Webpage Finder
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| INFOMINE http://infomine.ucr.edu/ |
University of California at Riverside | Index of scholarly/academic world wide web sites. Includes resources for instructors. |
| Librarian's Index to the Internet http://lii.org/ |
Library of California | Index of world wide web sites selected and maintained by librarians. |
| Internet Public Library www.ipl.org |
University of Michigan's School of Information | Index of world wide web sites selected and maintained by librarians. |
| Science.gov http://science.gov |
U.S. Governmental agencies | Gateway to authoritative science information provided by U.S. governmental agencies, including research and development. |
| Search engines: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| KartOO http://www.kartoo.com |
KartOO | Visual meta search engine which displays results in the form of an interactive map. Uses Flash. |
| Google www.google.com |
Google, Inc | Fast search engine, clean interface. Options include a web directory (for hand-selected vs. computer selected sites) and an image search function. |
| Ask www.ask.com |
IAC Search and Media | Search engine that recognizes queries posted as questions. Has an image search function. |
| Ready Reference sites: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Occupational Outlook Handbook | Bureau of Labor Statistics | Nationally recognized source of career information which tells you working conditions, required education and training, earnings, etc. |
| Statistical resources on the Web | University of Michigan Library Documents Center | Online guide to statistical sources for major topic areas. A search box, an alphabetical index, and a site map all make it easy to find websites on any subject. |
| refdesk.com |
Bob Drudge and volunteer staff | Drop-down menu that allows you to search dictionaries, thesauri, and other ready reference type sources. |
| Bartleby.com |
Bartleby, Inc. | Full text classic reference sources from the Columbia Gazetteer to Grey's Anatomy and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. |
| Martindale's 'The Reference Desk' | Jim Martindale | Extensive site with different "centers" and sections to explore. |
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Merck Veterinary Manual | Merck & Co., Inc. | Animal health reference tool that is searchable by topic, species, specialty, disease or keyword. |
| AGRICOLA | National Agricultural Library | Searchable database of citations for articles on agriculture topics. |
| AgEcon Search | University of Minnesota | Database of scholarly research in agricultural and applied economics. Includes reference sources, stats, trade and commodity info, full-text journal articles, etc. |
| Agripedia | University of Kentucky | Encyclopedia of agricultural terms, online agriculture lessons, and source for more ag links. |
| USGS- Water Resources | U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey | Data, maps, glossary and publications about water resources. Gives info by state and by topic. |
| AgNews | Texas A&M, College Station | Provides region-specific agriculture information. |
| U.S. Department of Agriculture | U.S. Federal Government | Info on food, natural resources, agriculture, rural development, etc. |
| House Committee on Agriculture | U.S. House of Representatives | Schedule of upcoming hearings, press releases, pending legislation, glossary, and bill lookup link. |
| Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry | U.S. Senate | Schedule of hearings, press releases, legislation, committee information |
| Texas Department of Agriculture | State of Texas | Source for regulations and state-sponsored programs. |
| National PLANTS Database | U.S. Department of Agriculture | Plant names, distributional data, characteristics, images, crop info and more. |
| Texas Farm Bureau | Texas Farm Bureau | State specific agriculture news. |
For a list of databases to search for Agriculture articles, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| ArtLex Art Dictionary | Michael Delahunt | Definitions of art terms, along with illustrations, quotations, pronunciation notes, and links to other web resources. |
| Timeline of Art History | Metropolitan Museum of Art | Art History info organized by date and region. |
| Artcyclopedia | Artcyclopedia, Inc. | Searchable database of artists, works of art, and museums. |
| Art History Resources on the Web | Sweet Briar College | Portal site organized by geography and period. |
| LACMA Collections Online | Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Explore thousands of pieces of artwork by type, subject, artist, region, or historical period. |
| Ceramics Today | Steven Goldate | Thumbnails of artists' works, feature articles, links A-Z, gallery, newsletter, etc. |
| Lubbock Arts Alliance | Lubbock Arts Alliance (non-profit) | Local gallery information and a local directory of artists. |
| Figure-drawing LAB | University of Evansville | Figure drawing tutorial. |
| TypeBase | Donald Roos & Robert-Jan van Noort | Library of web links for all aspects of type and its relation to the design industry. |
| SPC Commercial Art Program | SPC Commercial Art Program | Links to student projects, course materials and web resources. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Art topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence | National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) | ASE certification information, downloadable test catalogs, and career information. |
| Automotive Service Association | Automotive Service Association (ASA) | Info on related current legislation, automotive tips, employment listings, links to other automotive sites. |
| Association of Diesel Specialists | Association of Diesel Specialists | Parts Finder search engine, sponsored programs and events information. |
| Kelley Blue Book | Kelley Blue Book | New and used vehicle data for consumers, reviews and ratings, shopping advice and industry information. |
