The following sites are grouped together by subject. Sites are added frequently.
Please return often to check out new additions.(Copyright 2008 by Librarians' Index to the Internet, LII)
Adams County GIS
A new website for Adams County Geographical Information System. An interactive map
viewer that allows users to see maps of Adams County, Illinois showing, property lines, addresses,
photography, streets, historical information and more. This is a very user friendly program
designed for the novice user.
Art
Arts & Design, museum
Official website for this New York museum, formerly the American Craft Museum, that
"collects, displays, and interprets objects in ceramic, glass, fiber, metal and wood that honor
innovation in art, craft and design." The site features images of selected works from the permanent
collection and from exhibitions. Includes teacher resource packets for selected exhibits, such as for
"Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting" and "Contemporary Netsuke: Masterful Miniatures."
Leonardo da Vinci
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Science & Nature presents Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519.
The Italian artist, scientist, and engineer. An all-round genius whose paintings and inventions
changed the world. Take an interactive journey through his life and works to discover what made
him a true Renaissance man. Included are a timeline, painting and drawing galleries, an
interactive tour of Leonardo's studio, and a quiz to see what type of a thinker you are.
Degas
Online exhibit exploring the life and work of French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas (1834-1917).
Some of the topics covered include Degas' artistic style, subjects of his art (including laundresses, ballet, and women
bathing), and art collected by Degas. Site is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
"Grandma" Moses, Anna Mary Robertson
Biography and details about the work of self-taught artist Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses (1860-1961),
whose work was "discovered" in 1938. Includes images of selected paintings, listings of exhibitions, a brief
timeline, and related material. From Galerie St. Etienne, the New York gallery that "mounted Grandma
Moses' first one-woman exhibition in 1940 and represented her for the remainder of her life."
Public Transportation(also see Transportation)
This website is designed to better inform the public about the benefits and importance of
public transportation for all Americans -- even if they never board a train or a bus." Features links to
transit news (such as about how increased gas prices in 2008 have created a mass transit surge), facts on
public transportation, reports, and links to public transit sites throughout the U.S. From the American
Public Transportation Association.
Research Guides, Business and Industry
This compilation of research guides from the New York Public Library covers topics such
as financial services, international trade, market research, small business, standards, and specific
industries. Many of the guides are formatted as answers to common research questions. Also includes
"quick guides" on green building and other subjects.
Blog is short for web log. It is a web page that provides publicly accessible
personal journaling space. Source: www.webopedia.com
We have included two sites for developing a blog. We do not endorse a specific site.
Internet Tour Bus
Learn about viruses, spam, cool sites and browsers.
Wiki means “quick” in Hawaiian. The term wiki refers to either the Web site or the software
used to create the site. It is a collaborative Web site comprising the perpetual collective work
of many authors.
Wikis are similar to blogs in structure and logic. The difference between them is editing. A wiki
allows anyone to edit, delete or modify content that has been placed on the Web site using a browser
interface, including the work of previous authors. In contrast, a blog, typically authored by an individual,
does not allow visitors to change the original posted material, only add comments to the original content.
Source: www.webopedia.com
We have included two sites for developing a wiki. We do not endorse a specific site.
Education resources; teaching and learning resources from federal agencies
Federal
Resources for Educational
Excellence
The federal government offers teaching and learning resources at FREE. It organizes
more than 1,500 lesson plans, primary documents, science animations, math challenges, and works of art, literature, and music.
The material comes from a variety of sources such as the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution,
NASA, and other federal agencies.
Elections
Elections, Illinois State Board of
You may download publications such as "Local Election Officials Handbook" and "Candidates Guide". These
publications provide election dates, petition requirements, filing guidelines, objection procedures, and information
on filling vacancies, ballot certification, absentee voting, notices, public questions, lottery procedures, and
current law changes concerning canvass procedures. Go to their website and click on "Downloads."
Equal Rights
ERA, Equal Rights Amendment
This site displays the continuing viability of the ERA. It was "first proposed in 1923 [and] still not part of the
U.S. Constitution. The ERA has been ratified by 35 of the necessary 38 states."
