Internet Picks: General Reference Sites

Start your Internet search with sites suggested by our Reference Staff

See also: Teen Room Links

Search Engines / Directories / Andover / Andover Recreation / Books / Biography / Business / Child Care / Computers & Technology / Consumer / Disabilities / Education / Education-MA / Employment / Find a Number / Genealogy / Green Living / Health / History / Languages /Legal / Libraries / Literature / Massachusetts & New England / Movies & Music / News & Entertainment / Recipes / Taxes / Time & Money / Travel / U.S. Government / Weather

Search Engines:

• Bing: search results include suggestions for narrowing the search
• Google: simple search strategies with ranked results.
• Internet Public Library:  a virtual library with sites chosen by librarians.
• Yahoo: keyword searching and a hierarchical subject guide.       Back to Top

Andover:

• Andover - Official town home page: information about Andover's government, schools, cultural events, and businesses. 
• Andover Educational Statistics: public and private schools.
• Andover Historic Preservation
• Andover Historical Society: in depth historical information about the town.
• Andover Public Schools: the official homepage of the public schools including school calendars and telephone numbers.
• Andover School District Profile
• Andover Townsman: Andover's local weekly newspaper.

Code of the Town of Andover:  Later revisions and additions available in Town Clerk's Office.

• Commonwealth Communities: information about Andover from state agencies including a town profile and statistics.
• Demographic profile: from the U.S. Census Bureau
• Lawrence Eagle Tribune: Local daily newspaper.    Back to Top

Andover Recreation:

• Andover Trails Committee: maps and guidebooks to the recreational areas of Andover.
• Andover Village Improvement Society (AVIS): reservations open to the public for hiking, birding, and cross country skiing.
• Harold Parker State Forest: lies in Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton and comprises just over 3000 acres.
• Shawsheen River Recreational Map: highlights recreational opportunities in the watershed area.    Back to Top

Biography:

• Biography.com: more than 25,000 biographies from the A&E television network.
• Find a Grave: the final resting places of famous people.    Back to Top

Books:

• Amazon.com: online bookstore featuring reviews of print and out of print titles.
• Barnes and Noble: online bookstore featuring reviews or print and out of print titles.
• Bibliofind: database of 1500 booksellers for used and rare books.
• BookBrowser: guide for avid readers featuring reading lists, book reviews, forthcoming titles, and author information.
• Bookfinder: used and rare book search -- very comprehensive.
• Boston Globe: weekly book reviews for fiction and non fiction
• New York Review of Books: a searchable archive of full text reviews back to 1996.
• New York Times: book reviews from the NYT back to 1981.   Back to Top

Business:

• Annual Reports: free service for annual reports 
• Big Charts: access to interactive charts, quotes, reports and indicators of stocks, mutual funds and market indexes.
• Bonds Online: information on bonds, treasuries, and municipals.
• Europages: a directory of European businesses, searchable by product, company name or business sector.
• Hoover's Online: business information, lists, and links.
• Indeed: find jobs by profession, location, and salary
• Massachusetts Office of Business Development: for help starting, relocating, or expanding a MA business.
• Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce: serves businesses throughout the Valley.
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: publicly traded corporations filings.
• SBA, Small Business Administration: information on publications, loan programs, and local offices of the SBA.
• Thomas.net: (Thomas Register) find manufacturers, distributers, and service providers.
• Yahoo! Finance: info about U.S. and world markets, investment editorials, financial news, etc.   Back to Top

Child Care:

• Child and Family Web Guide: a directory of child development resources sponsored by Tufts Unversity.
• Child Care Circuit: a Massachusetts non-profit that provides child care referrals, training, and support services for parents.
• Massachusetts Office of Child Care: lists all MA licensed child care providers by town.    Back to Top

Computers & Technology:

• C|NET: advice for the selection of technology products and services.
• Download.com: a directory of software downloads.
• Price Watch: lists current prices of computer software and hardware.
• Symantec Security Response: Up-to-date information on virus threats and security warnings.
• Tom's Hardware Guide: news and reviews of technology, consumer electronics, and gaming.
• Webopaedia: an online dictionary for computer and Internet related terms.     Back to Top

Consumer:

• Appliance 411: information on appliances from purchase to repair.
• Better Business Bureau: Better Business Bureau for eastern Massachusetts.
• Charity Navigator: evaluates charitable organizations in the U.S.
• Consumer World: categorizes online consumer resources
• Customer Service Numbers: for online shopping and email providers.
• Edmunds: prices and reviews of new and used vehicles.
• GuideStar: information on nonprofit organizations.
• Household Products Database: information on the chemical ingredients in common household products; sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Kelly Blue Book: prices and reviews for new and used vehicles.
• NADA: prices and reviews of new and used vehicles and pricing for. recreational vehicles, aircraft, marine vehicles, and manufactured housing.   Back to Top

Disabilities:

