Reference


 

General (links to many reference sources): 

    Bartleby.com  (includes Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (1901), Simpson's 
    Contemporary Quotations (1988), Strunk's Elements of Style (1918), The 
    American  Heritage Book of English Usage (1996), The Columbia Encyclopedia 
    (2000), and Emily Post's Etiquette (1922), as well as verse anthologies and 
    volumes of  verse, fiction and nonfiction.)

    Internet Public Library
    A "virtual public library" which includes a Reference Center with an annotated, searchable directory of Ready Reference Internet Resources and a section of "Pathfinders" to aid in doing research on a particular topic, both online and at the library.

    Library Spot
    The main pages of the site offer access to Internet sites for:  1) Libraries - libraries of all types - academic, film, government, medical, etc.;  2)Reference - sources for acronyms, almanacs, associations, biographies, current events, dictionaries, directories, grammar, style, etc.; and 3) the Reading Room - book reviews, literary criticism, newspapers, magazines, and speeches.  Also presents links to digital collections of original documents, and "full-text classics" for downloading complete texts.

    Refdesk.com
    A searchable collection of links to reference sources of all types. 


 

Ready Reference: 


 

Statistics/Demography Resources: 

    Data on the Net (University of California at San Diego)
    Offers data libraries and data catalogs, as well as more general sources for social
    science research.  Keyword searchable.

    Fedstats
    Central repository for statistical material made available by over 70 agencies
    within the federal government.  Offers a search engine and a section "Fast Facts,"
    which provides the latest economic and social indicator statistics.  Entire contents 
    of  the "Statistical Abstract of the United States" can be viewed with Adobe 
    Acrobat reader.

    Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System
    Offers access to crime information month by month, including statistics for town,
    counties, regions, colleges, and the state.  Also presents the annual Pennsylvania
    StateUniform Crime Report for the Commonwealth.

    Population Reference Bureau
    Offers a variety of research findings related to population trends and directions.
    Also provides a strong collection of links to other population and demography sites,
    including "Data Web Sites" for the 50 states, which include population data and
    information about the economy, life styles, resources, and the environment.

    PSC Library: Resources on the Web
    Provides links to demographic resources on the web compiled by the Population 
    Studies Center at the University of Michigan.  Links are arranged by both subject
    and format in the form of a grid. 

    Statistical Resources on the Web (University of Michigan Documents Center)
    Links with annotations are arranged into broad categories, such as "Agriculture," 
    "Business and Industry," "Consumers," and "Housing."   Offers good coverage of 
    international statistical data.  Also features data on hard-to-find topics such as 
    telecommunications, the Internet, and science. 


 

Library Research/Writing and Study Guides: 


 

Citation Guides: 


 

Copyright Information:

United States Copyright Law:

    United States (U.S.) Copyright Office (Library of Congress)
    Compiled by the office within the government that handles copyright and is located at the Library of Congress.  Provides a wealth of information about copyright and copyright registrations and search services-- how to register a work for copyright purposes and how to search to see if a work is copyrighted.

    Title 17, U.S. Code
    This site links to the text of the basic copyright law, Title 17 of the United States Code, and includes all amendments enacted through the end of the second session of the 107th Congress in 2002.  The copyright law is contained in chapters 1 through 8 and 10 through 12.  Published by the U.S. Copyright Office, the site offers the full text of the law as well as clickable links to individual chapters and amendments.

    Copyright Legislation (New Pending Legislation)
    Presents links to the texts of this year's bills concerning copyright which are before the current Congress.  The site is part of the U.S. Copyright website.

    When Works Pass Into the Public Domain
    This  useful chart was created by Laura Gasaway, a librarian, lawyer, and copyright expert from the University of North Carolina..  The chart  shows when a copyrighted work goes into the public domain.
     

Tutorials and Guides:

    Copyright Basics (U.S. Copyright Office)
    A basic primer on copyright - what it is, who can claim it, what works are protected, how to secure copyright, how long copyright protection lasts, how to register copyright, etc.

    Copyright Quickguide (Indiana and Purdue Universities)
    Compiled by the director of the universities' Copyright Management Center, Kenneth D. Crews, the site is a brief guide to copyright basics with clickable links to specific topics.

    Crash Course in Copyright (University of Texas)
    Aimed primarily toward faculty, this site presents a "syllabus" with clickable links to topics of interest, such as creating multimedia and online presentations.  Also offers a tutorial on the copyright basics, "especially in the distance learning context."  The site is authored by Georgia K. Harper, manager of the Intellectual Property Section of the Office of General Counsel,  University of Texas.

    Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia
    These are guidelines developed during the Conference on Fair Use (CONFU) held in the mid-1990s.  While not officially approved, these guidelines stand as a "safe harbor' for those wishing to use multimedia in educatonal settings.

    Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians (U.S. Copyright Office)
    This is a guide for teachers and librarians on the fair use and photocopying provisions of the copyright law.  It presents "basic information on some of the most important legislative provisions and other documents dealing with reproduction by librarians and educators."

    A Visit to Copyright Bay (University of St. Francis)
    Explores copyright and fair use in the not-for-profit educational setting, presenting information in an entertaining way.  Aimed at teachers to enable them to apply fair use practices in the classroom.  Within the "Fair Use Harbor," you can click on "Audio Visual Lagoon," "Multimedia Wharf," "Cove of Multiple Copies," etc. 

    Washington State University: Copyright
    This site presents copyright law as it applies to higher education. Sections include: "What Copyright  Protects," "What Copyright Does Not Protect," "How Copyright Protects," "Public Domain and Duration of Copyrights," "Music and Copyright," "Internet and Copyright," "Library and Copyright," "Public Domain Chart," and "Public Domain Resources."

Digital Copyright/Distance Education:

    Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998
    This is the full text of the law.  Its purpose was to update the Copyright Act for the digital environment and conform U.S. law to the requirements of New World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties negotiated in Geneva in 1996.  The main provisions of the bill are:  new prohibitions on circumvention of protection technologies; limitations on online service provider liability; updating the preservation provision of the Copyright Act; and charging the Register of Copyrights with reporting to Congress on how to promote distance education through digital technologies.

    An Education in (C)opyright Law: A Primer for Cyberspace
    This article, written by Dr. Robert N. Diotalevi, Program Coordinator, Legal Studies, Florida Gulf Coast University, gives an overview of copyright law, including the Digital Millenium Copyright Act and the TEACH Act of 2002.  The article appeared in the March 2003 issue of "Library and Information Science Research Electronic Journal."

    The TEACH Act (Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act) 
    Text of the law which dates from November 2, 2002, as it appears within the "Teach Toolkit" web site.  The law redefines the terms and conditions on which educational institutions may use copyright-protected materials in distance education.

    TEACH Act - Amended Section 110 (2)
    Laura Gasaway, a librarian, lawyer, and copyright expert from the University of North Carolina, has created this chart which compares the old Section 110 (2) with the new Section 110 (2) of the TEACH Act.

    New Copyright Law for Distance Education: The Meaning and Importance of the TEACH Act
    Analysis of the TEACH Act written for the American Library Association by Kenneth Crews, Professor of Law, Director, Copyright Center, Indiana University School of Law.

    The TEACH Act Finally Becomes Law
    This article, written by Georgia K. Harper, manager of the Intellectual Property  Section of the Office of the General Counsel, University of Texas, explores the scope of the Act and its expanded rights for educators.

    The Teach Toolkit: An Online Resource for Understanding Copyright and Distance Education
    This site offers information on the TEACH Act -- its content, guidelines, a checklist for users of the Act, details on TEACH and fair use, and when digitization can be done under the Act.  This website is a joint project of the North Carolina State University Libraries, the Office of Legal Affairs, and DELTA (Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications)


 

Plagiarism Resources: 

Student Resources on Plagiarism:

    Academic Integrity at Princeton:  Examples of Plagiarism
    Offers examples of plagiarism.  Other areas of the site discuss and demonstrate 
    correct citations and use of sources.  

    Avoiding Plagiarism (The Writing Place, Northwestern University)
    This site offers tips for avoiding accidental plagiarism and gives examples of acceptable paraphrasing to put ideas in one's own words.  Links to another area of the website with extensive information on plagiarism compiled by Professor Jean Smith of The Writing Program at Northwestern.  She gives guidelines on proper attribution, and numerous examples of properly cited and paraphrased information, as well as examples of plagiarism and insufficiently acknowledged sources.

    The Cite is Right
    A plagiarism tutorial for students in the format of a game show, "The Cite is Right!" On the website of the Paul Robeson Library, Rutgers, Camden.

    Modern Language Association (MLA) Statement on Plagiarism
    This MLA statement, which is posted on the website of Capital Community College
    Library, Hartford, Connecticut, defines plagiarism.  It also gives examples of plagiarism, and an instance where sources are used and credited properly. Penalties for plagiarism are also discussed.

    Plagiarism Avoided: Taking Responsibility for Your Work
    An online "booklet" for students compiled by the Faculty of Arts, Univeristy of British
    Columbia, Canada.  The site offers a definition of plagiarism, examples, and tips on
    avoiding plagiarism.

    Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It
    Writing Tutorial Services at Indiana University defines plagiarism, gives examples  of acceptable and unacceptable paraphrasing, offers strategies for avoiding  plagiarism and defines "common knowledge" -- facts which are generally known  and which do not need documentation. 

