Desk Reference Books provide quick access to general information on general topics.
Encyclopedias provide quick access to specific information on specific topics.
The purpose of Encyclopedias and Desk References is to provide information without having to go out to the Library.
For those who are physically- limited and visionally- impaired traditional printed book Desk References, Encyclopedias, and Library locations, are useless without the ability to be quickly -and- electronically accessed.
Here are some of the best, [in our opinion], Online Computer Accessible Desktop E-Text Reference Sources.
They are a representative sample of everything available in E-Text: Libraries, Collections, Individual Items, Documents, Records, Journals, Periodicals, Papers, Magazines, and Cyer- Neighborhood News- Stands.
Also included are the Technology Sources for the Tools to assist you in the Internet's Cyber Menagerie.
When you discover an Online Information Source that is: [1.] Interesting, [2.] Usefull, and [3.] accessible ... Put It Here, we will Post It Here.
THE MAGNUM OPUS GIGANTEAN COLLECTION:
General And Technical.
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS:
Some places are so BIG, they are HUGE, and then there is The Library Of Congress !
The columns are marble, the headings are classic Latin, and the Stacks go on forever.
This is the century old national home of everything in printed text.
Their conversion to electronic text media is barely current.
Past accumulations are hopelessly years behind.
So great is the flow, against the accumulation of information, that the majority of historical printed texts will turn to dust before they are ever electronically duplicated.
A "Biblio-Tech" can spend a Lifetime -Lost- Here, or you can get a job as a Librarian.
Since there are no electronic Librarians, fortunately Library Search Engines and Tools are provided.
Home Page:
http://www.loc.gov/
National Library Service For The Blind And Physically Handicapped
Welcome to the Library of Congress page on the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS).
NLS administers a free library program of braille and recorded materials circulated to eligible borrowers through a network of cooperating libraries:
Library of Congress Catalog Search:
The "Braille and Audio" section of this catalog for recorded books available to eligible readers from LBPH.
These catalogs also lists braille materials, as well as cassettes available from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/nls/nls.html
Web-Blind:
Search the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped's catalog using a form.
Most users find it easier to search than the above.
Dial-in users may want to consult the instructions for using Web-BLND with lynx.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/nls/web-blnd/bph.html
"Caroline":
Search the Electronic Information Network's online catalog for our large print books.
http://192.204.3.11:8019/opener.html
Global Library and Information Science Resources:
A Library Of Congress Internet Resource Page:
General Resources | National Libraries | State Libraries | School Library Resources |
Library Home Pages | Online Catalogs | Research & Reference | Technical Services |
Special Collections | Digital Libraries | Professional Organizations | Library and Information
Science Schools | Professional Journals | Library Vendors
http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/library/library.html
Electronic Texts and Publishing Resources:
A Library Of Congress Internet Resource Page:
General | Electronic Texts: Single Titles and Collections | Works by Specific Authors |
Government and Legal Documents | Poetry sites | Etext Newsletters | Commercial
Electronic Booksellers | Electronic Publishers and Publishing |
http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/etext/etext.html
FEATURED COLLECTIONS:
General And Technical.
[POST YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES HERE]:
[REPORT "DEAD" LINKS HERE].
adaptoid@teleport.com
RECORDINGS FOR THE BLIND AND DYSLEXIC [RFB&D]:
The Nation's Education Library for People With Print Disabilities.
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic Inc. is a national nonprofit organization that serves its' membership constituents who cannot read standard print because of a visual, perceptual, or other physical disability.
RFB&D is recognized as the nation's leading educational lending library of academic and professional textbooks on audio tape from elementary through post-graduate and professional levels.
They offer the nonprofit sale of dictionaries, reference materials and professional books on computer disk E-Text and specially adapted tape players/recorders to use with their audio books.
RFB&D's service is made possible by the contributions received from it's membership, generous donors, including individuals, corporations, foundations, government agencies and the 4,500 professionally trained volunteers, who produce audio and E-Text books in RFB&D's 30 nationwide recording studios.
The RFB&D Home Page:
http://www.rfbd.org/
Becoming a Member:
http://www.rfbd.org/offmember.html
The RFB&D's OnLine Catalog Of Books
A Search Engine:
http://www.rfbd.org/
Online Reference Librarian:
Phone: (609)520-8031
Email to: reference@rfbd.org.
Catalog Products Prices:
Emai to: custserv@rfbd.org
CAMERA OBSCURA:
Online Reference Library, Etext Archives, Electronic Reading Rooms, News, and Literature.
