The following lists a variety of links to useful online resources that may help with the management and information searches of day to day life. If faced with a medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1. Thank you.
Disclaimer: The Vicksburg District Library does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the following agencies. No monetary exchange has occurred by the library or any of these agencies. Furthermore, the librarians of Vicksburg District Library are not lawyers or doctors and are not licensed to give legal or medical advice. These websites have been listed for academic purposes only.
Arts & Studies
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
“Encouraging the creation and appreciation of art in southwest Michigan.”
Library of Congress
Official website for the Library of Congress.
NASA Image and Video Library
From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, images, videos, and audio recordings from space exploration and studies.
National Archives
The official website for the National Archives.
The Smithsonian
“The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 19 museums and the National Zoo.”
Business
Business Information for Michigan Residents
“A listing of resources that can be used by people in Michigan who are not affiliated with the University of Michigan.”
Charity & Volunteering
Generous Hands
“The mission of Generous Hands is to benefit hungry children by addressing their physical, emotional, nutritional, and educational well-being.”
Gryphon Place
“Gryphon Place connects people and organizations to resolve conflict and crisis, foster volunteerism, and meet community needs.”
Kalamazoo Community Foundation
“Our mission: To make life better for all through leadership and stewardship of resources that last forever.”
ONEplace
From the Kalamazoo Public Library, “ONEplace@kpl is a management support organization offering resources and services to nonprofit staff, board, and volunteers in Kalamazoo county.”
Coding
Codecademy
“If you know how to read you can learn how to code. Our online coding tutorials with easy-to-follow instructions, immediate feedback, and a tested curriculum take anyone from non-technical to ‘I can code.'”
Free Code Camp
“Our mission: to help people learn to code for free. We accomplish this by creating thousands of videos, articles, and interactive coding lessons – all freely available to the public. We also have thousands of FreeCodeCamp study groups around the world.”
Continued Education
A Quick Guide to OERs
An infograph from the Georgia State University Library explaining the basics of Open Educational Resources (OERs).
College Prep Guide
“The College Prep Guide is a comprehensive online resource guide and directory for your college preparation.”
Duolingo
Learn one or more of 30+ languages for free at Duolingo through immersion with speaking, listening, and writing from lesson one.
Federal Student Aid
Free application for federal financial aid for college, graduate school, and career school.
Khan Academy
“A personalized learning resource for all ages. Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom.”
MeL Databases and Resources
Database research provided by the Michigan Electronic Library.
Michigan’s Futures for Frontliners
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, along with leaders in education, business, labor and workforce development, have launched the nation’s first program offering tuition-free college to an estimated 625,000 Michiganders who provided essential, frontline services during COVID-19 “Stay Home, Stay Safe” orders between April – June 2020. Futures for Frontliners, inspired by the GI Bill which provided college degree to those serving their country in WWII, offers Michigan adults without college degrees or high school diplomas who provided essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic a tuition-free pathway to gaining the skills needed to obtain high-demand, high-wage careers. The funding is not only available to those in the medical field, but also essential workers in manufacturing, nursing homes, grocery stores, sanitation, delivery, retail and more.
Mooc.org
“Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free online courses available for anyone to enroll. MOOCs provide and affordable and flexible way to learn new skills, advance your career, and deliver quality educational experiences at scale.”
MOOC List
“Find with multiple criteria MOOC and Free Online Courses from Coursera, edX, Future Learn, and other top providers and universities in a wide range of categories and subjects.”
OER Commons
“The worldwide OER movement is rooted in the human right to access high-quality education. This shift in education practice is not just about cost savings and easy access to openly licensed content; it’s about participation and co-creation. Open Educational Resources (OERs) offer opportunities for systemic change in teaching and learning content through engaging educators in new participatory processes and effective technologies for engaging with learning.”
Open Educational Resources
A libguide from the Lansing Community College Library. An overview of all things OER related.
Purdue Online Writing Lab
Research guidance and citation help in a number of different academic writing styles.
The Reality and Solution of College Plagiarism
Presented by the University of Illinois at Chicago, this infographic displays many of the issues revolving around plagiarism in the classroom today.
Financial
Credit Sesame
Free credit score and report card so you can keep track of your financial status.
Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund
“Established to mitigate hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to prevent homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship”
Tax Forms – Federal
The latest federal tax forms available from the IRS.
TAX FORM – STATE
The latest tax forms and notices available from the State of Michigan.
Government & Legal
Americans with Disabilities Guides and Regulations
Published by the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
Michigan Secretary of State
Quick links for services provided by the Secretary of State offices.
FIND LAW
Directory of lawyers covering various legal issues.
Kalamazoo (City)
Official website for the city of Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo (County)
Official website for the county of Kalamazoo.
Michigan Child Support Formula Manual
“As part of its responsibilities, the Friend of the Court Bureau developed a formula guideline for figuring child support obligation amounts. The law requires courts to use this formula when setting or changing child support obligations.”
Michigan Compiled Laws Index
From the Michigan Legislature website.
Michigan Constitution
From the Michigan Legislature, the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963.
Michigan Employment & Labor Laws
“It is our mission to provide businesses, especially small businesses, with the services, resources, and information they need to manage their work forces.”
Michigan House of Representatives
Official website of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Michigan Legal help
“For people who are handling their legal problems without a lawyer, it can help you learn about your legal problems and help you get ready for court.”
Michigan Senate
Official website of the Michigan Senate.
Michigan State Bar Association Membership Directory and Referral Service
“This online member directory provides basic information about attorneys licensed to practice in Michigan.”
Michigan Vehicle Code
From the Michigan Legislature, information about owning, registering, and operating a vehicle in the state of Michigan.
