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Memorial Hall Library

Recommended Sites

These sites contain reliable, useful information and are sometimes used by MHL librarians to help answer people's questions. Be sure to also check out our Articles & Databases page, which is full of premium, "for pay" online resources that are free to you as an MHL card holder!

Andover

Andover Recreation

Animals

  • Merck Veterinary Manual: Concise, easy-to-use, comprehensive reference that covers the diversity of species and animal diseases worldwide

Antiques

  • GoAntiques: Online retail and auction marketplace for antiques and collectibles
  • GoAntiques: Online retail and auction marketplace for antiques and collectibles
  • Rubylane.com: Online, curated marketplace for antiques, vintage collectibles, vintage fashion, fine art and jewelry.

Art

  • ArtCyclopedia: indexes thousands of websites (from museums and galleries), with links to around 180,000 artworks by 8,500 renowned artists

Biography

  • Biography.com: more than 25,000 biographies from the A&E television network.
  • Dictionary of World Biography: weaves historical facts with perspective on the subjects and the influence they had on theirs and on modern times
  • Famous people: features the lives of some of the worlds most famous people and greatest achievers.
  • Find a Grave: the final resting places of famous people.
  • Library Spot Biographies: links to popular biography sites and a collection of biographical information

Books

Business

Child Care

Colleges & Universities

Communication

  • FaxZero: Fax up to 3 pages for free.
  • Hello Fax: Send free faxes online (5 page/month limit)

Computers & Technology

  • C|NET: advice for the selection of technology products and services
  • Digital Literacy: government site with tutorials for basic computer skills
  • Digitallearn.org: online instruction for basic computer skills: email, search engines, windows
  • Download.com: a directory of software downloads
  • FaxZero: Fax up to 3 pages for free.
  • GCFLearnFree.org: over 750 online lessons for improving technology, literacy and math skills
  • newegg: compare prices and specs for electronic equipment and supplies
  • Password Security: suggestions to create strong passwords
  • PC Mouse Exercises: an overview of computer mice with links to several mouse-related tutorials
  • Price Watch: lists current prices of computer software and hardware
  • Scam Spotter: Information on common scams and how to evaluate and avoid them
  • Social Media Tutorials: tutorials for Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Skype and more
  • Symantec Security Response: Up-to-date information on virus threats and security warnings
  • TechBoomers.com: A free educational website that teaches older adults and others with basic computer skills how to use popular websites and apps
  • Tom's Hardware Guide: news and reviews of technology, consumer electronics, and gaming
  • Webopedia: an online dictionary for computer and Internet related terms

Consumer

  • Appliance 411: information on appliances from purchase to repair
  • BankRate.com: aggregator of financial rate information for mortages, investments, insurance, and more.
  • Better Business Bureau: Better Business Bureau for eastern Massachusetts
  • Charity Navigator: evaluates charitable organizations in the U.S.
  • Consumer Search: a great one-stop resource for product review information
  • Consumer World: categorizes online consumer resources
  • Consumer.gov: consumer protection basics, plain and simple
  • Customer Service Numbers: for online shopping and email providers
  • eBay: online auctions for new and used items
  • Edmunds: prices and reviews of new and used vehicles
  • FINRA (Financial Industry Regulation Authority): a not-for-profit organization dedicated to investor protection and market integrity
  • 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
  • IdentityTheft.gov: the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims
  • International Code Council: current and historical international building and residential codes
  • Kelly Blue Book: prices and reviews for new and used vehicles
  • Lifeline Program - What Consumers Should Know: Information about a government benefit program that provides eligible low-income consumers a monthly discount on telephone service to help them stay connected to the nation's communications networks, access healthcare services, and call for help
  • Massachusetts Health Connector: The Health Connector is a state-based health insurance Marketplace that makes shopping for affordable health and dental coverage easier for Massachusetts individuals, families, and small businesses
  • NADA: prices and reviews of new and used vehicles and pricing for. recreational vehicles, aircraft, marine vehicles, and manufactured housing
  • National Foundation for Credit Counseling: provides a directory of phone and online debt counselors, details of a credit management plan, etc.
  • Safercar.gov: U.S. government site where you can see safety ratings for tires and airbags, crash test and rollover data and much more
  • Scam Spotter: Information on common scams and how to evaluate and avoid them

Disabilities

Education

Eldercare

  • Elder Services of Merrimack Valley, Inc.: a private non-profit agency serving elders and disabled adults who reside in Northeast Massachusetts
  • MAOA: (Massachusetts Association of Older Americans): enriches the lives of elders through education, advocacy, and action on issues that impact elders
  • Massachusetts Senior Care Association: information and searchable lists of assisted living, skilled nursing, and continuing care retirement communities in Massachusetts

Employment

English as a Second Language

  • USA Learns: Site for adults to improve basic English language skills

Find a Number

Genealogy

Green Living

  • EcoGeek: a blog about various green issues founded, written and edited by Hank Green
  • Energy Efficient Mortgages: Credits your mortage payment for energy efficiency
  • Green Guide: information about practical everyday, environmentally responsible and health-minded product choices and actions
  • Green Living Ideas: sustainable, eco and green living tips
  • TURI - Toxic Reduction Institute: sponsors grant programs to reduce the use of toxic chemicals, energy, and water in businesses; information about toxins