This web site is a diversified and virtual representation of a Main Branch Library complete with Reading Rooms and classic Latin Headings.
The only things missing are the over-stuffed chairs, library cards, late fees, and librarians.
http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/index.html
CATHY'S NEWSTAND:
International and Internet, press and periodicals, papers and magazines.
It's all here !
You will find most of everything here that is around -the- corner at any neighborhood Newstand.
Except for the soda fountain, old men, cigar smoke, and plain brown wrapped magazines !
http://www2.cdepot.net/~mist/newslink.htm
CONTENTS OF INDEX LIBRORUM LIBERORUM:
Don't let the Latin fool you. Librorum Liberorum Index is the web presence FTP- Site of John Walker.
The FTP directory is organised as a collection of subdirectories, each containing a separate package or class of files [ie: electronic texts of public domain works, short documents, etc.].
The directories and their contents are briefly listed, followed by detailed descriptions of each.
After the summary brief notes point out recently added or updated items.
FTP Sites are like the hidden corners of the Library Stacks.
Overview:
http://www.fourmilab.ch/#overview
New and Improved:
http://www.fourmilab.ch/#new
Detailed Descriptions:
http://www.fourmilab.ch/#detailed
By Topic:
http://www.fourmilab.ch/#byTopic
EMPOWERMENT ZONE:
The Empowerment Zone is the personal Home Page and web presence of Jamal Mazrui.
An eclectic collection of E-Text References. Covering a wide, and diversified, range of topics and subjects.
Which goes beyond the usual compendium of disablity -and- disabled related resources.
From academic to how -to- application, you will find reference sources for subjects and topics dealing with
personal improvement and human development, independent living and technical skills, human relationships
and sexuality, physical and emotional health, politic and policy, action and activism, government and governance.
This is a representative collection for the diversified education of man.
http://www.empowermentzone.com/
The Emplowerment Zone Home Index Page is featured here at: e-power2.htm
Quick Desktop Reference Sources:
[POST YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES HERE]:
[REPORT "DEAD" LINKS HERE].
adaptoid@teleport.com
Internet Public Library
Electric Library
Internet Research Pointer
The Michigan Electronic Library
Encyclopedia Britanica
General Reference
Web Central: Reference Sites
Dictionaries
German - English On-line Dictionary
Language Dictionaries and Translators
Hypertext Webster Interface (Dictionary)
Dictionaries
Librarian's Guide
H. W. Wilson: Rettig on Reference Intro
Ready Reference Using the Internet
Noonan Guide to Internet Libraries
Inter-Links
Virtual Reference Desk (U of Calif-Irvine)
Gazetteer
U.S. Gazetteer
U.S. Geography Names Database
How Far is it?
Maps On Us: A Map, Route and Yellow Pages Service
DeLorme's CyberRouter
Research-It!
Merck Manual
FindOut
Technical References:
E-Texts And Tools.
[POST YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES HERE]:
[REPORT "DEAD" LlINKS HERE]:
adaptoid@teleport.com
OPERA 3.0 LOW VISION WEB BROWSER WITH MAGNIFICATION:
From Norway cames the Opera Browser.
Opera has both unique and adaptive features, as a self- contained Low Vision web browser with internal Image Magnification [1x to 1000x].
"User Defined Custom" screen image control: color, font, presentation and placement, to enhance low vision viewing.
Full on/ off control over multi media: graphics and frames, JAVA scripts and applications, audio/ video plugs and applications.
Control pannels can be custom configured by size and shape: tool bar or blocks, buttons or text, active or hidden tagging and drop menues, as well as complexity and user ability.
The point -and- click mouse becomes an option, and not a necessity, due to Opera's full keyboard- access- interface for the physically disabled.
Opera is a "speech friendly" application for many text -to- speech, screen readers and synthesizers for the blind.
With Opera, there is no further need for additional screen magnification.
From this one program, Opera's customability allows the creation of several browsers.
Each tailored to the individual needs and abilities of several users.
Opera can be "custom" configured to the diverse needs of home and family [parents and children], age and ability [children through senior adults].
Unique versitility in multi -user- environments: business and community [schools, libraries, education, institutions, commerce and office].
Both online and offline, Opera can be used as a "user- friendly" front -end- control for CD-Rom, kiosks, and presentantions.
Opera is written to be Fast Loading and Operating with MS Windows 3.1+ and 95+.
