Osceola Library System - Internet Links Alt

A variety of hand chosen links on all topics.

Arts & Entertainment

: Search by artist, song title, or album title; Includes reviews, sound clips, and album art
Artcyclopedia: Access to thousands of digitized works of art; provides definitions, articles, and much more and search function by artist, title of a work, museum, or browse various topics
BET.com: Official web site for the BET network; Watch music videos, read the latest news, or speak your mind in the online community features
Billboard: Find your favorite song on the Top 100 charts, watch music videos, read music news, and more; recommended: the Jaded Insider blog
E! Online: Up-to-the-minute entertainment news and gossip
Internet Archive: Search for archived versions of websites, music, movies, photos, and software
Internet Movie Database: Listings of cast and crew names, synopses, trivia, and much more
Movie Review Query Engine: Searchable database of movie reviews with thousands of articles and thousands of opinions
Television Without Pity: Read all about missed episodes of your favorite show with recaps, extras, fan forums, and more
YouTube: Watch online videos, mark and share your favorites, or upload a movie of your own

Books & Literature

The Academy of American Poets: Search for poets and poems; includes full text of some poems, poet biographies, audio readings of poems, and essays
ALA Banned and Challenged Books: Information on why books are challenged and banned and lists of the most contested books over the last century
Alibris: Resource for used and out-of-print books
Bartleby: Searchable literature resources, including text, author information, and familiar quotations
Internet Public Library's Literary Criticism: Links to web resources for literary criticism by author and work
LitLinks: Links to literary criticism online as well as authoritative websites about a variety of authors and literature-related topics
Project Gutenberg: Searchable database of over 18,000 electronic books, free to download and read
Whichbook: Fun and interactive way to find new books; choose by plot elements, character, and setting
Worldcat (OCLC): Using the powerful OCLC engine searching for books in libraries near you is fast and easy; available in multiple languages

Business & Finance

AnnualCreditReport.com: Official site for obtaining information on free credit reports provided by Equifax, Experian, and Transunion
Florida Department of Revenue: Includes information on taxes, interest rates, tax statistics, and electronic tax services in Florida
FXConverter (Foreign Exchange Currency Converter): Provides up-to-date exchange rates for any of 164 currencies; available En Espanol and several other languages
Hoovers: Includes information on thousands of public and non-public US and international companies such as company overview, contact information, key personnel, key numbers, industry and competitor information, and more
InvestorGuide.com: Provides investment quotes and market activity, financial news, research tools, a stock tracker, and an investment term glossary
Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce: Official site of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce with information on Chamber events, councils, tourism, relocating to Kissimmee, and starting a new small business
MyMoney.gov: Includes information on a multitude of topics in saving, investing, and personal finance, such as financial planning, home ownership, retirement planning, and many more (En Español)
Yahoo Finance: Includes recent and historical stock quotes, financial and industry news, investment tools, and personal finance information (En Español)

Community Resources

2-1-1 Community Resources Directory: Search for contact information to many different local agencies and organizations by category, service, or organization name; directory serves Osceola, Orange, and Seminole counties
AccessFlorida: Florida’s Department of Children and Families portal to apply for temporary financial assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, and other social services
FDLE Sexual Offenders Database: Search for offenders by name, or perform a neighborhood search
Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation: File an unemployment claim, search for a job, or browse resources for job seekers
Osceola Council on Aging: Provides adult day care, meals on wheels, transportation, respite care, and many other services
Osceola County Human Services Department: Information for the county’s health department, housing department, children’s home, and social services office
Osceola County Sheriff's Office: Information about local Sheriff’s office, including current crime information
Osceola Health Department: Local health information and services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Make an appointment to speak with an Immigration Information Officer or check the status of your application and download forms
Workforce Central Florida: Provides local information for job seekers and employers; search for job openings, post your resume, or search through employment resources

Computers & Technology

Central Florida Computer Society: Central Florida's local computer group
CNET Computer and Electronics Reviews: Research before you buy with reviews of the newest and best technology, from cell phones to computers from one of the leading sites on the web
Daily Rotation: Updated daily, features headlines and technology news from over 300 different websites
Getting Started on the Internet: Easy to use guide for those just starting out with the Internet
Knowledge Base: Comprehensive database of computer and technology information, search able by keyword and in glossary format
TechTerms: A dictionary dedicated to computer and technology terms, covering all sorts of areas; entries are numbered to lead to the most important
Virtual Computer Library: In-depth resource index of websites for computer and technology information