| Autoshop101 | Kevin Sullivan | Technical articles, free online tutorials, ASE practice tests, automotive links, etc. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Automotive Technology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Behavioral Sciences Resources | SPC Behavioral Sciences Department | A list of links chosen by the department. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Behavioral Science topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Biology
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Public Library of Science (PLoS) | Non-profit organization of scientists and physicians | Freely accessible peer-reviewed online research. |
| Animal Diversity Web | University of Michigan Museum of Zoology | Database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology. |
| The Biology Project | University of Arizona | In-depth information and links for topics such as biochemistry, cell biology, and human biology. |
| Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) | Partnership of US, Canadian and Mexican agencies. Also Species 2000 and Global Biodiversity Information Facility | Taxonomic info on plants, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. |
| Tree of Life Web Project | Collaborative effort of biologists from around the world. | Information and photographs about the diversity of organisms, their evolutionary history and their characteristics. |
| Entomology index of internet resources | John VanDyk at Iowa State | Entries arranged by content type, biological taxonomy, and entomological sub-discipline. Has video, audio and images. |
| Texas Parks and Wildlife | State of Texas | Info on state wildlife areas, fishing, game control, and conservation programs. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Biology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Business and Accounting
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | Federal Government | Information about this regulatory agency, online forms, investor information. |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) | Council of Better Business Bureaus | Review general consumer information and news, locate local BBB, check out companies, and submit complaints online. |
| Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center | Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center | Business start-up checklist. Information about local workshops. List of links. |
| Value Line Investment Survey | Value Line | Stock and company information. |
| Hoover's Online | Hoover's, Inc. | Company and industry information. |
| Morningstar.com | Morningstar, Inc. | Stock and mutual fund information. Some free reports require establishment of user name and password. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Business and Accounting topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| General Chemistry Online |
Fred Senese - Chemistry department at Frostburg State University |
Common compound library, tutorials, glossary, and links. |
| WebElements |
Mark Winter - WebElements Ltd and University of Sheffield, England |
Periodic table links to a page of "essential" information on each element, with links for further research. |
| American Chemical Society Publications Online | ACS | Use search function for citations to articles in ACS publications |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Chemistry topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Communication
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche Journal | Local news and information. |
| American Rhetoric: the Power of Oratory in the United States | Dr. Michael Eidenmuller of the University of Texas at Tyler | Index to more than 5000 full-text audio and video versions of public speeches and a searchable database of the 100 most significant American political speeches. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Communication topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Computers
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| NetLingo | Erin Jansen | Dictionary of internet terms, acronyms, text messaging, emoticons and smileys. |
| Glossary of Internet Terms | Matise Enzer | Definitions for both technical and slang internet terms and acronyms. |
| CompInfo | Comp-Info | Info on a wide variety of computer topics from hardware and software to e-publishing and networks. |
| CNET.com | CNET Networks, Inc. | Product reviews, employment links. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Computer topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Cosmetologists | Texas Dept. of Licensing & Regulation | Licensing information, FAQs, laws, forms, etc. |
| National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology | NIC, Inc. | Info on testing. Links to state board sites and other related cosmetology associations. |
| Milady Hot Links | Delmar Publications | Links to associations, companies, and online publications. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Cosmetology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Texas Attorney General | Office of the Attorney General | County, state and federal information and links |
| Texas Department of Public Safety | Texas Department of Public Safety | Crime records service, driver license and online services, general info about DPS, employment, etc. |
| National Criminal Justice Reference Service | U.S. Department of Justice | Clearinghouse for information about criminal justice and law enforcement. Contains abstracts on research reports, journal articles, books, government publications, etc. |
| Bureau of Justice Statistics | U.S. Department of Justice | Stats on crimes and victims, criminal offenders, special topics, and the justice system. |
| Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics | Bureau of Justice Statistics | Tables on statistical information in PDF format, organized into categories. |
| FSU School of Criminology & Criminal Justice | Florida State University and Cecil Greek | Extensive directory of links to criminal justice topics on the Internet. Schematic diagram of CJ processing hyperlinked to each step. |
