Education and Research

These web sites are aimed at general education and research. You can find information about education policy, resources to aid you in research, and other information of use.

1. Library of Congress: The ultimate in research resources. A site every academic should be familiar with.
2. Fulbright: Learn more about this international educational exchange aimed at outstanding scholars.
3. U.S. Department of Education: You can learn more about education policy. A great resource for academics.
4. Federal Resources for Educational Excellence: These resources can help you find almost anything you are looking for related to research and education.
5. Ben’s Guide: If you are interested in web sites for children, this is a great place to go. Great student resources.
6. USA.gov: An excellent starting point for research and education that any academic can use.
7. National Archives: If you have research to do, the National Archives is one of the best places to go. Records, information and more.
8. OESE: The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education provides insight into education.
9. ERIC: This is a great collection of education literature. Includes journals and non-journals. A perfect place for any academic to start.
10. House of Representatives: An excellent research resource.
11. United States Senate: A great place to start as an academic. Look for bills, information, records and more.
12. Supreme Court of the United States: Learn ore about the judicial branch with this site.
13. The United States Mint: Learn about money, and get educated about the U.S. mint.

Science and Math

If you are interested in science subjects, or if you are studying math, these government web sites can point you in interesting directions.

14. National Science Foundation: A great place to go to get information about a variety of the sciences.
15. NASA: No academic interested in space can pass up the NASA web site.
16. Academic Links: This site is designed for computer security. You can get links to different academic sites.
17. National Institute of Standards and Technology: A great place for technophile academics.
18. Agricultural Research Service: This represents one of the premier scientific organizations in the world. A great place for any academic to visit online.
19. US Army Corps of Engineers: An interesting site for those academics interested in engineering. A great library that offers a starting point for research.
20. United States Botanic Garden: Learn more about botanic gardens, and learn about sustainability. An interesting place to discover plants.
21. DARPA: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency focuses on cutting edge science and technology.
22. Science.gov: An Internet portal leading to all things science.
23. USGS: The U.S. Geological Survey offers a great starting point for those interested in geology and what is happening with earth’s processes.
24. Joint Fire Science Program: Learn more about what goes into fire science, as well as ecology.
25. Marine Mammal Commission: Academics can use this as a starting place for reports, updates and legislation related to marine mammals.
26. NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Information, research and news related to the science of oceans and air.

Medicine and Health Care

Medical scholars can access a number of helpful web sites and resources maintained by the government. Also includes helpful resources for health care researchers and professionals.

27. Bioethics Resources on the Web: The National Institutes of Health offers you a great resource for bioethics. Search specific topics, or browse resources.
28. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Any academic can get more information about public health from this site.
29. PubMed: One of the best resources for peer reviewed medical papers.
30. FDA: The Food and Drug Administration offers great public health resources, as well as information about different drugs.
31. NIDA: Academics can get information on drug use by visiting the web site of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
32. AHRQ: The Agency for Healthare Research and Quality can be a great starting point for medical academics and those interested in the health professions.
33. Health and Human Services: Health policy, and information on a variety of health related research subjects.
34. Health Resources and Services Administration: Learn about different health issues. A great resource for acadmics.
35. OSHA: The Occupational Safety & Health Administration can provide academics with information about workplace health and policy.
36. MedlinePlus: One of the best resources for medical scholars on the Web.

Social Sciences

For those interested in social sciences like sociology and history, it is possible to get access to helpful resources when you look at these government sites.

37. United States Courts: For those interested in law, this makes a great place to begin researching information.
38. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Learn about preserving history. A great resource for academics interested in history.
39. Bureau of Labor Statistics: You can start research here related to information about different demographic groups in the U.S.
40. U.S. Census Bureau: Another great resource for academics involved in research.
41. U.S. Commission of Fine Arts: Learn more about the arts, and other interesting projects.
42. Congressional Budget Office: Economics and finance academics, as well as political science academics, will find this site fascinating.
43. Domestic Policy Council: Learn about policy and more when you visit this White House page.
44. Economic Research Service: Learn more about the economy and how it relates to food and farming.
45. Federal Geographic Data Committee: Learn more about geography, and planning. Includes geospatial information.
46. U.S. Department of State: Academics can start here to learn about international relations, policy and more.
47. IRS: Tax academics and researchers can get all sorts of information from the Internal Revenue Service web site.
48. Institute of Education Sciences: Meant to help shape policy. Includes teaching and education resources and more.
49. National Gallery of Art: Great works, information and more related to art.
50. National War College: Learn about war, and history.