Consumer Information

Better Business Bureau: Research businesses and consumer issues
Public Citizen: National, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that represents consumer interests in Congress
Federal Citizen Information Center: Source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government services
Federal Trade Commission: Helps consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them
Florida Department of Consumer Services: File a complain against a company for bad business practices
National Fraud Information Center: Division of the National Consumers League to help education consumers about fraud
Recalls.gov: U.S. government website for product recalls
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Federal regulatory agency that ensures the safety of consumer products, search for recalls

Education

Adult Learning Center Osceola: Adult education, emphasizing English as a second language and GED classes
Education Index: Guide to the best and most useful education-related sites with topic-by-topic breakdown
Florida Academic Counseling and Tracing for Students: Online student advising system for the college-bound
Florida Christian College
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT)
Florida Department of Education: Provides a broad range of topics relating to education in Florida
Florida GED
Florida Prepaid College Program
Florida Achool Accountability Report: Database of school status and performance over the last seven school years
Florida School Indicators Report: Database of school status and performance over the last seven school years
Rollins College
School District of Osceola County: Access to information on local schools and school policies and procedures
Technical Education Center Osceola (Teco): Vocational coursework for technical and academic training
University of Central Florida
University of South Florida
Valencia Community College

Education Grants & Scholarships

Education Foundation Osceola County: Get answers about the scholarship process and about local scholarship opportunities
Financial Aid for Students: Federal education website
FindTuition.com: Find $24.3 billion in scholarships and grants in an online searchable database
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Official site
Office of Student Financial Assistance (Florida): Florida state office for student financial assistance providing information on state scholarship and grants programs

Family Life

American Academy of Pediatrics: Pediatric medical information
Central Florida YMCA: Provides family oriented programs on health, wellness and fitness
Family Doctor: Medical information from the American Academy of Family Physicians
Florida Adoption: Learn about adoption in Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences: University of Florida providing knowledge in agriculture, natural resources, and life sciences
KidsHealth.org: Doctor-approved health information from the Nemours Foundation
Osceola County Health Department: Provides medical and health services for the residents of Osceola County
Parents Choice Foundation: Nonprofit guide to quality childres media and toys
Summer Camp: Search for summer camps by interest or state

Genealogy

Cyndi's List: A comprehensive index of genealogy resources on the Internet
Elis Island: Search the records of Ellis Island/Port of New York, including passenger lists and more
Florida State Archives: Historical records of Florida including manuscripts, photographs, family histories and more
Genealogy Club of Osceola County: Contact point for starting local genealogical research
National Archives and Records Administration: Access to documents and records of the federal government, such as military records and historical archives
RootsWeb: Clearinghouse of genealogical information
U.S. Genealogy Web Project: Website tracking historical and family records state by state
U.S. Vital Records Information: Source for finding out how to obtain vital records (such as birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses and divorce decrees) from each state, territory, and county in the United States

Go Green

Live Green: This guide is a basic primer for those looking for more information about going green in your life.
How to go Green and Live Eco Friendly: This guide covers green home living, home improvements, cleaning products, books, and more.
Green - Get Really Environmentally Efficient Now!: A great guide for going green with kids. Includes crafts, games, how-tos, websites, and more.
TreeHugger: Your one stop shop for everything green, information on products, food, travel and more.
Global Green USA: A national environmental organization addressing global issues.
myFreenElectronics: dedicated to responsible use, reuse, and recycling of consumer electronics.
Eco Options: From the Home Depot, a resource for products that contribute to an eco friendly home.
Natural Resources Defense Council: An environmental action organization using law, science, and the support of active members to protect wildlife and wild places.
Greenbang: Tracking the latest in environmental business and technology.

Government, Florida

Access Florida: Apply for food stamps, temporary cash assistance and Medicaid
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Drivers Licenses, driving manuals, renew tags online, traffic school, etc
Florida Governor: Official website for the Governor of Florida
Florida Intangible Tax Forms: Downloadable Florida tax forms
MyFlorida: Everything about Florida you need to know
Online Sunshin: Florida State Legislature online

Government, United States

FedStats.gov: Online statistics from federal agencies
FedWorld Information Network: Online locator service for a comprehensive inventory of information disseminated by the federal government
FirstGov: The U.S. government's official web portal
House of Representatives
Internal Revenue Service: Download federal tax forms and publications online
Project Vote Smart: Everything you wanted to know about voting and your elected officials
THOMAS Legislative Information: Legislative information from the Library of Congress
United States Senate
White House: Current news, press briefings, virtual tours of the white house, presidential history, etc.