Opera operates with older and slower PCs 386, 486, and Pentium+.
Currently available in multi-lingual formats English, Swedish, German, Spanish, and Norwegian.
Opera is a browser for the general and adaptive consumer market.
Opera is affordable and available for download.
Opera 3.0 web site:
http://www.operasoftware.com
Opera Norway web site:
http://traviata.nta.no/opera.htm
MICROSOFT TECHNICAL MANUALS ONLINE:
Microsoft Product Manuals are now available at The Microsoft Web Site.
Until now these e-text manuals were distributed through Recordings For The Blind And Dyslexic [RFB&D].
Many of the product manuals that Microsoft has distributed through RFB&D are now available to the general public directly from the Microsoft web site.
Microsoft intends to include electronic accessible documentation with every product, either on the product CD-Rom or for download over the Internet.
Their goal is to make the standard electronic documentation fully accessible, so there is no need for a special version, no delays, and no extra cost for customers with low -to- no vision.
Download Microsoft Product Documentation at:
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/docs.htm
HAWAII EDUCATION LITERACY PROJECT READ -TO- ME:
Read -To- Me is a Web Browser Text -To- Speech Utility developed by the Hawaii Education Literacy Project.
A non-profit organization devoted to promoting literacy by making the reading of electronic text an easier and more pleasurable experience.
The use of their first effort, ReadToMe, a Windows [3.1+ and 95] based reading tool for Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer, is Free of charge.
A collection of 482 individual books, may be automatically downloaded and
read aloud after the book’s title has been selected from the pull-down index above the reading window.
Read -To- Me will recognize and read aloud the following text file extensions: .txt .doc .html and .bok.
Speech adjusted by with menu, including English or Hawaiian syntax.
Download Read -To- Me at:
http://www.pixi.com/~reader1/index.html
For Technical Assistance Email to Mr. Fred Moore:
bookstor@lava.net
Hawaii Education Literacy Project
PO Box 230
Honolulu, HI 96810-0230
PLEASE COPY THIS DISK PROJECT: Scan Service
And Internet- On- A- Disk.
The B&R Samizdat Express is a small book publishing company which sells public domain and freely available electronic texts on IBM and Macintosh diskettes.
Mainly classic works of literature and government documents.
Please note that this is a large [text based] web site, and some internal links "load- from- the top".
Give them time to start. Web site traffic can be heavey. Give it time to load.
Please Copy This Disk:
Out-of-print books
Classic works of literature and history
Government documents
Texts retrieved from the Internet [custom] on-demand
Books for the blind [plain text ASCII, speech accessible]
The Please Copy This Disk Online Catalog:
http://www.samizdat.com/catalog.html
What's new:
http://www.samizdat.com/new.html
How to order:
http://www.samizdat.com/howto.html
To receive the current catalog list by email:
samizdat@samizdat.com
and request catalog.txt.
Internet-On-A-Disk:
Since January 1994, the B&R Samizdat Express has published Internet-On-A-Disk, a FREE electronic newsletter.
Internet-on-a-Disk points people to the best sites for electronic texts on the Internet and discusses related issues.
The newsletter now has a direct email circulation of nearly 9,000, and an estimated readership of over 100,000.
It is reposted on numerous gophers and LISTSERVs, and is frequently cited as one of the best education and blind resources.
Internet-On-A-Disk takes particular interest E-Texts and the needs of individuals dependent upon text -to- speech screen reader synthesizers applications.
To receive the Internet-on-a-Disk newsletter for FREE send email to:
samizdat@samizdat.com and request a subscription.
Back issues of Internet-On-A-Disk are posted at:
http://www.samizdat.com/#ioad
For more information:
http://www.samizdat.com/who.html
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE COLLECTION:
Welcome to the Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE, where we build digital collections and services while providing information and support to others doing the same.
We are sponsored by The Library, UC Berkeley and Sun Microsystems, Inc. Home of the American Heritage Project ,and the Digital Library.
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/siteindex.html
THE DIGITAL LIBRARY PROJECT:
Program Description: Program participants are provided with an account on the SunSITE (Sun SPARCcenter 2000E) from which they can set up and manage their project.
Any resource requirement above a basic threshold is negotiable based upon the need and the use to which it will be put.
Digital Librarians are encouraged to setup and maintain Web pages as appropriate to provide access to their work, both ongoing and completed.
