Vermont Department of Libraries Catalog
The Vermont Department of Libraries Catalog provides access to materials owned by libraries in the state. In searching this site, you initially click "Midstate" and this highlights materials that are owned by the Midstate Regional Library and gets you into the search screen. If you want to search another library, e.g., the University of Vermont or other public libraries, click the "Multiple Library Search" menu at the top and check the databases that you would like to search. In these databases, you can search for books, audio books, and videos by author, title, subject, keywords, or other numbers, such as ISBNs. Items that our library does not own may then be requested at the Circulation Desk through Interlibrary Loan.

Library of Congress Online Catalog
The Library of Congress Online Catalog contains 12 million records for books, serials, computer files, manuscripts, cartographic material, music, sound recordings, and visual materials in an integrated database. The records date back to materials cataloged since 1898 and are as recent as items newly acquired. For most searches, the "Subject-Name-Title-Call #" tags will be the ones to use. However, there are three types of keyword searches also available with clear explanations for each.

Amazon.com
Amazon.com is a commercial site but it is an excellent source of basic information on new books. At the Home Page, click on "Books" and then select Advanced Search to search by author, title, or subject and also browse a list of subjects. For many titles you will have access to the reviews of the book from the media, as well as readers' comments. Other commercial sites for information on books are Barnes and Noble and Borders.

Bookspot.com
Bookspot.com is a free resource center that simplifies the search for the best book-related content on the Web. From the site, quickly and easily find bestseller lists, book awards and reviews, electronic texts, online booksellers, antique books, author and publisher information, literary criticism, book news and events, and much more.

Household Products Database
This site links consumer brands to health effects listed by the manufacturer. This is a valuable resource for both consumers and scientists who need to quickly find contents, health effects, or safe handling instructions for common household products.

Automobiles

2009 Dept. of Energy Fuel Economy Guide
A U.S. Department of energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website that features updated fuel economy data for new and used passenger vehicles dating back to 1985, allows side-by-side comparisons, and offers fuel saving tips. The Website contains vehicle-specific air pollution emissions information and safety ratings and provides links to car buying Web sites.

Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com was the first free site on the Internet to offer information on automobile pricing. As a print publisher, it has been supplying guides for new and used cars since 1966. The site is easy to use and provides a great deal of information on cars and trucks. As well as the specific model information, there is general information on buying, leasing, and selling. Edmund's Town Hall is an online conversation area for shoppers and auto enthusiasts.

Kelley Blue Book
The Kelley Blue Book has evolved from the print publications which began as a guide for dealers back in 1926; the consumer edition began publishing in 1993. This site provides prices for new and used cars and includes information for motorcycles, Jet Skis, and snowmobiles. The used car pricing requires the user's input for mileage, added features, and zip code. The section, "More Research" provides reviews by make and year.

N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide Company
The N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide Company is the online site for the National Automobile Dealers Association. A print version of its used car guide is published monthly. This online version provides a "Low Retail," an "Average Retail," and a "High Retail" for specific models. By clicking on "More N.A.D.A. Values," you can locate sections for older cars, 1980-1988; classic collectibles, 1946-1979; and motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATV's', personal watercraft, boats, campers, etc. The prices are all consumer prices for selling and the site does not disclose trade-in or loan values which are confidential to their dealers and industry subscribers.

Other Products

COMPARENET
COMPARENET is a site which allows you to do comparison shopping on the Web. Since it is a commercial site, there is advertising throughout and you have the ability to purchase online. It claims that it offers "complete and unbiased product information." Unlike Consumer's Report Magazine, it does not do product testing. It does allow you to create side by side charts to compare the features of similar products and to customize a search by price and features. You are able to view their recommendations which they base on product value, preference, and ratings from industry experts, but these are not identified. The basic categories for product searching are Electronics, Automotive, Baby Care, Computing, Home Appliances, Home Office, and Sports and Leisure.