Health

  • AMA Doctor Finder: list of members of the AMA searchable by state and specialty
  • Centers for Disease Control: health topics A-Z with links to statistics sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
  • Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs: information on prescription and generic drugs from Consumer Reports
  • Healthcare Blue Book: a database of fair prices for medical procedures by location
  • Healthfinder.gov: health information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Inner Body: a guide to human anatomy online
  • Lowell General Hospital Web Library: consumer health sites organized by subject
  • Massachusetts Health Connector: The Health Connector is a state-based health insurance Marketplace that makes shopping for affordable health and dental coverage easier for Massachusetts individuals, families, and small businesses
  • 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 Manuals: Professional and consumer versions of one of the world's most widely used medical information resources
  • Merck Veterinary Manual: Concise, easy-to-use, comprehensive reference that covers the diversity of species and animal diseases worldwide
  • National Cancer Institute: comprehensive information on cancer
  • NBCancerResource.org: a comprehensive resource guide to help people living with cancer North of Boston
  • Oncolink: cancer information provided by the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center; includes consumer information causes and prevention information
  • WebMD: provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information

History

Languages

  • Babelfish: free online translation service
  • Duolingo: learn languages completely free, without ads or hidden charges
  • Google translate: translate text, web pages, and documents; more than 40 languages included
  • Learn a Language: Exercises to learn words and phrases

Libraries

Literature

Massachusetts

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

News & Entertainment

Online Education

  • Accredited Online Schools: Directory of U.S. Colleges
  • Coursera: Take the world's best courses, online, for free
  • Digitallearn.org: online instruction for basic computer skills: email, search engines, windows
  • edX: Take great courses from the world's best universities
  • eLearners: online colleges & universities, online degrees and education resources
  • GCFLearnFree.org: over 750 online lessons for improving technology, literacy and math skills
  • Guide To Online Schools: http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/
  • Khan Academy: A free world-class education for anyone anywhere
  • Online Education: colleges, universities, schools, courses and degrees
  • OnlineU.org: directory for U.S. online colleges ranked solely on affordability
  • TechBoomers.com: A free educational website that teaches older adults and others with basic computer skills how to use popular websites and apps
  • USA Learns: Site for adults to improve basic English language skills

Parenting

Recipes

  • All Recipes: includes recipes, menu ideas, meal prep tips
  • America's Test Kitchen: the official website for America's Test Kitchen, including all of their recipes, equipment ratings, taste test results and kitchen tips
  • Cook's Country: an affiliation of America's Test Kitchen with a collection of recipes, reviews and kitchen tips
  • Cooking With Amy: a food blog including recipes, reviews and kitchen tips
  • Cooks Illustrated: the magazine affiliation of America's Test Kitchen
  • epicurious: recipes from Bon Appetit, Gourmet and other magazines
  • Food Network: the website for the television network of the same name. Includes recipes and videos from all of the associated television programs
  • Myrecipes: recipes from Cooking Light, Southern Living, Sunset, and Real Simple

Schools

Science

  • Discovery.com: science from the Discovery Channel
  • How Stuff Works: award-winning source of unbiased, easy-to-understand answers and explanations of how the world actually works
  • NASA: information on space and science
  • NOVA: science information from NOVA
  • Science World: cience World provides charts and explanations of many scientific concepts including astronomy and chemistry
  • Scientific American: Keep abreast of the latest scientific news with Scientific American’s online magazine. Contains dozens of articles on the latest science topics.

Taxes

Time & Money

Travel

  • Bay Circuit Trail: about Bay Circuit Trail
  • Expedia.com: make hotel, airline, and car reservations; vacation packages
  • Google Maps: Maps, directions, distances to your destination
  • Kayak: compare hundreds of travel sites simultaneously
  • Manchester Airport: MHT- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
  • MassPort: BOS - Logan Airport in Boston
  • MassVacation: Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
  • National Park Service: the National Park Service
  • Passports: Passports are no longer available at the Andover Town Hall. Apply for passports at the Post Office on Stevens Street.
  • The C.I.A. World Factbook: Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities
  • Travel New England: links to tourism information in New England including state and national parks
  • 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

Typing

  • Peter's Online Typing Course: Free, online courses geared toward adults who want to learn touch typing.
  • Power Typing: A free site offering lessons on Qwerty and Dvorak keyboards, as well as a variety of games.
  • Typing Club: Use a series of videos and exercises geared toward adults to learn touch typing for free.

U.S. Government

  • Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress: bibliographical information for all senators, representatives, vice presidents, and members of the Congress
  • Census Bureau: United States census data plus links to regional and state census bureaus
  • Code of Federal Regulations: access to the CFR titles
  • Congress.gov: legislative information, including bills, laws and roll call votes
  • Consumer.gov: consumer protection basics, plain and simple
  • Copyright Office: faqs, forms, and publications and copyright laws
  • Federal Register: official daily federal publication for rules, executive orders, and presidential documents
  • FEDSTATS: statistics and information from 70 government agencies
  • IdentityTheft.gov: the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims
  • Kids, Teens, and Money: government resources for kids and teens about online safety, advertising literacy, identity theft and scams
  • The C.I.A. World Factbook: Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities
  • 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
  • USA.gov: the official government gateway to information
  • White House: home pages of the President, Vice President, and First Lady, the Cabinet, both historical and present

Volunteering

  • All for Good: helps you find ways to "do good"
  • Habitat for Humanity: brings people together to build homes, communities and hope
  • Idealist.org: a portal for everyone interested in nonprofit organizations and issues, nonprofit careers, volunteering, events, and resource
  • Volunteer Match: connects people with nonprofits that need volunteers
  • Volunteer.gov: a United States Federal Government portal which lists volunteer opportunities on public lands in the United States

Weather