Grants in Aid

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: Searchable database of all types of federal assistance programs
FedMoney.org: Comprehensive full-text online resource on all U.S. government grants and student financial aid programs
Grant.gov: Find and apply for federal grants
Writing a Successful Grant Proposal: Minnesota Council of Foundations’ guide for writing grant proposal

Health Information

AMA Doctor Finder: Provides information about licensed physicans in the United States and its possessions, such as area of practice, hospital privileges, education, and more
DisibilityInfo.gov: Includes information on disability related topics and programs provided by the federal government on topics such as health, employment, education, housing and transportation
Florida Department of Health: Provides information on public health, Florida health reports and statistics, medical licenses and permits, and other assorted health-related issues affecting Floridians; also includes the Florida Practitioner Profile section with profiles on all medical personnel in Florida
Kidshealth.org: Includes doctor approved health information about children from birth through adolescence and provides sections for parents, teens, and kids
Medline Plus: Includes information on a multitude of health topics, including conditions/diseases, drugs/supplements, provider directories, health news, and a medical dictionary and encyclopedia; provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health
NIH SeniorHealth: Includes aging related health information geared towards seniors and their friends and families with large print text, contrast adjustments, and a “talking” function for ease of use
NOAH - Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Gateway to information and links on complementary and alternative medicines (En Español
Osceola County Health Department: Includes information on county health centers, programs, and health services, birth and death certificates, environmental health, immunizations, and more

History

American Memory Project: From the Library of Congress, a digital collection of photos, text, music and video clips and a great place to find primary sources
Best of History Websites: Directory of selected history web sites also includes lesson plans and research guides
Black History from Encyclopedia Britannica: Browse by subject, view source documents, or explore the image and multimedia galleries
Central Florida Memory Project: Maps, photographs, postcards and more illustrate the history of central Florida
CIA World Fact Book: Extensive statistical information about hundreds of countries
Eyewitness to History: First person accounts of historical events and time periods
Florida History: Provides information about Florida history, symbols, statistics, and more
Florida Memory Project: A selection of historical records that illustrate significant moments in Florida history
Hispanic Heritage Timeline: Timeline, spanning from 1494 to the present, highlights events in Hispanic American history
The Holocaust: Bibliographies, video testimonials from survivors, primary resource documents, maps, glossaries, and more
HyperHistory Online: Provides interactive timelines and maps from different historical periods
Internet Women's History Sourcebook: Collected women’s history links from Fordham University
Portals to the World: From the Library of Congress, a collection of international links

Immigration & Citizenship

InfoPass: Use this online to make an appointment with an immigration officer at the district office
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Main page for the federal immigration and citizenship web site, including forms, fees, an procedures

Jobs & Careers

America's Career InfoNet: Includes information on occupations and careers, industries, and state labor markets, plus provides a career tools section that includes a career resource library and resume tutorial
Career Builder: Includes access to job listings across the U.S. and is searchable by job type, location, company, and industry and provides career resources and tools (En Español)
Florida Jobs.org: Includes information on workforce and unemployment services in Florida and provides information on labor market statistics, job searches and job fairs, and unemployment compensation
Monster.com: Includes jobs listings searchable by job category, company, location, and keyword (En Español)
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Provides a searchable database of career information and profiles
Osceola County Job Vacancy Listings: Includes vacancy listings and application information for jobs with Osceola County
The Riley Guide: Provides excellent information on using the Internet to find job resources and employment opportunities, including information on salary guides, networking and negotiating techniques, resumes and cover letters, and employer research
U.S. Department of Labor: Clearinghouse for federal employment issues such as Family Medical Leave, OSHA and labor statistics

Law, Local & State

City of Kissimmee Code of Ordinaces: Searchable and browsable ordinances for the City of Kissimmee
City of St. Cloud Code of Ordinances: Searchable and browsable ordinances for the City of St. Cloud
Florida Bar Association: Find lawyers, court rules and forms, ethics opinions, and links to many resources attorneys use
Florida Government Electronic Rulemaking System: Access to the Florida Administrative Code and Florida Administrative Weekly
Florida State Courts: Locate courts in the state of Florida; find forms, rules, self help centers, and statistics
Greater Orlando Area Legal Services (GOALS): Provides legal aid to persons of low income
Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida: Contains court orders, forms, legal research links, judge bios, schedules and contact information
Online Sunshine: Search or browse the Florida Statutes, Laws of Florida, or Florida Constitution
Osceola County Clerk of Courts: Access court records, forms, foreclosure, jury, marriage, passports, and tax deed information
Osceola County Code of Ordinances: Searchable and browsable ordinances for Osceola County