| Official Directory of State Patrol and State Police | Retired Senior Sergeant Terrance D. Martin | Links to patrol or police sites in all 50 states. |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation | U.S. Federal government | FBI home page which includes facts and figures, history, statistics, reports, etc. |
| Interpol | Interpol | Information on international crime, including drugs, terrorism, weapons, kidnapping. |
| Legal Information Institute (LII) | Cornell University Law School | Resources include recent and historic U.S. Supreme Court decisions, access to all U.S. state statute and constitution, text of the Code of Federal Regulations and the U.S. Code, as well as bills pending in state legislatures. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| AIM Manufacturing Video and Virtual Factory Tours | Stanford University-Alliance for Innovative Manufacturing | Shows how over 40 different products are made and the processes involved in their manufacture. |
| GDL Alliance | GDL Alliance | Discussion forum, tutorials, examples. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Drafting Technology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Education
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| ERIC-Education Resources Information Center | U.S. Department of Education | Database of education literature. |
| National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) | U.S. Department of Education | Statistical information and reports about various aspects of education at all levels in the United States. |
| Educator's Reference Desk | Information Institute of Syracuse | Resource guides, Lesson plans, Q&As to education theory, practice and research, and links to educational resources & organizations. |
| Education World | Education World, Inc. | Search engine for educational websites, lesson plans, site reviews, employment listings, etc. |
| Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators | Kathleen Schrock | List of websites useful for enhancing curriculum and professional growth. Also has sites for teaching and learning. |
| Web English Teacher | Carla Beard | Resources include children's literature reviews, ESL materials, grammar and critical thinking tools. |
| What to Expect Your First Year of Teaching | U.S. Department of Education | Online booklet contains advice from veteran teachers, brief history of education, and a checklist of what to expect. (archived information) |
| Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM) | GEM Exchange | Provides descriptions of over 40,000 educational resources found on various federal, state, university, non-profit, and commercial internet sites. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Education topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| IEEE Virtual Museum | IEEE History Center with ScienCentral, Inc. | Eight exhibits, each with history, photos, and animation. Links to related people, events and technology are available for in-depth study. |
| Nuts and Volts | Nuts and Volts Magazine | Online electronics publication. |
| Silicon Sam's Technology Resource | Samuel M. Goldwasser of Drexel University | Compilation of online documents devoted to electronics repair. |
| Scots Guide to Electronics | Jim Lesurf from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland | Clear explanations of basic electronic components and processes. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Electronics Technology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Engineering
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| National Academy of Engineering | National Academy of Sciences | Links to national associations for various engineering fields, engineering publications and news. |
| Structurae | Nicolas Jansberg -Dept. of Civil Engineering at Princeton University | Database and gallery of structures. |
| ThomasNet | Thomas Industrial Network | Resource for industrial information, products, services, CAD drawings, etc. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Engineering topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Internet Public Library - Literary Criticism Collection | School of Information, University of Michigan | Critical and biographical websites about authors and their works. Brows by author, title, or by nationality and literary period. |
| Literary Resources on the Net | Jack Lynch Rutgers University |
Collection of links organized by literary period or movement. |
| VoS - Voice of the Shuttle | Alan Liu of the English department at University of California, Santa Barbara | Links to humanities and humanities-related resources on the Internet. |
| Academy of American Poets | The Academy of American Poets | Offers hundreds of essays and interviews about poetry, biographies of more than 500 poets, over 1,700 poems, and audio clips of 100 poems. |
| Favorite Poem Project | Poetry Society of America | Full text of some favorite poems and video coverage on individuals explaining their choices. |
| Project Bartleby | Bartleby.com, Inc. | Books online - reference, verse, fiction and non-fiction |
| Project Gutenburg | Michael Hart | Free electronic books - older literary works that are in the public domain. |
| The Literature Network | JALIC | Commercial site with a plethora of full text literary primary sources. |
| OWL- Online Writing Lab | Purdue University | Handouts and information on writing. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on English topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Fire Technology
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Texas Commission on Fire Protection | EBSCOhost | Employment links, information on standards and certifications. |
| NFPA Online | National Fire Protection Association | Codes, professional development information, public education tools. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Fire Technology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Foreign Language
Web site:
Sponsor:
What you'll get:
Casa de Joanna: Language Learning Resources
Joanna Porvin in association with Michigan State
Spanish, French, general language and art resources.