The Digital Library Project Tools Description:
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Admin/librarians.html#Description
The Librarian's Internet Index Search Engine:
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/searchindex?query=etexts&searchtype=all
RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH PRINT DISABILITIES:
This is the Home Page of Elizabeth Hamilton [Author, Academic Educator, and Librarian].
Serving people with print disabilities: vision impairments, dyslexia and learning disabilities.
Dealing with the issues of "access" and accessible technology.
http://w3.one.net/~hamilte/disab/
EASI GUIDE TO ADAPTIVE COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY:
Easi Street To Science, Engineering And Mathematics.
Purpose: Now that computers are a standard part of both educational programs and the workplace,
most people are required to use them on a daily basis. This is especially true in technical
fields such as science, engineering and mathematics. The focus of this manual is to look at
adaptive computing technology and information access as ways to provide access to
educational programs and the workplace, especially in science, engineering and
mathematics. The first part of the manual focuses on general adaptive computing
technology as a foundation for access, and the second part focuses on isues that are unique
to the science, engineering and mathematics fields.
http://www.isc.rit.edu/~easi/easisem/handbk1.html
Techno-Society And Philosophy References.
[POST YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES HERE]:
[REPORT "DEAD" LINKS HERE].
adaptoid@teleport.com
THACKER'S WORLD MYTH:
Electronic Texts: The following are some links directly to texts on the net (essays, theory, fiction, etc) related evolving cyber technology topics.
http://erebus.rutgers.edu/~maldoror/myth/etexts.html
Literature Sources:
Online, E-Text, Tape, And CD-Rom.
[POST YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES HERE]:
[REPORT "DEAD" LINKS HERE].
adaptoid@teleport.com
PROJECT GUTENBERG:
Current directory of /pub/etext/gutenberg.
The purpose of Project Gutenberg is to encourage the creation and distribution of English language electronic texts.
E-texts are in pure ASCII formats so they would be most easily converted to use in various hardware and software.
A file of this nature will also be made available in various markup formats as it is used in various environments.
ftp://uiarchive.cso.uiuc.edu/pub/etext/gutenberg/
THE JACK LONDON COLLECTION:
Jack London (1876-1916) is best known for his books Call of the Wild, White Fang, and The
Sea-Wolf, and a few short stories, such as "To Build a Fire" and "The White Silence." In fact,
he was a much more prolific writer whose fiction explored three geographies and their
cultures: the Yukon, California, and the South Pacific.
Over fifty books of novels, stories, journalism, and essays, many of
which have been translated and continue to be read around the world.
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/London/
THE MINING COMPANY GUIDE TO MARK TWAIN:
Mark Twain etexts: Maxims and Quotations.
A directory of the best sources for Mark Twain on the web.
http://marktwain.miningco.com/msub3.htm
THE LEWIS CARROL COLLECTION:
Lewis Carroll etexts: Including poetry, essays, and an illustrated version of The Nursery Alice.
http://home.earthlink.net/~lfdean/carroll/
THE AUSTEN COLLECTION:
Austen E-texts. Including The History of England, Love and Friendship, plays, etc.
http://home.earthlink.net/~lfdean/austen/
THE DICKEN'S COLLECTION:
The Dicken's Page seeks to collect any and all Internet materials related to the life and works of Charles Dickens.
Any information supplied regarding Dickens on the Internet, would be gratefully appreciate.
The current page is maintained by Mitsuharu Matsuoka, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
http://lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/CD-alt.html
MEDIEVAL LITERATURE COLLECTION:
NetSERF Index: Medieval Literature guide to e-texts and archives, and research projects.
http://www.cua.edu/www/hist/netserf/literatr.htm
THE MIDDLE ENGLISH COLLECTION:
The Electronic Text Center, University Of Virginia.
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/mideng.browse.html
Quick Search Sources:
[POST YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES HERE]:
[REPORT "DEAD" LINKS HERE].
adaptoid@teleport.com
Alex: A Catalogue of Electronic Texts on the Internet
Online Books FAQ
Books Online (listed by author)
Online Book Initiative
Wiretap Library
The English Server
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Bibliobytes
Nomad Books
The Master Works of Western Civilization
Banned Books
Utah State library
CVaNet - Book Links - Bookstores
Terry's World of Audiobooks
Proportional Reading
Humanities Text Initiative
Luminarium
HTI American Verse Project
Que's Digital Bookshelf
Archives of Early American Fiction
Web-Cite
GOOD HUNTING AND ENJOY!
SUPERADAPTOID.
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03-16-98