Law, Federal & International

Emory Law Library Electronic Reference Desk: Search by and for jurisdiction, topic, journals and periodicals, attorney directories, and research guides
Federal Courts Homepage: All you want to know about the federal court system
Guide to Law Online: International law from the Law Library of Congress
Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School: Many informative links for legal research, including the Supreme Court Reports and the United States Code
Martindale-Hubble Lawyer Locator: Search for attorneys around the world
State and Local Government on the Net: A directory of official state, county, and city government websites
United States Constitution: Online searchable United States Constitution with links and other historical documents

Libraries

Florida Electronic Federal Depository Library: County by county listing of access points for official government documents on the web
Florida Electronic Library: Florida's virtual library, providing access to research resources for all Florida citizens
Lake County Library System
Library Information Network for Community Colleges (Florida): Card catalog of the State Community College network
Library of Congress
Orange County Library System
Polk County Library Cooperative
State Library of Florida
Webluis: Card catalog of the State University System

Local Information

211 Community Resources: Information and referrals to health and human resources for local residents
City of Kissimmee: Official site of City of Kissimmee government
City of St. Cloud: Official site of City of St. Cloud government
Community Vision: Local group helping Osceola County with community issues
Convention and Visitors Bureau: Look for local attractions and events happening around Central Florida
Heart of Florida United Way: Helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening families
Kissimmee Gateway Airport: Kissimmee airport for corporate and leisure flyers
Lynx Bus System: Bus system serving Osceola and Orange counties
Osceola Center for the Art: Osceola County’s home for the arts
Osceola County: Official site of Osceola county government
Osceola County School District: Official site for Osceola County schools

News, Local & State

Florida Newspapers: Provides links to Florida Press Association member newspapers
Local 6 (CBS)
MyFox Orlando (Fox)
Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Weekly
Osceola News Gazette
Poinciana Pioneer
St. Cloud in the News
WESH 2 (NBC)
WFTV 9 (ABC)

News, National & International

Associated Press: News fresh from the wires
BBC: British media giant in print, online, TV and radio
Digg: Read and rate current news stories
Google News
Newspapers via RefDesk.com: Provides links to newspapers from around the country with national papers like USA Today, and many newspapers from around the world
The Smoking Gun: You’ve read the news stories so now you can read the paperwork and behind the scenes information; Mugshots, manifestos, and more
Terra.com: Spanish language news, current events and entertainment (En Español)
Yahoo News

Reference Resources

Bartleby: Searchable literature resources, including text, author information, and familiar quotations
Citation Machine: Online service that creates citations in MLA and APA formats for use in papers and reports
Fact Monster: For the younger crowd, a general almanac with a great variety of subjects and information; includes a homework help center
GovSpot: A web hub for state, federal, and world government information online
Internet Public Library: Directory of quality Internet sites on all imaginable topics
Intute: Database of trusted sites for those seeking research and academic information
Librarian's Internet Index: Authoritative and researched collection of ready reference links
LibrarySpot: Collection of web-based research resources
OneLook Dictionary Search: Single stop word search that indexes results from over 900 sources
U.S. Census Bureau: Links to statistical data on people, businesses, the economy and more
WorldCat (OCLC): Using the powerful OCLC engine searching for books in libraries near you is fast and easy

Science & Math

Absolute Astronomy: Detailed information, images, and articles on planets, stars, galaxies and much more
Animal Diversity Web: Searchable and indexed catalog of all sorts of animals throughout the world
Exploratarium: Includes science experiment ideas and explains the science behind them. Also check out their snack page.
HowStuffWorks: Inside look at how the things we use everyday actually work
MadSciNet: Massive collection of answered questions, labs, and web links all about science
MathWorld: In-depth information about advanced mathematics, including a formula library and terms encyclopedia for anything from basic math all the way up to college level subjects
NASA: All about space and discovery, with special sections geared towards every group
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Lots of information about different types of weather, climates, environments, and the oceans
Science Research Portal: Research portal for searching scientific journals and databases
Scirus - Scientific Information: Searchable database providing journal sources as well as authoritative websites on a wide range of scientific topics
WebMath: Help and answered questions for all ages for general math through calculus; includes conversion charts

Sports & Recreation

ESPN: Comprehensive source for news and scores on professional and college sports
Florida Fishing: Includes information on fishing reports, fishing charters, fishing captains and local fishing conditions for the entire state
Florida State Parks: Includes information on the many parks and programs affiliated with the Florida State Parks system
Great Ourdoor Recreation Pages (GORP): Includes articles and information on a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing, paddling, and on outdoor destinations and gear
Kissimmee Parks and Recreation Department: Includes information on athletic and recreational programs, events, and facilities in the Kissimmee area
Surf Info: Includes surf reports, wave height information, and wave predictions for Florida’s surf spots, as well as other surf spots along the East coast of the U.S.