AllWords.com
AllSites.com, Inc.
English dictionary with multi-lingual search functions.
Yupi
Microsoft
Spanish language version of Yahoo.
For a list of databases to search for articles on Foreign Language topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Health Sciences
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Merck Manual | Merck & Company, Inc. | Contains the full-text online version of The Merck Manual Home Edition |
| NLM Gateway | National Library of Medicine | Entrance to the resources of the National Library of Medicine. |
| National Guideline Clearinghouse | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) | Searchable database for evidence-based clinical guidelines in medical and related fields. |
| BioMed Central | BioMed Central Ltd | Over 150 open access journals covering areas of biology and medicine. |
| Free Medical Journals Site | AmedeoGroup | Links to approximately 1000 medical journals which are available on the Internet in full-text for free. Journals are listed by title and by specialty. |
| Healthfinder | U.S. Federal Government | Health information for consumers. Features alternative interfaces for kids and in Spanish. |
| MedlinePlus Health Information | U.S. National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health | Health topics, drug information, medical encyclopedia, dictionary and other resources. |
| HON | Health On the Net Foundation | Portal to web based medical information. Medical documents and articles, reports, surveys and images. |
| Martindale's "Virtual" Medical Center | Jim Martindale | Links to tutorials, images, journals, medical videos, etc. |
| LUMEN Learn Them | John A. McNulty, Ph.D. and Michael F. Dauzvardis, Ph.D. of Loyola University Medical Education Network | Learn and test yourself on bones, muscles, nerves, arteries, nerves, etc. |
| Texas Dept. of State Health Services | DSHS | Reference center with regional health bulletins, license information, and birth/death records. |
| AMA | American Medical Association | Current health news, publication links, online medical library, doctor finder. |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Dept. of Health and Human Services | A-to-Z index of health info, technical publications, and current news. |
| Food and Nutrition Information Center | U.S. Department of Agriculture | Primary search headings include "Topics A-Z," "Food Composition," "Dietary Guidelines," and "Consumer Corner" |
| Nursing World | American Nurses Association | Code of Ethics, nursing news. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Health Sciences topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers | ASHRAE, Inc. | Employment links, student section, online journals and handbooks. |
| Air Conditioning Contractors of America | ACCA | News, conference information. |
| HVAC and Refrigeration News Online | Refrige.com | Articles, interviews, training, books, etc. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
History and Government
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| The National Archives | National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) | Important legal and historical documents. |
| Library of Congress: American Memory | Library of Congress | Multimedia web site of digitized historical documents, photographs, sound recordings, moving pictures, books, pamphlets, maps, etc. |
| American President | University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs | Resource on the history and function of the American Presidency. Other sections include Presidency in History and Presidency in Action. |
| In the First Person | Alexander Street Press | Index to letters, diaries, oral histories and personal narratives that are freely available on the web. |
| Best of History Web Sites | Thomas Daacord | Portal to over 1000 history-related web sites |
| World History: HyperHistory Online | Andreas Nothiger | Graphic chart of timelines and lifelines covering politics, religion, culture, science, etc. |
| CARL Digital Library | Combined Arms Research Library | Electronic collection of military documents, photographs, diaries, theses, manuals, etc. |
| The Vietnam Project | Texas Tech University | Documents, photographs, slides, audio and moving image recordings, and oral histories. |
| FirstGov | U.S. Federal Government | Gateway to government information. |
| GPO Access | U.S. Government Printing Office | Portal to government agencies. |
| Thomas | Library of Congress | Information on federal legislature. |
| United States Senate | U.S. Federal Government | Senators, committees, legislation, art & history, and reference section |
| U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. Federal Government | Representatives, committees, legislative and schedule info, etc. |
| Supreme Court Historical Society | Supreme Court Historical Society | History of the court, how it works, publications, etc. |
| Texas State Historical Association Online | TSHA & University of Texas at Austin | Texas history day by day, quizzes, Texas Handbook online. |
| State and Local Government on the Net | Piper Resources | Links to state agencies and city and county governments. |
| More Texas Links | SPC Library | Census links and other interesting Texas facts. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on History and Government topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Precision Machined Products Association | PMPA | News, history, employment leads. |
| Precision Metalforming Association | PMA Education Foundation | News and information on education and occupations from educators and students. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Machinist Trades topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Mathematics
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Math Nerds | Math Nerds, associated with Lamar University | Answers to math questions on all levels from elementary problems to differential equations. |