Consumer Reports Online
Like its print counterpart, Consumer Reports Online is published by Consumers Union, an independent, nonprofit testing organization which provides "unbiased advice about products and services, personal health and nutrition,, and other consumer concerns." Although this is a subscription service site ($3.95/mo.), it does provide you with free access to useful consumer information. Some free mini reports are available, as well as safety alerts and an index of recalls. There is a list of manufacturers' 800 telephone numbers and web addresses. The table of contents for the current issue is available and a listing of some of the upcoming reports. The indexes to past reports are also available and the issues of the magazine then could be obtained at the library.

Vermont Department of Labor
A Source for the latest economic and labor market statistics (quick stats on unemployment and consumer price index), and a source of announcements and current issues of interest to employees and employers.

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Contains latest economic news releases and detailed statistics on inflation and consumer spending, wages, earnings and benefits, productivity, safety and health, occupational outlook handbook, demographics, business costs, and at-a-glance statistics.

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
Created by St. Louis Federal Reserve District, FRED provides historical U.S. economic and financial data, including daily U.S. interest rates, monetary and business indicators, exchange rates, balance of payments and regional economic data.

Monthly Labor Review
Contains articles as well as a monthly statistics section on employment and earnings. Covers less detail but a longer range of years than Employment and Earnings

Community Health Resource Center
Community Health Resource Center is a local site affiliated with Fletcher Allen Health Care. As well as its web site, it provides an Automated Health Information Line which may be accessed around the clock by phone. The site provides links to information on alternative health, specific diseases, and general health sites which include local links such as "Vermont-Related Health Care Sites," and links to sites like the Mayo Clinic, "NOAH - New York On-Line Access to Health Information," and the World Health Organization. A few links are available to some medical journals and books, including the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

healthfinder®
This is a gateway site of the Dept. Of Health and Human Services and provides easy access to a selection of health resources. The site was begin in 1997 and is a source of reliable health information for consumers. The links available include online publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, support/self help groups, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Type in a search term or click on the index button on the search bar for a specific query or choose from the topics on the site's homepage.

Mayo Clinic Men's Health Section
Provides resources from scientists and researchers from the Mayo Clinic to provide expert answers to questions, and in-depth articles on men’s health issues.

Medicare
The official US Government website for people with Medicare.  Information is provided on health and drug plans, Medicare premiums and coinsurance rates, Medicare appeals, preventive services, Medicare resources and forms, billing information, Medicare news, and excellent search tools.  The publication Medicare and You 2010 is available at this site.

MEDLINEplus
MEDLINEplus is the consumer counterpart for MEDLINE whose audience is physicians, other health professionals, and scientists. The site provides accurate, current medical information from authoritative sources selected by the National Library of Medicine. From here, you have access to extensive information about specific diseases and conditions, links to consumer health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government resources and to organizations, such as the American Psychological Association. There is a selection of medical dictionaries, lists of hospitals, physicians and dentists, and information about clinical trials. This site also includes access to abstracts of articles from medical journals and sometimes a link to a full text.

Medline Plus: GO - LOCAL
Looking for a physician, hospital, nursing home, health service, or pharmacy? Start here. A directory of physician and health care providers in Vermont searchable by location, providers, services, specialty, by county, or by health issues or diseases.

The Merck Manual
This is a medical information reference designed for health professionals which include diseases, diagnoses, prevention, and treatment; its information can often be used by the layperson. A version The Manual for non-professional, The Merck Manual of Medical Information, Home Edition, is also available. Both manuals may be searched using a keyword or query box and a Table of Contents is available for each.

National Health Hotlines:  A compilation of organizations with toll-free telephone numbers derived from the National Library of Medicine's Directory of Information. This database contains descriptions of more than 8,000 biomedical information resources including organizations, databases, research, resources, etc. Some examples of subject areas included are AIDS, cancer, maternal and child health. Organizations fall into many categories including Federal, State and local government agencies, information and referral centers, professional societies, support groups, and voluntary associations.

Vermont Go Local - Go to this website to find local health facilities, health care providers, support groups and programs throughout Vermont. If you are looking for a physician, a hospital, nursing home or pharmacy this site will be useful.  This also has a feature that allows you to search for healthcare services by specific topics such as back pain, end of life issues, skin conditions etc.

