In this digital age, reference librarians sometimes use the internet to answer questions. As with print sources, it is important to know where to look for quality information. With millions of web pages out there, we have to be selective. So, how do we know which sites to choose? I think we all have our favorites for certain types of information. I always go to MedlinePlus.gov first when I get a health question, and often use FoodNetwork.com or Epicurious.com for recipes. What other sources are good? PC Magazine recently published two lists: the Top 100 Classic Websites and the Top 100 Undiscovered Websites. Both offer suggestions for a variety of topics, such as: Info, Reference, and Search; Health and Food; Lifestyle and Entertainment; Money and Career; Music; News, Politics, and Government; Reading; Shopping, Classifieds, and Travel; Tech: Download and DIY; Tech: Gaming; Tech: Hardware News and Blogs; Tech: Software and Internet Blogs; Video; Web Apps.
A couple of interesting sites on the Undiscovered list include:
The World's Healthiest Foods--information about the way food affects health
Menupages--information and menus for numerous restaurants in Boston and other large cities
Librivox--FREE public-domain audiobooks
PrezVid--a blog that tracks the Presidential campaign via YouTube
Hard to Find 800 Numbers--an alphabetical listing of companies' 800 numbers
Roadside America--quirky landmarks throughout the US
And, from the Classic list:
How Stuff Works--explains how everything really works
Nolo--legal documents and advice; we have some of their publications in the library
Bloomberg.com--for financial news
Internet Movie Database--information on movies and televisions shows, and another one of my favorites
The Onion--a news spoof; you can find some Onion books in the library as well
USA.gov--a portal for government information
The fun does not stop here. Take a look at the lists, and you will find many more informational and entertaining sites. If you find any of them particularly helpful or have a favorite "go to" website, let me know by leaving a comment below.