Reference Sources and Quick Facts

Use these curated directories to explore professional, community and scholarly organizations across a wide range of fields. These resources can help you find career connections, internship opportunities, nonprofit partners and research networks.

• GALE Directory Library
  Search a comprehensive directory of national, regional and international organizations across disciplines.
• Community Information Database (CID)
  Access local nonprofit and social service agency listings in Santa Cruz County, maintained by the Santa Cruz Public Library.
• GuideStar
  Explore detailed profiles of over 850,000 IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations nationwide, including mission, finances and leadership.
• Idealist
  Connect with more than 35,000 nonprofit and community organizations in over 165 countries. Ideal for service learning, internships and volunteering.
• Network of Care
  Find resources, support services and local agencies focused on aging, disabilities, mental health and more.
• Scholarly Societies Project
  Browse links to thousands of academic and professional societies around the world, organized by subject area.

Explore trusted sources for country-specific information across global political, economic, cultural and health topics. These tools are useful for research in international studies, business, history, public health and more.

• BBC News — Country Profiles
  Offers concise overviews, current news, and multimedia coverage for countries worldwide, including archived video and audio clips.
• CIA World Factbook
  Provides authoritative background details on every nation, including geography, government, economy and more, compiled by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
• Library of Congress — Country Studies
  Features in-depth reports on the history, society, politics and institutions of over 100 countries.
• CountryWatch
  Covers political, economic and business developments in 191 countries through Country Reviews and Country Wire, an ongoing news update service.
• Government Information and Maps Collection
  Maintained by Northwestern University, this resource provides official websites for foreign governments around the world.
• globalEDGE
  Developed by Michigan State University, this portal offers country insights, trade statistics, and business resources for global market research.
• United Nations Least Developed Countries Reports
  Published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, these reports highlight development challenges and provide demographic and economic data on LDCs.
• NationMaster
  An interactive site that compiles data from the UN, CIA and others to allow side-by-side graphical comparisons of countries.
• World Health Organization (WHO) Country Reports
  Health-focused country profiles, including data on health systems, disease outbreaks and key health indicators.
• World Statesmen
  Provides historical timelines, flags, maps and lists of national leaders dating back to the 1700s.

Use these dictionaries and language tools to define terms, explore word origins, translate languages and strengthen your academic writing and communication skills.

General Dictionaries and Thesauri

• Dictionary.com
  A comprehensive dictionary with definitions, pronunciation guides, usage examples and grammar tips.
• Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Thesaurus
  A trusted source for clear definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and word usage in American English.
• Roget’s International Thesaurus
  A classic thesaurus organized by concepts, helpful for expanding vocabulary and refining word choice.

Historical Dictionaries

• Online Etymology Dictionary
  Traces the history and evolution of English words, including origins, earliest usage, and language influences.

Language Dictionaries

• HandSpeak: American Sign Language Dictionary
  An illustrated ASL dictionary with videos demonstrating signs and finger spelling.
• Chinese Characters Dictionary Web
  Provides meanings, pronunciation, and stroke order for Chinese characters.
• English-Spanish / Spanish-English Dictionary
  A bilingual dictionary supporting translation and vocabulary building in both languages.
• Diccionario de la Lengua Española
  The official Spanish-language dictionary published by the Royal Spanish Academy.
• Lexicool
  A searchable multilingual dictionary portal with links to hundreds of dictionaries across languages.
• My Spanish Picture Dictionary
  A visual dictionary designed to support language learning through images and basic vocabulary.
• Dictionaries in the CSUMB Library Collection
  Explore additional print and online dictionaries available through the CSUMB Library, including subject-specific and language-focused resources.

Other Dictionary and Language Resources

• Google Translate
  A quick translation tool for text, documents and web pages across many languages.
• Internet Picture Dictionary
  A visual dictionary helpful for English language learners and early vocabulary development.
• The Britannica Dictionary
  An online American English dictionary from Encyclopaedia Britannica offering clear definitions, pronunciation, and usage examples to support vocabulary building and writing.

Special Dictionaries

• Abbreviations.com
  Search definitions and meanings of abbreviations and acronyms across disciplines.
• Acronym Finder
  A searchable database of acronyms and initialisms used in academic, technical, and professional contexts.
• FOLDOC (Free Online Dictionary of Computing)
  Definitions of computing and information technology terms.
• ODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science
  Terminology related to libraries, archives and information management.
• OneLook Reverse Dictionary
  Find words based on concepts or descriptions rather than exact spelling.
• The Quotations Page
  A searchable collection of quotations by topic, author and keyword.
• Scientific and Technical Acronyms, Symbols, and Abbreviations
  Definitions and explanations of specialized scientific and technical shorthand.
• Symbols.com
  An online dictionary of graphic symbols, signs, and iconography from around the world.

Learn how copyright law affects your use of creative and academic materials. These resources provide clear, reliable guidance on fair use, digital content, permissions, and your rights as a student or creator.

CSUMB Resource

• CSUMB Library Copyright Guide
  Covers copyright basics, fair use in education, and resources tailored to CSUMB students and faculty.

