When you are writing a story or creating an eComic, one of the needed tools is a reference library. A set of resources which allow you to get the information you need to make what you create more real and believable. Everything from interesting facts, to pictures–so you can develop your drawing skills. The following list is such a resource–a little present from me to you, to make your life easier.
Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.):
www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook
The CIA worldwide fact book which has in dept data for over 200 countries around the world.
CNN Student News:
www.cnnfyi.com
U.S. and World News multimedia site created and tailored to the needs of students.
Conversion Tables:
www.convert-me.com
Convert length, area, speed, temperature, etc., into different units and systems.
eLibrary Research:
www.elibrary.com
You can search any topic using a database of current newspapers, magazines, books and more.
Encyclopedia Britannica:
www.britannica.com
Online version of one of the world’s most trusted and complete sources of information on every topic imaginable.
Fact Monster:
www.factmonster.com
Designed for kids of all ages, this site offers an amazing array of facts and figures in addition to homework help, an almanac, dictionary and much more.
Gallup Organization:
www.gallup.com
Search thousands of poll results, special reports, societal trends and social audits.
Hoovers Business Research:
www.hoovers.com
Comprehensive index of over 45,000 leading U.S. provate and public companies.
Information Please Almanac:
www.infoplease.com
Online almanac offering millions of interesting and useful facts on a wide variety of subjects.
Internet Public Library:
www.ipl.org
A collection of over 20,000 titles.
iTools Reasearch:
www.itools.com
A collection of online research tools including dictionaries, translations, quotations and more.
Library of Congress:
www.loc.gov
Easy to use reference catalog for accessing the collections of the Library of Congress.
National Archives:
www.archives.gov
National Archives online directory of U.S. Federal records.
Smithsonian Institution:
www.si.edu
User-friendly site from the world’s largest museum complex and research organization.
U.S. Census Bureau:
www.census.gov
A wealth of basic information about the U.S. broken down on a national, state and local level.
U.S. Department of Labor:
http://stats.bls.gov
Bureau of Labor Statistics site containing current labor statistics and links to hundreds of state and Federal agencies.
U.S. Federal Government:
www.fedstats.gov
Statistical information from over 100 agencies. This was a great resource when researching how to write about the GRR in WANTED:HERO.