iPhone

The iPhone revolutionized smart phones, and it can also help you revolutionize your own learning here are 10 great apps to consider for the iPhone:

1. Dragon Dictation: Keep notes, and dictate messages. This is a great tool to help you keep track of sudden thoughts and ideas, and also to dictate reminders for your course work and assignments. Cost: Free
2. Evernote: One of the best organizational tools around. Evernote allows you to make notes, take snapshots and even do voice recordings. It can help you organize your study materials, and keep your assignments on track. Cost: Free
3. TED: If you are looking for interesting talks on a variety of subjects, you can use the TED iphone app. A great educational resource that can help you learn on the go — no matter where you are. A helpful and information iPhone app that offers just what you need if you are looking for information from experts. Cost: Free
4. Dictionary.com: Perfect for those who want a quick reference. Useful for looking up word meanings. Also includes a thesaurus, making it even more useful. Cost: Free
5. Stanza: This ereader is super useful for the mobile student. Stanza offers access to a wealth of books and textbooks. Additionally, you have access to the Lexcycle Online Library. A great way to get information and stay informed. You can also transport articles and books from your desktop to Stanza, making it easier for you to carry your research with you. Cost: Free
6. iFlashcards Free: If you are looking for a little study help, iFlashcards Free may be just the thing. You can create personalized flashcards and bring them with you. The perfect way to study and make sure you are learning the information that you need. Cost: Free
7. Read It Later Free: If you are doing online research, you can save what you are reading using this iPhone app. A great way to keep your research accessible. Even if you end up without Internet access later. Cost: Free
8. Classes – Timetable: Create a class schedule that can help you keep track of where you should be. A helpful scheduling app that can help you organize your day. Shows you where you should be, and even allows you to see when assignments are due. Cost: $0.99
9. Graphing Calculator: If you want a little help with your math classes, and solving problems, this iPhone app is a great resource. Use Graphing Calculator to help you solve problems — without having to buy an expensive graphing calculator. Cost: $1.99
10. iStudiez Pro: An amazing tool to help you schedule your courses, assignments and other obligations. Keep track of your life with help from this handy iPhone app. Cost: $2.99

Android

The Android platform is versatile, and works with a number of different types of phones and carriers. If you are looking for educational apps that can give you the edge, no matter where you go, these 10 apps just might be a good choice.

11. Memory Trainer: Improve your ability to recall information with the Memory Trainer app. A great way to give your brain a good workout that will come in handy when it comes time for tests — or just remembering what you have learned. Cost: Free
12. Formulas Lite: If you are doing math, physics or chemistry, this app can be quite helpful. A great references that also serves as a scientific calculator. Easy to use, and helps you find formulas for various situations. Cost: Free
13. Document Scanner: You can actually scan documents. As you do research, you can keep images of what you find. A great way to gather information and store it for later use in school assignments and projects. Cost: $2.98
14. Nook for Android: Get this ereader for use on your Android. A great way to access books, textbooks, articles and more. A great resource for when you are doing research. Cost: Free
15. LSAT Assassin: Are you preparing for a career in law? If so, this great educational app can help you study no matter where you are. Use this app to improve your LSAT performance — without books. Cost: $14.99
16. Evernote: As there is for the iPhone, there is also Evernote for Android. This is a great help if you want to organize your assignment schedules. Get everything in sync. Cost: Free
17. myPocketProf: Organize your course notes and assignment due dates with this helpful Android app. You can store web sites as part of your notes, helping you organize assignments and research quickly and easily. Cost: Free
18. StatDist: If you are interested in statistics, this is a great app for you. Calculates a number of possibilities and even helps with discrete distributions. This valuable tool makes a great reference, and can help you quickly calculate what you need. Cost: Free
19. Pocket Knowledge: This powerful Android offers just what you might expect — knowledge. Makes use of the powerful Wolfram Alpha to help you find information on any number of topics, including math, chemistry, and physics. You can also find information about sports, weather and nutrition. Ask it a question, and get the answer quick. You can save the information for further reference. Cost: $1.50
20. Voice Recorder: Make notes with your voice. Create notes that can be used for future reference, and that contain your insight into your assignments. You can also record lectures, or other items. It’s a great way to keep track of your thoughts, and make sure that your ideas aren’t forgotten. Cost: Free

