Reference Links

Internet Reference

Search engines
Meta search tools
Directories
Recommended sites for children
Federal Government information
State of Maine information
Local information
Books & libraries
Newspapers online
Finding information in magazines & newspapers
Getting a free email account
Other useful sites

How do I search the Internet?

Try these when you are looking for a specific item of information or a specific document. The words you enter will be run against a very large database of Web pages that have been gathered by robots or "crawlers". Be sure to use more than one search engine because no search engine covers the entire web. Use the "help" screens that are part of each search engine to get search tips to phrase your search most effectively.

Meta Search Tools

Try these if you are looking for a very small piece of information or a particular web site. They activate multiple search engines with one inquiry from you. This is a lot faster than using search engines one by one, but generally you can do only a basic keyword search. You cannot use sophisticated search syntax such as wildcards or phrase searching to pinpoint your question.

Directories

Use these if you are looking for general information about a subject rather than a specific piece of information. In directories, web sites are reviewed by human beings and put into subject categories. You move from general to narrower categories until you find the level you want. Directories have much smaller databases than search engines but produce more relevant results. Here are some popular directories:

LookSmart
Yahoo
WWW Virtual Library has particularly high quality material because their editors are experts in their fields.

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How do I find Tax Forms or other government information?

IRS forms and publicationsDownload and print the forms you need.
FirstGov.govAccess more than 27 million federal web pages. You can search by keyword, topic or agency.
Maine Tax Forms

State of Maine information

Maine State Government site
Links to dozens of pages for State agencies and information on living in, doing business in and visiting Maine.
Maine Employment Information Guide
For job seekers, employers, students, researchers, and others. Provides data on wages by industry, employment projections, and more.
Waterboro Public Library Maine Resources site
Exemplary compilation of information about and sites relating to Maine, including authors, history, education, travel and more.
Maine Memory Network
A project of the Maine Historical Society that allows you to view historical items and documents.
Help ME Law: Your Maine Legal Help Resource

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Books & libraries

Maine Libraries
Comprehensive listing of websites of Maine libraries
URSUS
The online catalog of the University of Maine system, Bangor Public Library, the Maine State Library, and the Maine Law and Legislative Reference Library
MINERVA Catalog
The new shared catalog of a number of Maine libraries. So far, 35 libraries have joined or have committed to participate. RPL is part of MINERVA.
Library of Congress
The catalog of our nation’s library plus exhibitions plus links to the Copyright Office and the Center for the Book
"Libraries on the Web"
Includes pages for libraries in over 100 countries.
Amazon book sales
One of the big online bookstores. You can search for new releases, books in print and books recently out of print. Read reviews and reader reactions, too.
Bookfinder
A search engine for new, used, rare and out of print books that covers more than 15,000 booksellers and book search services.
AddALL Book Search and Price Comparison
A search engine that compares prices at many online bookstores and lets you choose.

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Newspapers online

Finding information in magazine & newspaper articles

Use MARVEL! Maine's Virtual Library to search for information in thousands of magazines and newspapers. If your search results include the words "full text," you can read and print the whole article immediately! This access is made possible for Maine residents through a cooperative project of the University of Maine system, the Maine State Library and the Maine Technical College system.
If you are searching from home or work or any other computer outside the Library, please follow the instructions under "remote access."

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Where do I go to set up a free email account?

Getting a free email account

Many search engines offer free email accounts that can be accessed from any Internet-connected computer. Drawbacks? You have to view ads, and your site may be so busy sometimes that you can’t reach it. Here are a few popular sites that offer free web-based email. We make no recommendation.

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