• Andover Commission on Disability: volunteers appointed by the Board of Selectmen to advocate for disability issues in Andover.
• Disability.gov: programs, resources, and laws the enable  people with disabilities lead productive lives.
• Microsoft Accessibility: customization of Microsoft products to enhance use.
• Massachusetts Office on Disability: advances legal rights, supportive services, accommodations and accessibility for citizens with disabilities.     Back to Top

Education:

• American Universities: a list of colleges and universities in the U.S.
• 50 States Certification Requirements: teacher licensing information; job listings.
• Educator's Reference Desk: lesson plans, full text journal articles, and educational materials.
• Federal School Aid: FASFA information
• Federal School Code List: list of unique codes of schools for Title IV Federal student aid programs.
• Financial Aid InfoCenter: Guide to scholarships and fellowships.
• Universities, Colleges & Trade Schools: Search for trade schools by subject and location    Back to Top

Education - Massachusetts

• MassMentor: tool to help students select, apply to, and determine financial aid for colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts Department of Education: includes information on MCAS and teacher certification tests.
• Massachusetts School District Profiles
• MCAS- Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System: includes sample tests and school district results.     Back to Top

Employment:

• America's Job Bank: sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, includes and state employment agencies.
• BostonWorks: Boston Globe's online listings of job openings.
• CareerPath: find careers that match you skills and expertise
• Chronicle of Higher Education: job listings in the field of education.
• FedWorld Federal Job Announcement Search: abstracts of federal government jobs listed by state.
• MA Division of Employment and Training: find a job; file a claim; get training.
• MA JobQuest: sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development.
• New England Employer: databank of jobs in New England.
• Opportunity Knocks: database of jobs with nonprofit organizations.   Back to Top

Find a Number:

• Currency Converter: currency exchange rates worldwide for 1990 to the present.
• Calendar Zone: comprehensive calendar catalog: celestial, cultural, historic, holidays, religious.

  Customer Service Numbers: for online shopping and email providers.

  Internet 800 Directory: a directory for toll free telephone numbers.

  • Nationwide Tollfree Directory:
• Statistical Abstract: National Data Book from the Census Bureau.
• Statistics Online: statistical information sponsored by the University of Michigan.
• Switchboard: phone and address search for both residential and businesses.
• ZIP Code Lookup: sponsored by the United States Postal Service.
• World Clock: current times for cities worldwide.     Back to Top

Genealogy:

• American Family Immigration History Center: information for immigrants who entered the U.S. through Ellis Island.
• Cyndi's List: categorized and cross-reference index to genealogical resources.
• FamilySearch: a free site sponsored by the Church of the Latter-Day Saints.
• Geni: create a family tree.
• Lawrence History Center: historical documents and artifacts for Lawrence from the 19th century to the present.
• Massachusetts Historical Society: lists holdings, policies, and publications; links to New England sites.
• Massachusetts Special Collections, Archives, and Manuscripts Directory: a guide and locator of collections in Massachusetts libraries, archives, historical societies, and town clerk's offices.
• MassCat: a library catalog of holdings of Massachusetts museums, historical societies, and special libraries; includes the American Textile Museum and Lowell National Park.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society: collects, preserves, and interprets resources in genealogy, family histories, and local histories.
• Northeast Massachusetts Digital Library: includes digitized documents of the Essex County Heritage Online Exhibit (ECHOES) and the Town Images Indexing Project; also digital collections of selected institutions in the northeast.
• RootsWeb: links to online genealogy resources, including passenger lists.
• Social Security Death Index (SSDI): searchable database of created from Social Security Administration payment records.     Back to Top

Green Living

• Encyclopedia of Earth: articles about the earth, its natural environments and their interaction with society.

• TURI - Toxic Reduction Institute: sponsors grant programs to reduce the use of toxic chemicals, energy, and water in businesses; information about toxins.

Health:

• Centers for Disease Control: . health topics A-Z with links to statistics sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
  
  Drug Reports - Consumer Reports reviews of the effectiveness, safety, and cost.
• Go Local Massachusetts: local medical services and a physician search; site is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
• Healthfinder.gov: health information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Human Anatomy Online:
• Lowell General Hospital Web Library: consumer health sites organized by subject.
• Massachusetts Physician Profiles: information about the education and training of licensed physicians in Massachusetts
• Mayo Clinic: consumer health resource maintained by the Mayo Clinic .
• Medlineplus.com: health information from the National Library of Medicine.
• Merck Manual Home Edition: medical information the layperson
• Oncolink: cancer information provided by the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center; includes consumer information causes and prevention information.
• Physician Select: list of members of the AMA searchable by state and specialty.
• Back to Top

History (American):

• American Memory from the Library of Congress: sound and image recordings, photographs, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience.
• History Channel: search by keyword or time period for historical events or topics; includes a "this day in history".
• History Net: access to 8 historical magazines including, America's Civil War, Aviation History, World War II and the Wild West.
• National Archives and Records Administration: Congressional records, the Federal Register, and historic documents.
• Back to Top

