~ Early Web Links ~

Digital Research Tools (DiRT) is a wiki-based directory cataloging software and resources to help humanities and social science scholars conduct research more efficiently, covering everything from citation management to text analysis and data visualization. Organized by research activity, it offers both a browsable tool directory and in-depth reviews exploring practical applications for academic researchers.

href.cool is a curated link directory that organizes the web into evocative categories like Bodies, Crimes, Supernatural, and Tapes, billing itself as a collector of 'the final heartbeats of our beloved www.' Its poetic framing and eclectic taxonomy make it a genuinely distinctive way to discover unusual, forgotten, or fascinating corners of the internet.

Created by Dr. Bill Vicars, Lifeprint.com is a comprehensive free resource for learning American Sign Language, featuring a massive dictionary of signing videos, grammar lessons, fingerspelling guides, and Deaf culture materials. With millions of visits logged and thousands of indexed signs covering everything from basic greetings to numbers and lexicalized fingerspelling, it serves students, interpreters, parents, and homeschoolers alike.

MindScape is a mental health reference site that catalogs a wide range of psychological disorders, from personality and mood disorders to dissociative and psychotic conditions, with brief, accessible descriptions of each. Visitors will also find links to crisis helplines, therapist finders, and self-help tools, making it a practical starting point for anyone seeking to understand mental health conditions.

Grammar Bytes! is a lively grammar instruction site offering lessons and exercises with a no-nonsense, attitude-driven approach to teaching English grammar. It is a go-to reference for students and teachers looking for engaging, accessible grammar help beyond the typical dry textbook.

The Biology Corner is a comprehensive teaching resource built by a biology teacher with 30+ years of experience, offering free worksheets, labs, case studies, and student activities covering anatomy, cells, evolution, genetics, and ecology. Highlights include gel electrophoresis simulations, dissection guides, reading guides for major textbooks, and creative case studies like 'The Honey Badger Heist' and 'The Island of the Colorblind.'

Michael L. Nelson is a Computer Science professor at Old Dominion University whose homepage highlights his research in web science, digital preservation, and digital libraries, including work on the Memento and OAI-PMH specifications. A former NASA Langley researcher and NSF CAREER award recipient, he has been featured in outlets like The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and the BBC for his work on web archiving and repository systems.

Matt Covington's personal homepage documents his experience as a deaf student at Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, including a dedicated 'Hearing Journey' section that chronicles his cochlear implant experience. The site includes a resume, CI (cochlear implant) information, FAQs, and photos, making it a personal window into life with hearing loss and assistive technology.

Maintained by retired school librarian Linda Bertland, this long-running directory compiles hundreds of curated links covering every aspect of school librarianship, from information skills lesson plans and collection development to technology, cataloging, and professional development. It serves as a comprehensive go-to reference for working school librarians seeking resources on everything from fake news instruction to makerspace planning.

Aceso Under Glass is Elizabeth's curiosity-driven blog that digs into practical knowledge ranging from clothing quality and shopping strategies to statistics, queuing theory, and the history of Bell Labs. The tagline 'What if we understood more things?' captures the spirit of a writer who investigates everyday and technical topics with analytical rigor and genuine enthusiasm.