1. Academic Diversity: This article points to a statistic that shows the nation’s top chief executives often find the path to the corner office through a less expensive state university, rather than an Ivy League school. Some high-tech CEOs even quit college when they felt they had a great idea.
2. Average Student Loan Debt By State: Iowa has the highest student debt, averaging $26,208 per student. This rate could be explained by the fact that the cost of attending Iowa State University has increased by 71.2 percent. This price is about the same as private school in the Northeast.
3. Breakdown of Average Student Income: If you’re wondering how much that undergrad or master’s degree might be worth, think about wasted money. Look for ways to cut corners and save money, and it may take less time to eliminate your debt upon graduation. That’s the fast route to early savings.
4. College in America: This graphic points to some of the stranger points in earning a college education. A hundred grand for an ivy-league wine-making degree? Students spend more than $5.5 billion per year on alcohol? This poster may make you think about how you could waste college funds.
5. Does a College Degree Protect your Career? The teenage unemployment rate is the highest in nearly half a century coming in at over 24.2 percent. Additionally, individuals with college degrees are facing the highest unemployment in two decades since records started being kept.
6. Education and Earnings: The Economist looks at how well-educated and well-off fathers tend to pass advantages on down to their sons in Europe. In Ireland, sons of fathers with a university degree are nearly 70 percent more likely to pursue the same. In Britain, sons are about only 40 percent more likely to go to college if their dad did.
7. Education Pays: Sometimes when working your way through college, it’s difficult to step outside and see the long-term impact and value a good education has on one’s life. According to statistics, the odds are in your favor that you will get paid for your hard work at school over the course of your lifetime.
8. Experience Levels: When it comes to experience, an engineer with four years on the job has a median income of $51,100, but the income levels jump to the $62,000 mark when the worker hits the five-to-nine-year experience level. An engineer with a master’s degree in engineering makes $98,031.
9. How Much Does Having a College Degree Help You Get a Job? People with a college education have less than one third the unemployment rate of those without a high school degree. Source for this graph is from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics.
10. Is your degree worth $1 million — or worthless? This report by Liz Pulliam Weston shows that a master’s degree in a liberal arts or social sciences field, on average, doesn’t offer any financial payoff. Figures show that a liberal arts master’s degree earned just $5 a month more, on average, than someone with a bachelor’s in the same field.
11. Learning and earning: A new report from the OECD, a rich country think-tank, attempts to measure how much more graduates can expect to earn compared with those who seek jobs without having a degree. In America, the lifetime gross earnings of male graduates are, on average, nearly $370,000 higher than non-graduates.
12. Lower Unemployment Rates: If you want to stay out of the unemployment line, finish your college degree. The lowest unemployment rate for a degree is for someone earning a professional degree, which results in around 1.7 percent of people collecting unemployment.
13. Master’s and Doctoral Degrees Earned by Field: In 2005–06, more than half of the master’s degrees awarded to American Indians/Alaska Natives were in the fields of education or business. Nearly half of the doctoral degrees awarded to American Indians/ Alaska Natives were in the fields of education, psychology, and social sciences and history.
14. Master’s Degree in the Modern Languages Since 1966: The story of the master’s degree in English and foreign languages since 1966 is most dramatically a story about women’s access to areas of study traditionally dominated by men, and more generally a story about how economic shifts influence students’ degree decisions.
15. Mean Earnings by Degree: The cost of education is dependent upon level of graduate study, discipline and residency, but a graduate degree offers benefits such as a boost to your earning potential, the amount of freedom and autonomy you have in your job, and your rate of advancement.
16. Methods of Training Leading to Certification: Over two-thirds of the respondents in this study received the training that led to certification in technology education or industrial arts. 22 respondents received their technology education teacher training as part of a master’s degree program.
17. Separation of Degrees: A state devoting between 1 and 2 percent of current expenditures to master’s degrees can point to 28 other states with the same habit. This may be a weak excuse for such spending patterns, but the existence of seven states with lower investment levels may focus the minds of leaders looking for sensible ways to manage the fiscal crisis.
18. Student Loans by the Numbers: 39 percent of graduates will take 10 years to pay back student loans, and 28 percent of graduates will delay having children because of these loans. A college degree still may be the best investment, as you could make approximately $800,000 more over your lifetime than your high school friends who stayed home.
19. The Ubiquity of the Bachelors Degree Is Reaching a Tipping Point: Since 1950, the population of individuals with bachelor’s degrees has gone from 5 percent to 27 percent. Today, there are around the same number of people holding bachelor’s degrees as there were people who held high school diplomas in 1950.
20. The Value Of A College Degree In Today’s Job Market: Not having a college degree makes you three times more likely to be unemployed. There is no such thing as a totally recession-proof degree or job, however the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) statistics shows that a degree is a valuable tool for career stability.
21. The Variety of Change: Engineering degree production has increased substantially in recent years. From 2000 to 2008, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees increased by 16, 29, and 51 percent, respectively. At the top is biomedical engineering, where master’s degrees have grown by 157 percent.
22. Unemployment Rates by Degree: The United States Department of Education which shows that people with a college education have less than one third of the unemployment rate of those without a high school degree. Sources gathered from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics.
23. Who is Coming to America? The academic year 2008-09, approximately 671,616 foreign students attended U.S. institutions. As more foreign students come to American universities, they take the places of American students, meaning fewer Americans receive a quality education.
24. Women, Education, & Income: According to 2004-2005 school year data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), women outnumbered men in terms of earning associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Women who graduated from four-year colleges earned about 76 percent more than women with only a high school diploma.
25. Women Now Dominate Higher Education at Every Degree Level: Of the more than 3 million college degrees for the Class of 2009, women will earn close to 60 percent of those degrees, or almost 149 degrees for every 100 degrees earned by men. The last year that men earned more Master’s degrees than women was 1984-1985.

