How To: Find Sources

There are a number of open-access (free) encyclopedias available online that focus on particular states, regions, countries, or subjects. If you need assistance finding a subject specific encyclopedia or other resources, please contact us at refdesk@wnc.edu.

• Encyclopedia.com
  Compilation of encyclopedic entries from a number of publishers including Oxford University Press, Cengage, and Columbia University Press.
• List of Online Encyclopedias
  Wikipedia compiled list of available online encyclopedias, including those that are free to use.

General

• Cambridge Dictionaries Online
• OneLook Dictionary
• yourDictionary.com

Acronyms

• Acronym Finder: A Dictionary of Acronyms and Abbreviations

Pronunciation

• Dictionary.com (Includes audio pronunciation)
• Merriam-Webster Dictionary (Includes audio pronunciation)

Thesauruses 

• Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
• Roget's International Thesaurus

Translation

• Cambridge Dictionaries Online - Translation Dictionaries
• Google Language Tools - Foreign Language Translation

• World Atlas
• Map Geeks
• American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection
  The American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection contains over 14000 maps, ranging from early maps of Asia to historical maps of Wisconsin and Milwaukee, and other American cities, states, and national parks. (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) 
• American Memory Map Collection (Library of Congress)
  Selection of digitized maps from the Library of Congress
• New York Public Library: Maps & Atlases Collection
  While there are maps and atlases from various continents and countries, the majority of the collection is focused on the United States.
• David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
  A thorough collection containing 16th through 21st century historical maps.