Here's my list of most used online resources. These are all sources I use virtually every week, without leaving my desk. All I simply do is dial into the local access number for Compuserve.
1) ProfNet. Need to find an expert on Civil War memorial statuary? Or the TV habits of blacks and whites? If there's anyone out there who knows about these things, a query to ProfNet is your fastest way to track him or her down. (See also Dissertation Abstracts below.)
2) Phonefile. Every listed phone number in the United States is at your fingertips in instants. If you only have a hunch as to the general geographic area your subject inhabits, you can simply search by surname.
3) NewsUSA or the Newspaper Library. Electronic morgues of all the major and a lot of smaller newspapers across the country. Searchable by subject, keywords and byline.
4) Dissertation Abstracts. If you want to find out whether anybody has ever written a dissertation on the skateboard subculture, the abstracts will tell you who did when and give you a summary of the thesis. Also, there's an order number, so you can get a copy of the whole thing if you want it.
5) Books in Print. Has anyone ever written a book about your subject? This gives you all the information including author, title, publisher and ISBN number.
6) Magazine Database Plus. Many major and not-so-major magazines and their articles.
7) Academic American Encyclopedia. This may sound like a silly one, but it's handy to be able to look up some general point of reference quickly. And, needless to say, it's also much faster than walking back to the library and searching through the dusty stacks.
8) SIGs or Forums. There are dozens of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and professional forums where people correspond on their subject be it lawyers or dinosaurs. These are good places to find people to talk to about the subject you're writing about.
You can contact Kenton Robinson at his CompuServe address, 75050,2773.