The Popular Master’s Degrees

The following master’s degree programs became popular because they are versatile — which means that you can use that degree in a wide variety of professions and positions.

1. Education
2. Business
3. Health Sciences
4. Public Administration and Social Services
5. Engineering

One way to learn more about these degrees is to use the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Web site, where you can discover the education you need, what the job is like and how much money you can earn in these careers. Below, each profession is explained, with links to other resources to help you weave your way through the information provided at the BLS.

Education

If you visit the Educational Services page at BLS, you can learn that educational services cover a wide range of job and career possibilities other than teaching. Jobs range from teaching to management and office administration, and these jobs are found in grades from kindergarten to colleges and universities. While teachers can work with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in education provides more opportunity to teach at a higher level (high school or vocational school) and could result in a higher position in office management as well.

According to the BLS, post-secondary teachers make an annual median wage of $61,500 compared to all industries at $61,360. If you go down the rows on Table 3 to compare median wages, any occupation within educational services matches or exceeds all industries across the board. Education and experience in this field are important, and if you enjoy teaching, you could manage to have a comfortable and satisfactory life with this career.

A degree in education also is very versatile, as you can avoid teaching in schools and, instead, become a business consultant who trains employees for a corporation. You also could enter other fields such as writing, editing, publishing or focus on a field within teaching such as math, science or art. Even if you have an undergraduate degree in any of those subjects, a master’s degree in education could help to broaden your choices significantly.

Business

The business master’s degree, or MBA, is one of the broadest fields and one of the most popular degrees. If you look at the Management and business and financial occupations page at BLS, you can see that this field covers everything from administrative services managers to top executives in management, and from accountants and auditors to tax examiners, collectors and revenue agents in business and financial operations.

Top executives, for instance, may only need a bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree may guarantee even higher wages. The page that examines this career at BLS shows that top executives are among the highest paid workers in the United States, but that wages vary widely depending upon the level of executive responsibility. Median annual wages of general and operations managers in May 2008 were $91,570. The middle 50 percent earned between $62,900 and $137,020. The employers who paid the most were located in computer systems design and related services.