    VAIL (Virtual Academic Integrity Laboratory - University of Maryland)
    This "Resource for Academic Integrity in the 21st Century Classroom" offers a
    section for students on how to avoid plagiarism.  The site is published by
    University College of the University of Maryland.

Resources for Educators:  General Sites on Plagiarism: 

    Anti-Plagiarism Strategies for Research Papers
    Written by Robert Harris of Vanguard University of Southern California, this essay
    offers sections:  Strategies of Awareness, Strategies of Prevention, and Strategies of Detection.  Includes information on searching for a paper online, and presents links to commercial, fee-based  plagiarism detection services.

    Internet Paper Mills
    The Kimbel Library at Coastal Carolina University, Conway , SC, has compiled these links to paper mill sites which offer term papers and essays to students. The list is intended to make faculty aware of the sites that are available to students. The site also contains a warning to students that if they turn in one of the papers at the sites, they are plagiarizing. 

    Plagiarism and Anti-Plagiarism
    An essay by Professor Heyward Ehrlich, English Department, Rutgers, presents a discussion of the topic, including sections on "The instructor's dilemma" and "The solution:  possible countermeasures."  Includes links to websites "for detecting and fighting plagiarism."

    Plagiarism in Colleges in USA
    A comprehensive article on plagiarism, particularly from a legal perspective, written
    by Dr. Ronald B. Standler, attorney.  Includes a definition of plagiarism, an examination of the law and legal cases involving plagiarism, offers suggestions for setting policy, and gives advice and links for detecting plagiarism. 

    Plagiarism Prevention Web Page
    Compiled by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, this website defines copyright and plagiarism, suggests steps for dissuading plagiarism, and gives information on investigating and identifying plagiarism in student papers.  Links to a number of paper mills, and offers links to websites on fighting plagiarism. 

    VAIL (Virtual Academic Integrity Laboratory - University of Maryland)
    This "Resource for Academic Integrity in the 21st Century Classroom" offers a section for faculty and administrators on how to provide strategies for reducing cheating, how to detect plagiarism.

Resources for Educators:   



Placement Test Preparation:


 

Maps:

    Atlases:

    Atlapedia
    Offers political and physical maps for geographical regions through its World Maps interface; key country facts and statistical information through the Countries A-Z interface, and school resources for teachers and students through the Class Resources interface.

    Color Landform Atlas of the United States
    For each state there is a color shaded relief map, a black and white relief map, a map outlining county boundaries, a satellite image, a detailed state map from 1895, a postscript map, and maps broken down by geographic region within the state.     

    National Atlas of the United States
    Allows users to display, manipulate and query the data to produce printable maps based on subject matters of interest to them. Also offers interactive and multimedia maps.

    UN Atlas of the Oceans
    Contains topography, relief, marine environment, maritime boundaries, marine geology and geophysics, oceanic resource, and sea transportation maps. Also presents a wealth of other information on fishing, transportation, waste disposal, environmental impact, issues of governance, human health, and information on oceanic origins, ecology, dynamics, and monitoring.

    Comprehensive Maps:.

    Perry-Casteneda Library Map Collection
    Offers maps of current and political interest, such as the HIV/AIDS world map, and Israel, Macedonia, etc.  Also presents maps of all areas of the world and the U.S., and historical maps.

    TerraServer
    Maps and aerial photographic images, primarily of the U.S., but also of the world.

    Historical Maps:

    Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections
    Contains information on U.S. presidential elections from 1789 to 2000.  Allows searching by both primary and general election results by year and state, and comparison of maps made for general election results between the years 1824 and 2000.

    David Rumsey Map Collection
    The bulk of this collection is 18th and 19th century maps from the Americas. Contains over 7,000 maps which can be searched by country, state, publication author, keyword and data field.

    The Library of Congress Map Collection: 1500-2002
    This online collection is a small portion of the 4.5 million items in the library's Geography and Map Division. Arranged in 7 categories: cities and towns, conservation and the environment, cultural landscapes, military battles and campaigns, discovery and exploration, transportation and communication, and general map resources.

    University of Georgia: Rare Map Collection
    Contains maps dating from the mid-1500s and is arranged in the categories: New World, Colonial America, Revolutionary America, Revolutionary Georgia, Union and Expansion, American Civil War, Frontier to New South, Savannah and the Coast, and Transportation.

    Road Maps and Travel Resources:

    ATM Locator
    If you type in an address, you can find the nearest ATM (automatic teller machine) anywhere in the world.

    Excite Maps
    Maps and information on cities and countries around the world.

    Expedia Maps
    Maps for addresses in the U.S., driving directions for North America, and locations of places around the world.

    MapQuest
    Maps and information for the U.S., only.


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