We’ve selected a few of the best ready reference websites to help you quickly find answers and research on your own. If you need more or different information sources please stop by or call the library. Our librarians and staff are here to help!
Animals & Wildlife | Automotive | Books & Literary Links | Business & Investment | Colorado | Consumer Protection | Current Events & News | Dictionaries & Directories | Education & Career | Entertainment & Media | Forms & Legal Research | Genealogy | Government Services | Health | History Archives | Home & Product Information | Homework – Kids | Multi-Subject | Recreation | Travel | Volunteer & Donate | Western History | Writing & Self Publishing
Multi-Subject Collections
- ALA Great Websites for Kids
- Information Please
- Library of Congress
- RUSA Best Free Websites
- Rutgers University Websites Reference Guide
- Ted Talks (Ideas Worth Spreading)
- Diigo – More! Jumpstart your research on any topic with websites recommended by Colorado librarians. Type in a tag word like health or art and hit Enter. Some tags are two words and need to be typed inside quotes like “western history.” Start a new search by clicking CoLibraries (top left) to clear the field and enter a different tag.
Animals & Wildlife
- Animals & Wildlife Websites
- Aquarium Fish News and Information
- ASPCA Pet Care
- Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- Biology Resources Online
- National Wildlife Refuge System
- Ocean Animal Encyclopedia
- San Diego Zoo Animals & Habitats
- WhatBird
Books & Literary Links
- Book Summaries and Study Guides
- Colorado Authors’ League
- Internet Sources for Free eBooks and eMedia
- Masterpiece Archive
- MobileRead Wiki for Readers and Developers
Business & Investment
- BRASS Business Guides
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BusinessUSA.gov
- Motley Fool Investment Guide
- New York Times Business News
- Practical Money Skills for Life
- SBA Business Guides by Industry
- Thomas Register of American Manufacturers (ThomasNet)
Colorado Business Resources
- Colorado.gov Doing Business in Colorado
- Colorado Business Resource Book
- Colorado Labor Laws
- Colorado Manufacturers Directory
- Division of Professions and Occupations Regulations/Licensing
- Key Industries Profiles and Fact Sheets
- Starting a Nonprofit Organization in Colorado
- Successful Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Colorado Resources
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Natural Resources
- Department of Regulatory Agencies
- Judicial Branch
- State Publications Library
- Colorado Historic Architecture & Engineering Guides
- Colorado Talking Book Library for audio, Braille, and large-print materials
- Colorado Virtual Library
- PlantTalk & Colorado Plant Database
Consumer Information
Automotive
- Car Care Aware
- CDC Motor Vehicle Safety and Injury Prevention
- Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
- EPA Fuel Economy Guide
- Kelley Blue Book Pricing Reports and Reviews
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Consumer Protection
Forms & Legal Resources
- Colorado Courts Self Help and Forms
- Colorado Legal Services
- Copyright and Fair Use Overview
- FindLaw Cases and Codes
- Free Legal Forms
- Legal Information Institute Legal Encyclopedia
- Nolo Free Legal Articles & FAQs
Government Services & Benefits
- Colorado Crisis Service and 24/7 Hotline
- Colorado PEAK for Health and Food Assistance
- DisasterAssistance.gov
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- USDA Food and Nutrition Services
Home & Product Information
- CNET Technology Reviews
- Colorado State University Extension Service
- ConsumerSearch Buying Guides, Reviews, and Rankings
- DIY Network How-to Guides and Expert Advice
- RepairClinic Troubleshooting and How-to Repair Guides
Current Events & News
- Chalkbeat Colorado Education News
- Colorado Newspapers
- Google News
- New York Times
- Pew Research Center
- Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues
- The Guardian
Dictionaries & Directories
- Eggcorns Database (amusing misspellings)
- Language Toolbox
- Literary Vocabulary
- Merriam Webster Visual Dictionary
- OneAcross Crossword Puzzle Help
- Phrase Finder Meanings and Origins
- Rhyming Dictionary
- Rutgers Directories Listings Guide
Education & Career
- College & Career Websites
- CareerOneStop
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Coursera Online Classes for Free
- Federal Student Aid
- The Riley Guide for Job Search & Career Exploration
Entertainment & Media
- Academy Awards Database
- AllMusic
- Archive of American Television
- Common Sense Media
- Filmsite Greatest and Best in Cinematic History
- Rolling Stone Magazine
Genealogy & Western History
Genealogy
- Auraria Library Genealogy Survival Kit
- Cyndi’s List – Comprehensive Guide to Genealogical Websites
- Denver Public Library Genealogy, African American & Western History
- Ellis Island Passenger Search
- Family Search
- Getting Started in Genealogy Tutorial
- National Archives Resources for Genealogists
Western History
- Center for Colorado and the West at Auraria Library
- Colorado Experience Documentaries
- Colorado GenWeb Project
- Denver Public Library Western History Resources
- Museums and Historic Sites
Health
- Connect for Health Colorado
- Kidshealth.org for Parents, Kids, and Teens
- Mayo Clinic Health Information and Symptom Checker
- MedlinePlus Drugs, Supplements, and Herbal Information
- Men’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Directory of Health Organizations
History Archives
- Ad*Access Advertising and Marketing
- Cinema, Broadcasting & Sound Magazines (1904-1963)
- The Food Timeline
- Hearth Home Economics (‘Browse’ for the journal list)
- Historic American Sheet Music
- Internet Archive of Books, Movies, Music, Images, and Software
- Library of Congress Featured Digital Collections
- Prelinger Advertising, Educational and Industrial Films
- Sports Reference Collections
Recreation
- Bicycle Colorado Community Maps
- Colorado Birding Trails
- Colorado Family Attractions with Kids
- Colorado Festivals & Events
- Colorado Fishing Network
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Colorado Travel and Visitors Guide
- Colorado-Wyoming Museum Guide
- EveryTrail Hiking Colorado (and Beyond)
- Fishing in Colorado
- 14ers.com
- National Park Service
Science & Technology
- How Stuff Works
- Pew Research Center Internet, Science & Tech
- Public Library of Science (PLOS)
- Science Daily
Travel
- Colorado Department of Transportation
- COTrip Traveller and Traffic Information
- Lonely Planet Travel Guide
- Travel and Transportation Resource Guide
- U.S. Department of State Travel Information
Volunteer & Donate
- Charity Navigator
- Idealist Directory of Volunteer Opportunities
- Literacy Coalition of Colorado
- Volunteer Match
- Volunteers of America Colorado
Writing & Self Publishing
- Colorado Independent Publishers Association
- How to Evaluate Resources
- New Pages
- Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
- Teen Ink
- Writer’s Digest
- Writer’s Web (University of Richmond)