• Languages:

• LiveMocha: Online language lessons for over 50 languages.  Back to Top

Legal:

• FindLaw.com: includes legal information for the layman and a lawyer search.
• Martindale Hubble Directory : search for law firms and individual lawyers.
• Massachusetts Jury Service: respond to your jury summons
• Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries: Massachusetts legal information; Ask A Librarian.     Back to Top

Libraries:

• Internet Public Library: a list of web sites chosen and evaluated by librarians.
• Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners official website: link to Massachusetts library resources, including public, academic, and special library catalogs.
• Merrimack Valley Library Consortium: links to libraries in MVLC
• Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System: Andover is the Reference Center for NMRLS
• Public Libraries: Includes public, state, presidential, national, college, law libraries.
• Talking Books from the Perkins School for the Blind      Back to Top

Literature:

• Bartleby.com: quotations, thesaurus, verse, literary e-books, English usage etc.
• Literary Criticism: from Internet Public Library     Back to Top

Massachusetts:

• 50 States--MA: basic facts about the Bay State
• Boston Magazine's Lists of "Best of..": doctors, lawyers, schools, where to live, etc.
• Boston.com: the Boston Globe's homepage & links to news of New England.
• Central Register:
• Citizen's Guide to State Services: information about state services, agencies, and contact points.
• Commonwealth Communities: information on the 351 cities and towns in MA.
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts: access to Massachusetts government information services.
• Department of Transportation: renew your license or registration, locate the closest Registry; find information about traffic tickets and traffic laws.
• Essex County Registry of Deeds (Northern District): all land transactions in Northern Essex County library dating back to 1869.
  
  Goods and Services Bulletin:
• Massachusetts Legislators: arranged by town    Back to Top

Movies & Music:

• All Music: reviews and rates recordings of all types of music; artist biographies and discographies.
• Billboard.com: reviews of CDs and concerts; previews of upcoming releases; current chart information.
• Historic America Sheet Music: A collection of 19th and early 20th century American sheet music.
• Internet Movie Database: movie information, including actors and directors and writers.
• Leo's Lyrics: contains over 120,000 song lyrics.
• Ultimate Band List: biographies and discographies with links to fan pages and concert information.
• Video ETA: tells you when recent films are due out on video.    Back to Top

News & Entertainment:

• Crazy About TV: episode titles, original air dates, cast lists, plot descriptions and trivia.
• Entertainment in Massachusetts: things to do; where to stay; restaurants and venues with food; travel information.
• Google news: current news including world, U.S. business, and Sports topics

Recipes:

• All Recipes: includes recipes, menu ideas, meal prep tips.
• Myrecipes: recipes from Cooking Light, Southern Living, Sunset, and Real Simple.
• Cook's Thesaurus: a cooking encyclopedia that covers both ingredients and kitchen tools.     Back to Top

Taxes:

• Massachusetts Department of Revenue: Forms and publications for  Massachusetts.
• Internal Revenue Service: forms and publications for federal tax returns.
• State Tax Forms: Links to state tax web sites and state tax forms.     Back to Top

Time & Money:

• Currency Converter: exchange rates for currencies, from January 1990 to the present.
• Calendar Zone: celestial, cultural, historic, and religious calendars.
• World Clock: current local times around the world
•      Back to Top

Travel:

• Expedia.com: make hotel, airline, and car reservations; vacation packages.
• Google Maps: Maps, directions, distances to your destination.
• GORP: Outdoor recreation and travel information.
• Manchester Airport: MHT- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
• MassPort: BOS - Logan Airport in Boston
• PARKNET: the National Park Service
• Travelocity.com: make hotel, airline, and car reservations; vacation packages.
• U.S. Department of State: international travel information.
• Virtual Cities: bed and breakfast, vacation rentals, small inns .      Back to Top

U.S. Government:

• Census Bureau: United States census data plus links to regional and state census bureaus.
• Code of Federal Regulations: access to the CFR titles.
• Copyright Office: faqs, forms, and publications and copyright laws.
• FEDSTATS: statistics and information from 70 government agencies.
• FedForms: forms for the government agencies.
• Federal Register: official daily  federal publication for rules, executive orders, and presidential documents,
• USA.gov: the official government gateway to information.
• Statistical Abstract: statistics from social, political, and economic government agencies.
• THOMAS: legislative information, including bills, laws and roll call votes.
• U.S. House of Representatives: send a message to your Representatives; information on pending bills or laws.
• U.S. Senate: find your Senators, listings of committees.
• White House: home pages of the President, Vice President, and First Lady, the Cabinet, both historical and present.

Weather:

• Intellicast: USA and World weather reports.
• Boston Weather: National Weather Bureau's Boston field office.
• National Weather Service: weather reports for the nation.
• Wunderground: current weather conditions, five day forecasts daily historical weather information from 1994.     Back to Top