic scholars.  It is very up-to-date.

Center for Christian-Jewish Learning
The Center for Christian-Jewish Learning promotes dialogue and understanding among those of the Christian and Jewish faiths. Its Web site is very well developed and includes a number of resources for students and scholars. These include online forums, articles, a large depository of documents from both within and without the center, educational materials, reviews, streaming videos of presentations and programs, and links to related sites. These materials reflect both a contemporary and historical perspective on Christian/Jewish relations. The site is very well organized and includes an internal search engine.

Christian Classics Ethereal Library
There is no better place to look first, when in need of an online text from the Christian tradition. With the aim of collecting "a theological library containing 1000 of the most important public-domain works for theological study", this is more like a "real library" than most sites. The current list of titles is highly eclectic and issues of coherence will need to be addressed with the addition of texts. CCEL is a delight and all readership groups will find it useful.

Counterbalance Interactive Library
The Counterbalance Interactive Library is a fascinating multimedia project dedicated to exploring the relationship between religion and science. The Counterbalance Foundation, which sponsors the site, works closely with the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. The site's ultimate aim is to fuel creative thinking by encouraging dialogue between the religious and scientific worldviews. The library offers an immense range of topics, including the creation of the world, evolution, the relationship of humans to the environment, genetic research, the conflict between fundamentalism and science, and ethical issues. It presents contributions from many leading scholars in the fields of religion, philosophy and science. Although most of the religious interpretations presented on the site presuppose a Western, theistic approach, there are some significant contributions that address Buddhist and Hindu traditions. The content presented is highly thought-provoking.

Five Gospel Parallels
A tool for comparing the text of the New Testament Gospels as well as several apocryphal texts, including the gospel of Thomas, side by side. An interesting feature of this program is that users can locate the passages in different texts that deal with the same parables and events. The site is maintained by the Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.

Internet Sacred Texts Archive
A varied collection of texts on religion, mythology, folklore, and esoteric topics such as alchemy and UFOs, which can be browsed by world religion, religion or subject.

Islam and Islamic Studies Resources
This is an excellent, selective guide to Islamic resources on the Web. It limits links to primary sources (such as sacred texts, official documents, and statements; or materials by religious groups) and scholarly secondary sources. Organized around 12 broad categories, it is designed for browsing, exploring and learning. Most categories feature a balanced and accessible introduction. Links are often accompanied by informative annotations, making the site ideal for students, interdisciplinary scholars, and the general public. Although the site's scope is clear from its title, the main emphasis is on Islam, Islamic civilization and their relationship to modernity and the West. The site provides a wealth of information on Islamic populations throughout the world, and it covers current issues, such as the status of women and the events of September 11. Arabic language students will find many useful resources as well.

Religion-Online
Religion-Online is a growing digital library of over 1,500 English-language Christian theological classics and contemporary works, including essays, monographs, chapters, and speeches. Topics covered include Old and New Testament studies; history of religious thought; Christian theology; ethics; mission; religion and society; religion and communication; homiletics; religious education; and pastoral care and counseling. Recommended for upper-division undergraduates and above, including professionals and practitioners.

Research

A Research Guide for Students
The goal of this site is to provide all the necessary tools for students to conduct research and to present their findings. Site provides a Quick Click to Search Engines, annotated Research, Writing, and Style Guides The site also provides guidelines on: How to write an A+ research paper, How to effectively deliver a presentation, How to format a research or term paper, How to quote passages, How not to plagiarize, How to write Footnotes and Endnotes with examples on writing First Footnotes and Endnotes in MLA Style plus a Footnotes Sample Page and an Endnotes Sample Page.