United Way of Chittenden County
Looking for a home for all that stuff you just cleaned out of your closets, attics and basements? Click on Goods Match at the United Way website and find a place to donate them.

The United Way Vermont 2-1-1
The website contains information about available community resources for people in Vermont, including detailed data on health and human services provided by government agencies and community organizations and the conditions under which services are available. The Database currently contains over 550 agencies, with more than 1,300 programs and 3,275 services.

Vermont Agency of Human Services
A new Vermont Agency of Human Services website is designed to
make it easy for Vermonters to determine for themselves what programs or services are available-such as child care, fuel assistance, Medicaid or mental health services-and whether they may be eligible for these services. Residents can use this tool at home, in public libraries, at many state offices or anywhere they have Internet access. Service providers can also use the website to assist their clientele.
Improved access to services is a key theme of the Agency of Human Services’ reorganization. The Screen Door provides an overview of a wide range of Vermont health and human services programs, basic guidelines for eligibility, and important local contact information. Once users enter some very basic information about their family, they'll be provided with a list of services they might be eligible for and contact information so that they can quickly find out more.
The Screen Door also links with Vermont211.org, the United Ways of Vermont information and referral service. Through this partnership, we have been able to expand the reach of the Screen Door. By calling 2-1-1 or accessing the Vermont211.org link, people can also learn about Federal assistance programs, non-state programs and other resources that may be specific to their own communities.

 Use your library card to enjoy great music: The South Burlington Community Library suscribes to Music Online , a music database that can be accessed on any computer, by typing in the barcode on the back of your library card.  Users can create their own individual play lists, for listening to their favorites.  Some recordings can be downloaded for a fee. Classical Music, Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries and American Song.

Classical Music
Library delivers music ranging from Medieval to contemporary, from choral works to symphonies, operas, and the avant-garde – including vocal and instrumental music and chamber music. 

 Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries is a virtual encyclopedia of the world music, with an extraordinary array of more than 35,000 individual tracks of music.  Users can listen to performances by American folk icons such as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, along with great performances of traditional music from virtually everywhere in the world and on virtually any instrument imaginable.

American Song is an eclectic collection of music from Americans of diverse origins and all walks of life, from America’s past and present.  The songs are by and about American Indians, miner, immigrants, slaves, children, pioneers, cowboys, and ordinary people.   They touch topics as varied as Civil Rights, political campaigns, Prohibition, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, anti-war protests, and more.  And the range of genres includes country, folk, bluegrass, Western, old time, American Indian, blues, gospel, shape note singing, doo-wop, Motown, R&B, soul, funk and others.

Classical Music Library
"This breakthrough resource offers a glimpse into what can happen when imaginative thinking and technology come together. An extensive collection of some 17,000 musical tracks that can be selected and streamed on demand, supplemented by a solid body of music-related reference material, this is a uniquely self-contained resource for teachers, students, librarians, and anyone interested in exploring classical music."

allmusic
This site covers everything from classical music to garage rock. Included are over 712,000 personal names, 76,000 biographies, 778,900 albums, and 260,700 album reviews.

Encyclopedia Americana

Information Please Almanac
The online version of the almanac includes the same encyclopedic wealth of data from various fields of knowledge - statistics, baseball records, country information, biographical sketches, lists of all types, etc. As well as the traditional almanac section, there is a special features section which contains timely articles and a daily almanac section including the weather, "Today in History," the news, etc.

Librarians' Index to the Internet
This site contains more than 16,000 Internet resources that were selected and evaluated by librarians. These are annotated in a subject directory and also may be searched in a subject query box; even the annotations may be searched. The directory runs the gamut of fields of knowledge and information and its organization and evaluative nature make it an invaluable resource.

• Maps On Us
• MapQuest

• Excite Travel Destinations
• Global Online Travel
• Hotels and Travel on the Net
• Travel Channel
• Travelocity