US Veteran’s Administration Benefits
A service of the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Information for applying for citizenship in the United States, obtaining/renewing a green card, and more.
Voter Registration Information
Information for voters in the state of Michigan, including registration, poll locations, and absentee ballots.
Health & Wellness
AARP
“AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“The CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the US.”
FamilyDoctor.org
“Trusted medical advice from the American Academy of Family Physicians.”
Healthfinder
“Live well. Learn how.” An overview of health topics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kehoe’s Martial Arts
A Vicksburg District Library favorite, Tai Chi instructor Ed Kehoe, has his own channel on YouTube. On Kehoe’s Martial Arts, he demonstrates different forms of Tai Chi along with Qigong, Karate, and more!
The Mayo Clinic
“Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all its earnings into improving medical practice, research, and education.”
Medical Encyclopedia
“The A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia includes over 4,000 articles about diseases, tests, symptoms, injuries, and surgeries. It also contains an extensive library of medical photographs and illustrations.”
Medicare
The official website for medicare in the United States.
Medline Plus
“Trusted health information for you.” From the National Institutes of Health.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
“We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.”
Yoga with Adriene
Adriene Mishler’s YouTube channel is filled with lots of different types of yoga, from beginner to advanced. There are also different types of yoga to target different types of challenges and issues, such as building core strength, helping to calm anxiety, stretching to promote energy and stamina, as well as winding down with calm meditation.
Information Literacy & Reliable Resources
Information Literacy – Digital Citizenship
Today’s digital landscape offers young people unprecedented access to tools and resources for learning. Foundational information and digital literacy skills can help set kids up for success as lifelong learners.
Is My Source Credible?
“The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general…a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence.”
Snopes
“When misinformation obscures the truth and readers don’t know what to trust, Snopes.com’s fact checking and original, investigative reporting lights the way to evidence-based and contextualized analysis. We always document our sources so readers are empowered to do independent research and make up their own minds.”
Teaching Information Literacy Skills
“Are your students drowning in information, misinformation, and downright bunk?…Teaching information literacy skills has never been more important.”
LGBTQ+
ACLU
“For almost 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the United States.”
American Veterans for Equal Rights
“A non-profit, non-partisan, chapter-based Veterans Service Organization of active, reserve, and veteran service members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, especially the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender current and prior military personnel who have been historically disenfranchised by armed forces policy and discriminatory laws governing military service and benefits.”
Bisexual Resource Center
“The Bisexual Resource Center envisions a world where love is celebrated, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression. Because bisexuals today are still misunderstood, marginalized and discriminated against, the BRC is committed to providing support to the bisexual community and raising public awareness about bisexuality and bisexual people.”
CenterLink
“CenterLink was founded in 1994 as a member-based coalition to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers. The organization plays an important role in supporting the growth of LGBT centers and addressing the challenges they face by helping them to improve their organizational and service delivery capacity and increase access to public resources.”
COLAGE
“COLAGE unites people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer parents or caregivers into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in our collective communities.”
Equality Federation
A political group dedicated to bringing equality to all in the LGBTQ+ community. “We won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities and experience full equality in their lives.”
GMHC
“GMHC is the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy. Building on decades of dedication and expertise, we understand the reality of HIV/AIDS and empower a healthy life for all.”
Human Rights Campaign
“As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.”
Lambda Legal
“Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.”
The Matthew Shepard Foundation
“The Matthew Shepard Foundation’s longstanding mission is to erase hate by replacing it with understanding, compassion, and acceptance. Through local, regional, and national outreach, we empower individuals to find their voice to create change and challenge communities to identify and address hate that lives within their schools, neighborhoods, and homes.”
Modern Military Association of America
“The Modern Military Association of America is the nation’s largest non-profit organization for the LGBTQ military and veteran community. We are committed to education, advocacy and support for LGBTQ service members, veterans, military spouses, family members and allies.”
National Center for Transgender Equality
“Advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.”
National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
“The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging is the country’s first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender older adults.”
Out & Equal
“Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is the world’s premiere nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer workplace equality.”
SAGE – Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders
“SAGE is the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older people and their caregivers.”
Transgender Law Center
“Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.”
Miscellaneous
Fuel Economy Guide by Model Year
Research for buying a car, comparing gas mileage, benefits, and more for your automobile. You can also view general fuel economy information.
Great Start to Quality
Directory and information for choosing childcare and early education in your local area.
Kelley Blue Book
Research and pricing for new and used cars.
Trulia
“We believe that when it comes to finding a home, what’s outside the front door is just as important as what’s behind it.”
Seniors
Aging Services
“Aging services help older adults live in the setting of their choice for as long as possible, and complement the care provided by family or friends.”
Alzheimer’s Association Helpline
“Through this free service, specialists and master’s-level clinicians offer confidential support and information to people living with the disease, caregivers, families, and the public.”
Area Agencies on Aging
“AAA provides services, education, outreach, and advocacy to vulnerable adults and their caregivers.”
Eldercare Locator
“Whether help is needed with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver needs training and education or a well-deserved break from caregiving responsibilities, the Eldercare Locator is there to point that person in the right direction.”
Meals on Wheels
“Our mission: To empower local community programs to improve the health and quality of life of the seniors they serve so that no one is left hungry or isolated.”
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
“We offer a variety of programs to protect, encourage independence and advocate for frail and vulnerable adults in Michigan. Our programs can assist you with independent living (home help), adult foster care and home for the aged, adult protective services, and support for those dealing with HIV/AIDS.”
Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program
“Our mission: To educate, counsel, and empower Michigan’s older adults and individuals with disabilities, and those who serve them, so that they can make informed health benefit decisions.”
Social Security Administration
“With retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, Social Security is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in our nation’s history.”