Health Sciences

In this case, we went directly to Medical and Health Services Managers to learn more about this field. These careers demand a master’s degree in one of a number of fields as a standard credential for most generalist positions. A bachelor’s degree is sometimes adequate for entry-level positions in smaller facilities and departments. In physicians’ offices and some other facilities, on-the-job experience may substitute for formal education.

Median annual wages of wage and salary medical and health services managers were $80,240 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $62,170 and $104,120. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $137,800. The employers who paid the most were located in general medical and surgical hospitals.

Public Administration and Social Services

The BLS has an entire page devoted to Social Workers. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for entry into the occupation, but some positions require an advanced degree. Median annual wages of child, family, and school social workers were $39,530 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,040 and $52,080. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,870, and the top 10 percent earned more than $66,430. The top-paying employers in this field were elementary and secondary schools.

Public administration is a highly versatile field with a wide variety of sub-field occupations, and high-end mean annual salaries range from $88,530 for engineering managers to $96,540 for astronomers to $94,580 for family and general practitioners. Depending upon your major, you can go into public administration for a master’s degree and focus on serving the public and earn a healthy salary as well.

Engineering

Engineering is a broad field, also. The Engineers page at BLS shows 18 subfields within engineering, from civil engineers to agricultural engineers and “all others,” which may be mostly in manufacturing industries. As a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries among those holding bachelor’s degrees. Those individuals holding master’s degrees can earn even higher salaries.

The highest median annual earnings for engineers currently include $108,020 for petroleum engineers, $97,400 for computer engineers and $97,080. The current lowest median annual wage is $68,730 for agricultural engineers. However, the highest employment growth in this industry is projected in environmental engineering at 31 percent over the next decade. Currently, this engineering career earns a median annual wage of $70,900; however, location can make a difference. Environmental engineers located in a city such as Hattiesburg, Mississippi, can earn $107,860 per year.

Conclusion

You can choose a teaching career if you love to teach and know that you will have an annual median wage that is similar to any other industry. Or, you can choose to become a social worker and know that your wages may not be up to standard — this is a job that one enters for the love of the work. On the other hand, learning how business operates can stand anyone in good stead, no matter the occupation, while engineering requires undergraduate courses specific to that career.

Other factors, such as location and sub-field within any one of the careers mentioned above also can affect salaries substantially. Your choice of employer, your experience and your degree also affects wages. But, if you have a bachelor’s degree and would like to expand your career options with a master’s degree, you might think about choosing any one of the subjects listed above to expand your horizons and to increase your income.

All over the world, libraries are embracing technology, and their collections are becoming increasingly accessible. If you are interested in learning what is available, here are 50 library websites worth bookmarking:

North America

Find great library websites from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Some great libraries, with access to great information.

1. Library of Congress: It’s no surprise that the U.S. Library of Congress represents one of the best library websites out there.
2. Ann Arbor District Library: This library in Michigan has won awards for its attractive and informative website, which is available in several languages.
3. New York Public Library: Get access to the different events, classes and resources offered by this large and beautiful library.
4. San Francisco Public Library: Great site with information on collections, events and special exhibits.
5. Whistler Public Library: This library in Whistler, British Columbia, offers a look at what is available, an offers helpful hints on doing homework and using the library for research.
6. Toronto Public Library: Access to resources and events. You can also find resources in French.
7. Vancouver Public Library: Enjoy the “Ask a Librarian” feature, and find a number of interesting resources.
8. National Archives and Library of Quebec: Even though the site is mainly in French, you can also access it in English. Includes information on cultural activities, resources and more.
9. Biblioteca Vasconcelos: Known for its architecture, this library also has a good website. But it helps to know Spanish — or have translation software.
10. The National Library of Mexico: Another Spanish language website, this library offers a number of interesting resources.

Caribbean, South America and Central America

Look at library websites from south of Mexico. Plenty of solid information.

11. National Library of Costa Rica: The Miguel Obregón Lizano library is the national library of Costa Rica. You can have the page translated, or read it in Spanish.
12. National Library of Cuba: Biblioteca Nacional José Martí offers news, discussion forums and more.
13. National Library of Guatemala: Includes video, galleries and more.
14. National Health Library: The Biblioteca Nacional de Salud in Nicaragua offers access to health materials and information.
15. National Library of Brazil: This cool website offers access to the catalog, images and more.
16. National Institute of Musicology “Carlos Vega”: Library in Argentina devoted mainly to music and the study of music.
17. Aruba National Library: Plenty of links and interesting information.
18. National Library of Jamaica: Living history information, and more, all in English.