Key Copyright Resources

• University of Texas at Austin — Crash Course in Copyright
  An overview of copyright focused on digital media, licensing and the needs of educators, students and content creators.
• Stanford University Libraries — Copyright and Fair Use
  A comprehensive resource for U.S. copyright law, with searchable legal materials, case updates and educational guides.
• U.S. Copyright Office
  The official government site for creators and users. Includes laws, registration forms, FAQs, and policy updates.
• Copyright and Digital Distance Education
  Details the impact of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) on digital learning environments.
• Copyright Clearance Center
  A global rights licensing platform. Offers tools to request permission and understand usage rights for published content.
• U.S. Copyright Act — Title 17, U.S. Code
  The full legal text of the current federal copyright law in the United States.

Policy is created and implemented at different levels of government by a wide range of agencies and departments. The resources below help you access official laws, regulations, and supporting documents published by the U.S. federal government.

Federal Laws and Legislation

• Congressional Research Service Reports
  Nonpartisan reports that explain pending legislation, laws, and public policy issues. Helpful for identifying law names and numbers.
• Congress.gov
  Search for U.S. Congressional bills, resolutions, public laws and legislative histories. Formerly known as THOMAS.
• U.S. Statutes at Large
  Official compilation of all laws passed by Congress, in the order they were enacted.
• United States Code
  Browse the codified, organized collection of all current U.S. federal laws by subject.
• Public and Private Laws
  View the text of laws enacted during each session of Congress, including legislative history.
• Laws by Popular Name
  Find federal laws by their commonly used names (e.g., "Americans with Disabilities Act").

Federal Regulations and Rulemaking

• Federal Register
  Daily journal of the U.S. government with proposed rules, final rules, executive orders and notices from federal agencies.
• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
  The official annual codification of all general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register.
• Regulations.gov
  Submit comments and track regulatory activity across U.S. federal agencies.
• Science.gov
  Search science-related government resources and policy documents, including environmental and regulatory publications.

Legislative Hearings and Court Decisions

• Congressional Hearings Search (GovInfo)
  Search full-text transcripts of U.S. congressional hearings, including testimony, questions, and official records from Senate and House committees.
• U.S. Supreme Court Decisions (Since 2007)
  View official opinions and decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Additional Sources

• GPO Federal Digital System (GovInfo)
  Search and access official U.S. government publications, including laws, regulations, reports, and congressional documents, in full text.
• GovScape.net
  A policy tracking tool for monitoring federal grant allocations and government activity.
• Coastal Zone Information Center (1951-1999)
  Archived federal and state coastal policy documents, environmental plans, and impact studies.

U.S. Federal Departments and Agencies

Explore how the federal government is organized and how its departments and agencies shape public policy, administer services and enforce laws.

• WhiteHouse.gov — The Cabinet
  The 15 executive departments are the core of the federal government, each led by a Cabinet secretary. They oversee national policy areas such as education, defense, health, agriculture and transportation, and advise the President on key issues.
• USA.gov — Agency Index
  Beyond the Cabinet, the U.S. government includes dozens of independent agencies and regulatory commissions. These entities focus on specific issues — such as the environment, communications or consumer protection — and provide services, oversight and enforcement in their respective areas.

CSUMB Library Government Resources

The CSUMB Library offers growing access to federal government publications, many of which are available in full text online. 

These departments and commissions oversee the state’s environmental policies, public resources, and regulatory systems.

• CA.gov — All California State Agencies and Commissions
  A searchable directory of California’s government agencies, departments, and boards.
• California Coastal Commission
  Regulates land use and development along California’s coast to preserve public access and environmental quality.
• California Department of Conservation
  Manages California’s natural resources, including land conservation, mining and geology.
• California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
  Coordinates environmental regulation through departments like Air Resources, Toxic Substances Control and Water Resources.
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  Protects native species and habitats, and regulates hunting, fishing and wildlife conservation programs.
• California Department of Food and Agriculture
  Supports the state’s agricultural economy while ensuring food safety and environmental stewardship.
• California Natural Resources Agency
  Oversees state parks, conservation programs, forestry, water management and more.
• California Department of Water Resources
  Plans and manages California’s water resources, including infrastructure, drought planning and sustainability initiatives.
• California State Water Resources Control Board
  Protects water quality and allocates water rights statewide. Part of CalEPA.

Access local laws and policies from city and county governments across California. These tools are especially useful for public policy research, legal studies, and regional planning.

• California Municipal Codes
  A directory of municipal codes provided by the League of California Cities. Search local laws and governance information by city.
• Municode, California
  Access an extensive collection of city and county codes from jurisdictions across California, maintained by Municode. Provides searchable legal texts used in local governance.

Explore global organizations that focus on international development, environmental protection, education, and marine science. These agencies provide reliable data, reports, and policy guidance used in academic research across disciplines.

• The United Nations (UN)
  The UN is a global organization promoting peace, human rights, sustainable development, and international cooperation through its many programs and specialized agencies.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger, improve agriculture, and ensure sustainable fisheries and food systems worldwide.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  UNEP coordinates global environmental efforts, including climate action, biodiversity conservation and pollution reduction.
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  UNESCO promotes international collaboration in education, science, culture, and communication, and is known for its World Heritage program.
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
  A body of UNESCO that supports marine science, ocean observation, and sustainable management of the world’s oceans.