Farming
AFSIC (Alternative
Farming Systems Information Center)
The AFSIC "specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices" by listing links
to relevant sites. It is a searchable site. Also includes related publications and a directory with links to searchable
databases that pertain to sustainable/alternative agriculture. From the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
National Agricultural Library.
America's Farm Bill 2007
Material from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) about the 2007 reauthorization
of the Farm Bill, which provides subsidies to U.S. farmers. The 2007 bill includes "more than 65 proposals
[that] correspond to the 2002 farm bill titles with additional special focus areas, including specialty
crops, beginning farmers and ranchers, and socially disadvantaged producers." Includes news, fact sheets,
and related material on topics such as conservation, energy, forestry, nutrition, and rural development.
Fiction Reference
FictionDB
The essential fiction reference. FictionDB allows you to search, organize,
buy and sell. Their mission is to use the Internet to provide complete, accurate and
reliable information for readers of genre fiction. Initially only one database for Romance
was available. They have added Mystery, Suspense, Western and Speculative genre.
Adams County GIS
A new website for Adams County Geographical Information System. An interactive map
viewer that allows users to see maps of Adams County, Illinois showing, property lines, addresses,
photography, streets, historical information and more. This is a very user friendly program
designed for the novice user.
Government, Federal
United States Federal Government
This main portal provides access to agencies and information. The website links to all major branches of
government, provides information on government jobs, auctions, passports, and anything else associated with
the federal government.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Vital transportation statistics. Did you know that Illinois ranks third in the nation in the total number of interstate
highways with 2,169 miles?
CIA: Electronic Reading Room
This site provides "an overview of access to CIA information, including electronic access to previously released
documents. Because of CIA's need to comply with the national security laws of the United States, some
documents or parts of documents cannot be released to the public." Includes collections in areas such as
Vietnam and China, and specific documents such as a report on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Climate of 2007
This site provides data about potential drought conditions throughout the United States. It includes an overview,
state and regional analysis, and material about drought indicators.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
This site "is a geographic information system (GIS) portal, also known as the Geospatial One-Stop," "designed
to facilitate communication and sharing of geographic data and resources to enhance government efficiency and
improve citizen services." Search for federal, state, and local geographic data, maps (such as of transportation
and natural hazards), and statistics. Also includes discussions of key resources for topics such as atmosphere
and climate, business, and human health.
Justice, U.S. Department of
Inside the Courtroom: This site provides an introduction to the workings of U. S.
courtrooms. It includes a
description of federal prosecutors and U.S. Attorneys, an illustrated guide to a courtroom and its participants,
and a glossary.
The White House
Links to the President, Vice President, History & Tours, First Lady, and more.
Government, County
Adams County GIS
A new website for Adams County Geographical Information System. An interactive map
viewer that allows users to see maps of Adams County, Illinois showing, property lines, addresses,
photography, streets, historical information and more. This is a very user friendly program
designed for the novice user.
Taxes You Pay
Are you interested in knowing the taxes you pay to the Illinois State Government? This site, provided by the
Illinois Department of Revenue, includes a comprehensive web page about the taxes currently paid by state of
Illinois taxpayers.
American Rhetoric
Site provides an online audio speech bank. Also included are the top 100 most significant
American political speeches of the 20th century. Included speeches are John F. Kennedy's
Inaugural and Martin Luther King's "I have a dream..."
Drugs.com
This site uses information from a variety of authoritative sources, including PDR.
Health Care Costs in the U.S.
Backgrounder about health care costs in the U.S., where "factoring in costs borne by government,
the private sector, and individuals, the United States spends over $1.9 trillion annually on
healthcare expenses, more than any other industrialized country." Includes links to related websites
and other material about economics and health. From the Council on Foreign Relations.