Europe

Libraries dating from the Middle Ages can be found across Europe. Here are some of the sites you can visit to learn more.

19. National Art Library: Offers a look at art and exhibitions from this United Kingdom library.
20. Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru: The National Library of Wales offers a library website that provides a number of resources while preserving cultural heritage. No, you don’t have to read it in Welsh; an English version is offered as well.
21. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana: Choose Italian or English, and read about what’s happening at the Vatican library, and get access to online catalogs.
22. Austrian National Library: Get access to collections, catalogs and more. There is an English version of the library, but the German version offers more.
23. National and University Library of Iceland: A number of great resources for students and researchers. Comes in a several languages, including English.
24. Royal Library: Located in the Netherlands, this library website offers an attractive way to access some of its resources. In Dutch, but also available in English.
25. National Library of Russia: The website of this library, located in St. Petersburg, offers a look at collections and catalogs, as well as special exhibitions. Available in Russian and English.
26. Biblioteca de Catalunya: Access the library website of this interesting and culturally unique area of Spain. It helps to know Catalan, or to use the Google Toolbar to translate.
27. National Library of Luxembourg: Have the page translated from French into English, and you can access a number of neat features.
28. National Library of Scotland: See different displays and access different projects.
29. Royal Library of Belgium: Great web site in French and Dutch. See interesting manuscripts and explore special collections.

Asia

Some of the world’s oldest civilizations are from Asia. You can find treasure troves of ancient and modern culture in Asian libraries. (Includes some libraries in the Middle East.)

30. National Library of China: Includes a digital library and electronic resources. Also available in English.
31. National Science Library: This library in India offers an interesting resource with access to different references. In English.
32. National Library of India: In English, this web site includes a number of digitized books as well as other features.
33. Iraqi National Library and Archives: Rendered in beautiful Arabic, this site offers a number of resources. There is an English version, but it is not updated as the Arabic version is.
34. Jewish National and University Library: See ancient maps and learn about Jewish history and treasures on this English language site.
35. National Diet Library: This library in Japan offers a look at Japanese events and law, as well as providing a searchable electronic library. It’s comparable to the Library of Congress.
36. National Library of Korea: If you know Korean, you can take advantage of this site to its fullest. However, there are versions in English, German, French, Spanish and more.
37. Baakleen National Library: Learn more about Lebanon, and get access to a number of resources on this website, which is available in English and Arabic.
38. National Library Board: Access to Singapore library resources.
39. National Library and Archives of Bhutan: Access the Himalayas from your own home.

Africa

Some of the oldest and best libraries in the world (think: Alexandria, Egypt) have been located in Africa.

40. Egyptian National Agricultural Library: Get information about agriculture in Egypt using this English language site.
41. National Library of Uganda: Access the cultural heritage of this interesting country.
42. National Library of South Africa: Exhibitions, as well as access to the inter-lending system for South African libraries.
43. National Library of Ethiopia: Includes interesting information, heritage and notes on interesting collections.
44. National Library of Algeria: French? Or Arabic? Either way, there is plenty offered on this site, including lectures, collections and more. You can always use the Google Toolbar to translate.
45. National Library of Namibia: Access catalogs and choose different document delivery methods.

Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

Interesting cultures and libraries can be found even in places we often consider remote.

46. National Library of Australia: Explore digital collections, Australian history and more.
47. State Library of New South Wales: Information, interactive features and more.
48. National Library of New Zealand: Interactive features on the site, as well as research guides.
49. Christchurch City Libraries: Stay up to date on different publications, and find fun activities for teens and kids.
50. Marshall Islands Environment Library: Learn more about the environment, and get country profiles.

From the beginning, several major book publishers, including Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan committed to publishing books for the iPad. These books included textbooks for students as well as mainstream publications. iPad users can add free ePub titles to iTunes on a Mac or PC and sync them to the iBooks app on iPad.

