For virtual reference desks, the following three sites are comprehensive and current: Internet Public Library , MeL Internet (Michigan Electronic Library) , and My Virtual Reference Desk-My Facts Page.

Fast facts provides a single location for links to a vast amount of varied information frequently requested.

Dictionaries

Merriam-Webster Online is a "language center" that includes a dictionary and a thesaurus. The American Heritage dictionary of the English language has 90,000 definitions and 900 color illustrations. OneLook Dictionaries allows you to "metasearch" as many as 454 online dictionaries to find the definition or spelling of a particular word.

Statistics

FEDSTATS provides access to federal agencies and the data which they collect, a useful starting point if you want to find federal stats on a particular topic but are unsure which agency gathers them. Also, the University of Michigan Documents Center provides an updated list of the most useful statistical resources on the Web.

Biography.com and The Biographical Dictionary both provide useful online ready reference biogrpahical information.