Encyclopedias

• ColumbiaEncyclopedia
• Encarta
• encyclopedia.com

• Information Please Almanac

Atlases and Mapping Tools

• Encarta World Atlas
• Mapquest

Search Engines

• Google
• Ask
• Yahoo

MetaSearch Engines (use multiple search engines simultaneously)

• dogpile
• ixquick

Use these tools to help you choose the best search engine for your search:

• Choose the Best Search Engine for Your Information Need from Noodletools
• Search Engine Showdown By Montana State Univ. Librarian
• Recommended Search Engines from UC Berkeley

Virtual Libraries

• Internet Public Library
• Library Spot
• Librarian's Index to the Internet
• webrary
• FCPL Reference Resources
• Digital Librarian

Subject Directories

Virtual Reference Library (each site includes encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, and more.)

• Bartleby.com
• Encarta.com

Dictionaries and Thesauri

• Merriam-Webster Online (dictionary and thesaurus)
• Encarta Dictionary
• One Look Dictionaries
• RhymeZone
• Thesaurus.com
• Internet Picture Dictionary

Miscellaneous

• Bartlett's Quotations
• Fedstat (statistics from the U.S. Government)
• Statistical Abstract of the United States
• Guiness World Records

Important Libraries

• Fairfax County Public Library
• Library of Congress
• New York Public Library
• Multnomah County Public LIbrary

Great Websites

a direct link to the FCPL subject guide to websites