The tools listed below include standard reference works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and directories, as well as more specialized reference databases.

Key:	Restricted use. Available only from networked Museum computers and off-site via the proxy server. Please see the off-site access instructions for more information. Also, please be aware of the usage restrictions that apply to licensed resources.
	Unrestricted use. Freely available to anyone.

	Atlases, Gazetteers, GIS, and Maps Directory of links to atlas, map, and gazetteer resources compiled by the National Museum of Natural History Library staff.
	Biodiversity Informatics from the AMNH Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Provides resources for utilizing information technologies in biodiversity research and applications.
	Biology (Macmillan Reference Guide) A comprehensive collection of articles for young adults on all aspects of biological science, including its history and issues. (Available from .)
	Birds of North America Online Comprehensive resource covering the life histories of North American Birds.
	Business and Company Resource Center Database providing detailed company and industry news and information. (Available from .)
	Columbia Gazetteer A database of names, descriptions, and characteristics of over 165,000 places in the world.
	Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Encyclopedia covering a wide range of topics.
	Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Contains information about almost 2 million physical and cultural geographic features in the United States.
	GEOnet Names Server Presents a database of foreign geographic names, approved by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (US BGN).
	Health Reference Center -- Academic Index and full-text resource for health-related information. (Available from .)
	Index Animalium Searchable list of generic and specific names applied by authors to animals from 1758 to 1850.
	Index to Organism Names (ION) Contains all the animal, plant, and virus names data found within the Thomson BIOSIS literature databases (Zoological Record, BIOSIS Previews, and Biological Abstracts).
	International Code of Zoological Nomenclature Provides rules and guidelines for assigning scientific names to animals.
	IRIS Funding Database (Illinois Research Information Service) Directory of federal and private funding opportunities.
	Junior Edition - K12 Index of articles and reference materials designed for junior high school students. (Available from .)
	Natural History Guides to the Web/Portals Directory of links to natural history resources compiled by the National Museum of Natural History Library staff.
	Natural History Reference Sources Directory of links to natural history resources compiled by Adam Schiff at University of Washington Libraries.
	Nomenclator Zoologicus A searchable database of the names of genera and subgenera in zoology from the tenth edition of Linnaeus (1758).
	Open Access (Free) Resources in Biology A list of links to sites with free ejournals, ebooks, databases, etc. relevant to biology.
	Oxford English Dictionary Authoritative dictionary of the English language that includes etymological analysis for each word.
	Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection Directory of links to map and gazetteer resources compiled by the Map Library at the University of Texas.
	Primary Search Database for elemetary school students with information on a variety of topics, including an encyclopedia of animals. (Available from .)
	Science Tracer Bullet (from Library of Congress) Contains research guides that help in locating information on science and technology subjects.
	Science.gov Gateway to over 50 million pages of authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. government agencies, including research and development results.
	TOPICSearch Database for grade school students with information about current events in science, politics, the economy, etc. (Available from .)
	ZooBank Database of scientific names of animals.

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Additional Resources

Resources Available from New York City Public Libraries
A number of useful databases are available from New York City public libraries and you may gain remote access to many of these resources just by having a library card. (You may obtain a library card for all three libraries listed below if you live, work, or own property anywhere in New York State; for more information see the Web address provided below.)

New York Public Library
Go to http://www.nypl.org/branch/iresources.html for information about electronic resources available remotely. Go to http://www.nypl.org/books/cards.html for information about obtaining a library card.

Resources of interest include:

• Academic Search Premier, MasterFILE Premier, and Business Source Premier can be searched simultaneously through their provider, EBSCOhost. Together these three files provide access to the full-text of over 4,000 general, business, and academic periodical (this resource is also available from Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library).
• Gale's Ready Reference Shelf - database providing access to thirteen of Gale's reference directories including Encyclopedia of Associations, Encyclopedia of American Religions, Research Centers Directory, etc.
• Electric Library - database providing full-text access to a variety of periodicals including several academic titles.

Also note that NYPL's Science, Industry, & Business Library and Humanities & Social Science Library have additional electronic resources that are only available on-site. For more information visit http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/database.htm or http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/grd/electron.html.

Brooklyn Public Library
Go to http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/eresources.jsp for information about electronic resources available remotely. Go to http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/borrowing_materials.jsp for information about obtaining a library card.

Resources of interest include:

• Academic Search Elite, MasterFILE Premier, and Business Source Premier can be searched simultaneously through their provider, EBSCOhost. Together these three files provide access to the full-text of over 4,000 general, business, and academic periodical (this resource is also available from New York Public Library and Queens Public Library).
• Newspaper Source - full-text coverage for over 170 national and international newspapers.
• Ethnic NewsWatch - collection of full-text newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority, and native press.

Queens Public Library
Go to http://www.queenslibrary.org/internet/refdb1.asp for information about electronic resources available remotely. Go to http://www.queenslibrary.org/LibraryCard/index.asp for information about obtaining a library card.

Resources of interest include:

• EBSCOhost - described as a business database, this resource actually includes a wide variety of databases including Academic Search Elite, MasterFILE Premier, and Business Source Premier. Together these three files provide access to the full-text of over 4,000 general, business, and academic periodicals (this resource is also available from New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library).
• Global NewsBank - database providing access to news from around the world.
• InfoTrac - resource providing access to a variety of indexes and reference databases including "Expanded Academic Index ASAP" which provides indexing and some full-text for approximately 2,000 scholarly, trade and general-interest publications.