| Math World | Wolfram Research, Inc. | Math news and math information indexed by subject. |
| Mathematical Functions | Wolfram Research | Database of functions arranged into broad categories and searchable by keyword. |
| Math Forum | Drexel University | Features include Ask Dr. Math, Discussion Groups, Newsletter, Problems of the Week. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Mathematics topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Worldwide Internet Music Resources | Indiana University | Organized collection of links. Nice list of music technology links. |
| American Music Resource | University of N. Carolina Greensboro | Database of information on all styles of music indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. |
| allmusic | Publishers of All Music Guide books | Covers everything from classical music to garage rock. Personal names, biographies, albums, reviews, etc. |
| International Bluegrass Music Association | IBMA | About Bluegrass section gives brief history and links to online publications. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Music topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Office Technology
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| NALS...the association for legal professionals | NALS | Online learning center, links to other resources. |
| Secretarial Site | Secretarialsite.com | Commercial site with useful information for office professionals included employment links, typing tests, tips and tricks. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Office Technology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| USA Track & Field | USATF | Events coverage, Hall of Fame information, statistics. |
| American College of Sports Medicine | ACSM Foundation | Features a variety of health and fitness topics and brochures in PDF format. |
| A World of Sport Information | SIRC (a Canadian company) | Information on sports played around the world from archery to yachting. |
| Scholarly Sports Sites | University of Calgary | Subject directory of websites for the serious sports researcher, kinesiology librarian, sport information specialist, college/university student and faculty. |
| Sport! Science | Exploratorium | Explains scientific connections to sports, such as the physics behind a curve ball. |
| Sports and Nutrition | University of Illinois Extension | Contents in four sections: Don't let your diet let you down, The pre-game meal planner, Keeping energy levels up, and Keeping fluid levels up. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Physical Education topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Sound Technology
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Tape Op | Larry Crane & John Baccigaluppi | Tape Op magazine articles and archives, links to various recording resources, etc. |
| Record Production | Johnny Jaskot | Videos of producers and studios, equipment, news and jobs. |
| Recording Website | Robert Dennis | Glossary, tip of the week, articles and archives. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Sound Technology topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Internet Broadway Database | League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. | Records of productions from beginning of New York theatre until today. Details include pertinent people, interesting facts and production statistics. |
| The Internet Movie Database | IMDb, Inc. | Huge collection of movie information including who was in it, who made it, and trivia about it. |
| Movie Review Query Engine (MRQE) | Stewart M. Clamen | Database of links to online reviews drawn from hundreds of sources including newspapers, magazines and fan sites. |
| Metacritic | CNET | Reviews from critics and publications for film, video, music, and television. |
| Playbill | Playbill | Commercial site with links to information on costumes, acting, specialty theatres, and electronics and sound. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Theatre Arts topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
| Web site: | Sponsor: | What you'll get: |
| Metal Web News | Metal Web News | News, links, info on various welding techniques and other metal working topics such as blacksmithing and metal fabrication.. |
| American Welding Society | AWS | Industry news, employment links, safety information, scholarships. |
For a list of databases to search for articles on Welding topics, check the SPC Library Database Finder.
Evaluating Web Pages:
Information whether on the web, in a book, or from some other source, is always suspect. Information is never completely reliable nor completely unreliable, rather it lies on a continuum. Anything produced by humans is of course subject to human error. There are tricks to distinguishing more reliable from less reliable sources.
1. Who sponsors the link? Is it a research institute, a university, a reputable company or is it hard to tell? Is there a mailing address and phone number on the site? Is it a commercial company, an educational institution, government agency or a non-profit organization?
2. What is the purpose of the site? Is it to share information, make a profit, gain attention, entertain? Does the site say where it obtained its information?
3. What is the extension of the web address? Web addresses that end with .com are usually given to commercial companies. An address that ends with .gov indicates a government agency. An address that ends with .edu is used for colleges and universities. When evaluating .edu sites, try to determine if the author of that page is a professor or researcher or a student.
Want to learn more? If you are new to web surfing or just interested in improving your skills, check out Module 5 of SmartStarts, a tutorial created by SPC Library staff.
Updated 4/30/09 - Report broken links to ref@southplainscollege.edu