Health Care Costs in the
U.S., Snapshots
This is "a series of online publications ... that use charts, data and analysis to provide insight
into the political and policy debates about the cost of health care in the United States." Some of
the topics include out-of-pocket spending for health care, insurance premium cost-sharing and coverage
take-up, health care spending in the U.S. compared with other countries, and effect of changes in
medical technology on health care costs. From the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Library Science Guide
"This guide is intended for individuals without ready access to print resources
and subscription databases in the field of library and information science. It compiles free,
full-text resources available on the Web for use by librarians, library technicians, and students
in the field."
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln; a resource guide
Digital collections at the Library of Congress contain a wide variety of material associated
with Abraham Lincoln, including the complete Abraham Lincoln Papers from the Manuscript Division. This
resource guide compiles links to digital materials related to Lincoln such as manuscripts, letters,
broadsides, government documents, and images that are available throughout the Library of Congress Web site.
Medscape
Provides articles, references and more for medical professionals. Medscape does not provide
medical advice. It supplies professional-level information.
The Consumer and Patient Health Information section of the Medical Library Association has
evaluated the following sites for credibility, content, audience, currency, etc.
This New York museum, formerly the American Craft Museum, "collects, displays,
and interprets objects in ceramic, glass, fiber, metal and wood that honor innovation in art,
craft and design." The site features images of selected works from the permanent collection
and from exhibitions.
Leonardo da Vinci: inventions and art
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) presents Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519.
The Italian artist, scientist, and engineer. An all-round genius whose paintings and inventions changed
the world. Take an interactive journey through his life and works to discover what made him
a true Renaissance man. Included are a timeline, painting and drawing galleries, an interactive
tour of Leonardo's studio, and a quiz to see what type of a thinker you are.
Research Guides
This compilation of research guides covers topics such as financial services, international
trade, market research, small business, standards, and specific industries. Many of the guides are formatted
as answers to common research questions. Also includes "quick guides" on Black History Month, women in computer
science, digital photography, green building, and other subjects. From the Science, Industry and Business
Library, New York Public Library.
Reference Services
Library of Congress website provides access to scientific information.
Research Sites
This site is "a free, publicly available web portal allowing access to numerous scientific
journals and public science databases." Search for materials in the topics of astronomy, biology, chemistry,
computers, environmental sciences, engineering, health and medicine, materials science,
mathematics, physics, and social sciences.
Living with Wildlife
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the University of Illinois
Extension developed a new Web site to help residents better appreciate native Illinois wildlife.
The site offers tips on how to identify animals, how to handle injured wildlife and finding
wildlife professionals.
Sports
Sports Illustrated Vault
SI Vault contains searchable full text articles from the last 53 years.
Patterns of global terrorism 1985-2005
Berkshire’s Patterns of Global Terrorism 1985-2005: U.S. Department of State
Reports with Supplementary Documents and Statistics is arranged in a user-friendly format
that includes tables, graphs, and illustrative material—much of it from the original reports
but with additional material developed by Berkshire and its editors.
Transportation
Transportation Energy Data Book
Most recent edition (26th edition in 2007) of this "data book... [of] statistics
and information that characterize transportation activity, and ... data on other factors that
influence transportation energy use" in the U.S. Features spreadsheets on petroleum, energy
(including fuel consumption by vehicle type), highway vehicles and characteristics, alternative fuel,
fleet and household vehicles, non-highway modes (such as aviation, boats, and rail), greenhouse gas
emissions, and criteria pollutants. From the U.S. Department of Energy.
Israel at 60
Collection of new stories and analysis about the creation of Israel in 1948 and its subsequent
history. Includes a timeline of key events, demographic data, a history in maps showing how the borders have
changed, a photo essay on Palestinian life in East Jerusalem, and discussions of obstacles to peace between
Palestinians and Israel such as borders and settlement, refugees, the Gaza Strip, and peace talks. From the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
60th Anniversary of the founding of Israel
Collection of material about Israel from 2008, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the
Jewish state. Includes photos collections (60 years of Israel, and exploring the lives of Jews and Muslims
in the Holy land), and an "Israel in 2068" feature in which "twelve thinkers, writers and statesmen ...
[consider] how Israel will respond to its challenges over the next 60 years." From Time magazine.
Federal
Resources for Educational
Excellence
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