Favorite Free Reference Sites
Posted by: Jessica Moyer
As I was working this morning on editing a new book about genre fiction (Integrated Advisory Services from Libraries Unlimited in 2010) I was repeatedly visiting my three favorite reference websites; Amazon.com for publication dates and title checks, Kent District Library’s What’s Next for series information, and IMDB.com for movie and TV information.
Amazon its a goldmine for book and publication information that’s quick and easy to search. Worldcat (www.worldcat.org) might have more details but at least for me, it always seems to take longer to search and dig through the results and it is much less forgiving of spelling errors and slightly off titles.
For series information nothing beats Kent District Library’s What’s Next website. Simple, clean, and easy to use, it’s a definitive source for series information that is easily accessible to all readers, patrons, and library staff. Searchable by author, title, series, character or even genre it’s hard not to find what you’re looking for.
Lastly is the Internet Movie Database. Around since the early days of the internet, there is no better free source for tv and movie information. Trying to remember which mystery authors were writing for the TV show The Wire? Just look up the show page and click on the creators link for a full list.
What are your favorite free websites? The ones you just couldn’t last an hour at the desk without?
PS – the authors are Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos .
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 am
As a law librarian, I love http://thomas.loc.gov/ and http://www.gpoaccess.gov/CFR/INDEX.HTML
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Thanks for the suggestions, those are great sites!
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
It’s not a bibliographic website, but the free version of Hoover’s – http://www.hoovers.com/free/ – has great company information. It lists executives, financial information, competitors – lots of great stuff for people who have directory or other company based questions.
September 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I use the Owl @ Purdue site, http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ , constantly. I used it as an undergrad, as a teacher, and now as a grad student and a librarian.