Chat Resources

Check out our Delicious Links for our subject-specific resource guides!: http://delicious.com/stacks/askusnow

Crisis Resources

• See the list in the Crisis Guidelines: http://askusnow.info/staff/crisis_guidelines

General Directories

• The IPL2 (IPL + LII): http://ipl.org
• DMOZ Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org
• The Internet Public Library for Kids: http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace
• Kids Click (web search for kids by librarians): http://www.kidsclick.org

• Also check out the QuestionPoint Ready Reference Resources for additional resources: wiki.questionpoint.org/readyref

Dictionaries

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary: http://www.m-w.com
• Cambridge Dictionaries Online: http://dictionary.cambridge.org
• The Urban Dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com

Citation Guides

• USM Libraries Style Help: http://www.lib.usm.edu/help/style_guides.html
• Bedford St. Martin's Citation Guide for online resources: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/citex.html
• Landmarks Citation Machine (for MLA, APA, Chicago, & Turabian): http://citationmachine.net

Federal Government

• First Gov: http://www.firstgov.gov/
• FedStats: http://www.fedstats.gov/
• Census.gov: http://www.census.gov/

For Kids

• Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for kids: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
• FirstGov for kids: http://www.kids.gov/

How To / DIY

• How Stuff Works: http://www.howstuffworks.com/
• Instructables: http://www.instructables.com/
• Home Gardening Info Center from UMD: http://www.hgic.umd.edu/

Homework Help

• Fact Monster: http://www.factmonster.com/index.html
• TIME for Kids, Homework Helper: http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/hh/rr
• FAQ Kids: http://www.faqkids.com/

• National History Day: the rulebook: http://nhd.org

Don't forget that some counties provide tutoring services through Brainfuse!

Math Resources

• Webmath: http://www.webmath.com
• The Math Forum - Ask Dr. Math: http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
• A Math Dictionary for Kids: http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com

Law / Legal

• Maryland's Peoples Law Library: http://www.peoples-law.info/Home/PublicWeb
• Free Legal Help: http://www.peoples-law.org/finding/legal-help/free_help.htm
• Maryland Code and County Codes: http://www.lawlib.state.md.us/sources%20of%20maryland%20laws.htm
• Everybody’s Legal Dictionary: http://www.nolo.com/glossary.cfm
• Find Law.com: http://www.findlaw.com/

Maryland

• The Maryland Community Services Locator Hotlines: http://www.mdcsl.org/avjsc/csl_hotlines.asp
• Maryland Manual: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/html/mmtoc.html
• Who Are Your Elected Officials?: http://www.mdelect.net
• Real Property Data Search: http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite/
• Hotlines (Suicide, Smoking, etc.): http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/healthho.html

Medical / Health

• Medline (from the National Library of Medicine): http://www.medlineplus.gov
• Maryland Health > Go Local: http://www.medlineplus.gov/maryland
• PubMed: http://www.pubmed.gov
• Whole Health MD (alternative medicine): http://www.wholehealthmd.com

Medical / Health For Kids & Teens

• Kids Health (from Nemours): http://kidshealth.org/
• Go Ask Alice (Columbia University's Health Q&A): http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu

Science

• Discovery Science Fair Central: http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral
• Periodic Table of the Elements: http://periodic.lanl.gov/default.htm
• Wild Facts (Animals): http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts

Translation

• Google Translator: http://translate.google.com/

Urban Legends

• Urban Legends Reference Page: http://www.snopes.com/snopes.asp

Pratt / SLRC

The Enoch Pratt Free Library can be a great resource for information and referrals! Materials for patrons can be requested through interlibrary loan from the branch.  They have subject specialists in the following areas:

• African American Department
• Business Center
• Business, Science, Technology and Sports
• Children's Department
• Fiction Department
• Fine Arts and Music
• Grants Collection:  Includes information on foundations and their grants, non-profit management, proposal writing, and general fund raising.
• H. L. Mencken Room
• Humanities Department:  Philosophy, Religion, Language, and Literature
• Job and Career Information Center
• Maryland Department;  This section is dedicated to the history, economics, social conditions, literature and art of Maryland.
• Periodicals Department:   Journals, magazines, and newspapers in print, microfilm and online formats.
• Regional Information Center: This encompasses a wide range of periodicals.
• Sights and Sounds Department:  Audio and Visual Materials
• Social Science and History:  History, genealogy, sociology, political science, education, law, grants, archaeology, geography and maps and women's studies.
• Special Collections Unit:  Historically significant documents, rare books, and ephemera are located here.
• U. S. Government Documents
• Young Adult/Student Express:  This department is the central location for middle and high school student reading and recreation.