Reading iBooks on iPad is like reading a book, in that you hold your iPad like a book and flip the pages like a book. Instead of a stylus, the iPad operates with fingertip-sensitive precision, and — unlike many eBook readers — the iPad contains an LED-backlit screen that displays the text in high contrast. Additionally, the iPad allows color, so illustrations jump to new dimensions compared to traditional electronic book readers. But, one iPad user warns that the iPad is heavier than many mainstream books, although much lighter than many textbooks.

It’s those textbooks that matter to many schools, and three universities are ready to hand out free iPads to students and faculty in hopes that this tool will revolutionize education. Seton Hill University, George Fox University and Abilene Christian University each pre-ordered bundles of iPads with plans to experiment with how the tablet could change classroom learning. Additionally, some users are thrilled to learn that the iPad also can be used to gain access to free course materials.

First, you might want to check out the iPad specs to understand what all is native with the iPad, and what you may need to amend to that iPad to get what you want for your studies through apps. Here’s the lowdown on how iPad users can gain access to textbooks, open courseware materials and public domain books on the iPad, and some of the issues involved with that access…

Open Courseware and Public Domain Books

The OpenCourseWare Consortium, which grew out of the MIT open courseware project, now includes over 200 institutions worldwide and offers materials from more than 13,000 courses. Many people have become accustomed to discovering these courses through the OCWSearch, a search engine for OpenCourseWare classes.

Recently, OCWSearch released an API that provides access to the full OCWSearch index, including course name, instructor name and course description. Pierre Far, the creator of this project, hopes that the API will allow other developers to create mobile and Web apps using information at OCWSearch.

PDF

While this development is taking place, many courseware project users realize that online access is necessary to gain entry into online courses. Additionally, many OpenCourseWare courses contain PDF applications, and the iPad mentions only one way to read PDFs — in the Mail application as an attachment. But, there is another way to gain access to PDF views. Simply use the Safari browser instead of apps.

The Safari browser comes loaded on the iPad, and it allows people to read a number of online papers, magazines and documents as well as gain access to online open courseware and public domain books, such as those available at WorldWide Center of Mathematics. But, the Safari browser has a few flaws, such as the inability to “find in page” (a plugin is required) and an exposed exploit in the browser has not been patched on the iPad. This exploit can be combined with ICC-ID data to perform targeted attacks.

So, if you’d prefer to remain safe from hack attacks on your iPad, you may want to use an app. Good.iWare has released GoodReader for iPad, and this app makes reading PDFs easy. It supports PDF, text and audio files and allows file transfers. Other apps are available as well, all located at the App Store.

Video and Audio

Many open courseware projects also include video. The iPad screen itself carries support for 1024 x 768 pixels with a Dock Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable. Video capabilities include H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, including audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats.

Once again, the Safari browser enables anyone to view online video offered through any Web site.

eTextbooks

The following links represent just a handful of eTextbook resources that you can tap for textbooks to read on the iPad. Some eTexts are free, others come at a price, but usually far less than what you would pay for a traditional textbook. You also can use sites such as Buy eTextbooks to learn more about new sites or resources:

• CengageBrain: This is a marketplace to buy or rent eTextbooks, traditional textbooks, eChapters and audio. The eText option is less expensive.
• CourseSmart. This Web site allows students to hunt for textbooks that have been converted to electronic book formats. They currenty have almost 12,000 titles available in over 1,000 course areas across 117 disciplines. They claim users can save up to 50 percent over traditional textbooks.
• Google Books: While you may not find eTextbooks at this site, there are resources here you may need to tap for other required readings.
• ManyBooks: iPad users can use iTunes to add ePub files to iBooks or install Stanza (app store link) to open ePub files directly.
• Open Library: You can find books by authors or subjects or even add a book to this site. This is a wiki, so feel free to jump in to help make this site better.
• Project Gutenberg: Although this site may not contain eTextbooks, you may find other required reading resources at this site.
• Textbooks.com: This Web site contains textbooks for eReaders in a variety of formats and for a number of course areas. Search with ISBN, author or keyword(s). You also can sell your used textbooks at this site.
• University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center: This is an example of a university library site that offers free eTexts to users. Check with your university or college library, and also check with your neighborhood library to see what they have to offer in eBooks and eTexts.