Alcove 9: An Annotated List of Reference Websites

Humanities and Social Sciences (General)

The Internet Public Library
Annotated directory of websites arranged by subject. Each entry gives the compiler (individual or organization), URL and a rating. There are subject categories for the arts and humanities and the social sciences.

Index Translationum (International Bibliography of Translations)
Web version of UNESCO's bibliography of translations, with coverage from 1979 to the present. Users can do fielded searches by original author, translator, title, original and target language, and other search criteria. Subject searching is limited to a few extremely broad categories. Updated quarterly.

Population Index on the Web
Online analog to Population Index (LCCN 39-10247), covering the years 1986 to the present (with subsequent years to come). From the Population Index search screen one can search by author, subject, keyword, or geographic area; results can be limited by date and displayed on brief or full format. Searchers can also browse individual issues of Population Index from 1986 to the present.

Project Gutenberg
Large full-text archive of public domain works in ASCII format, mirrored at a number of sites worldwide. Users can search or browse by author or title (there is no subject index and no full-text search). Files can be viewed as text or downloaded as ZIP files; some files are lengthy and take some time to load for viewing.

The Straight Dope
Access to the full text of the offbeat weekly feature by Cecil Adams going back to March 1994, with generally well-researched answers to some of life's more esoteric reference questions (e.g. "What's the difference between Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes?"), written in Mr. Adams' inimitable sardonic style. There is a Boolean keyword search for archived columns, and also a browseable list.

World Wide Web Virtual Library
Diffuse and wide-ranging site directory organized by subject. Users can browse subjects or search by keyword.