When Wikipedia Won't Cut It:
25 Online Sources for Reliable, Researched Facts
Published on Thursday February 21 , 2008
By Jessica Hupp
Although Wikipedia is a great
place to find information, it's subject to incomplete citations, biased views,
and inaccuracies. And when you absolutely have to have undisputable facts,
that's just not good enough. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives out
there that can deliver with high quality accuracy, and we've listed 25 of the
best here.
1. Citizendium
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Main_Page
This wiki focuses on credibility, using both the general public and credentialed
experts. It works just like Wikipedia, but better.
2. AmericanFactFinder
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en
This database from the US Census Bureau is a great source for information on
housing, economics, geography and population.
3. The Linguist List
http://www.linguistlist.org/
The Linguist List is home to a peer-reviewed database of language and
language-family information.
4. Intute
http://www.intute.ac.uk/
Created by a network of UK universities and partners, this database is full of
evaluations from subject specialists.
5. Classic Encyclopedia
http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Main_Page
This online encyclopedia is based on the 1911 11th edition of the Encyclopedia
Brittannica. Although quite old, it offers an in-depth look on more than 40,000
items, and it's widely considered to be the best encyclopedias ever written.
6. Virtual Reference Shelf
http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/virtualref.html
This Library of Congress site offers a number of high quality selected web
resources.
7. MedBioWorld
http://www.sciencekomm.at/
Get professional medical and biotechnology information from this resource for
journals, reference tools, databases, and more.
8. Library Spot
http://www.libraryspot.com/
Check out this site for libraries online, a reading room, reference desk, and
more.
9. FactCheck.org
http://www.factcheck.org/
FactCheck.org researches politics and delivers the truth on candidates and more.
10. iTools
http://www.itools.com/research/
Use iTools' research tools to find facts and theories on just about any subject.
11. Browse Topics
http://www.browsetopics.gov/
Maintained by professional librarians, this site links to Federal websites that
offer facts.
12. WWW Virtual Library
http://vlib.org/
Created by Tim Berners-Lee, who also created HTML and the Web, this library uses
experts to compile high quality information.
13. Open Site
http://open-site.org/
Open Site uses volunteer editors to offer a fair, impartial Internet
encyclopedia.
14. CredoReference
http://corp.credoreference.com/
CredoReference aggregates content from some of the best publishers in reference,
offering more than 3 million reference entries.
15. Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/
In the Internet Public Library, you'll find references for nearly every subject
out there.
16. Infoplease
http://www.infoplease.com/
Infoplease offers an entire suite of reference materials, including an atlas,
dictionary, encyclopedia, and almanacs.
17. STAT-USA/Internet
http://www.stat-usa.gov/
This service of the US Department of Commerce offers information on business,
economics, trade, and more.
18. Mathematica
http://library.wolfram.com/
Mathematica, the Wolfram Library Archive, offers research and information on
math, science, and more.
19. Refdesk
http://www.refdesk.com/
Refdesk calls itself the single best resource for facts, and it delivers. Visit
this online reference desk to find facts in their tools, facts-at-a-glance, or
facts search desk.
20. AskOxford
http://www.askoxford.com/
This reference tool from Oxford University Press offers facts and tips on the
English language and more.
21. The Old Farmer's Almanac
http://www.almanac.com/
Whether you're searching for weather, food, gardening, or beyond, you'll find
what you need in this online almanac.
22. eXtension
http://www.extension.org/
The information you'll find on eXtension is objective, research-based, and
credible.
23. FindLaw
http://www.findlaw.com/
This listing of legal resources makes it easy to find cases, codes, references,
and much more.
24. CIA Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
The CIA Factbook offers information on world countries and more.
25. Martindale's: The Reference Desk
http://www.martindalecenter.com/
Find reference material for nearly everything, from medicine to weather.