Christine McCrea Shirley Lew Haidee Parker Richmond Public Library

Find that number online

They're something I refer to almost everyday either at home or when helping people at the Reference Desk.

Most are familiar with myTelus.com for finding phone numbers and addresses (http://www.mytelus.com/phonebook/index.vm). Use it to find people, businesses or government agencies in B.C. or Canada by name, city and province.

Where online directories really shine over print though is in the extra convenience features. In the business listings, for example, there are often links to a business' web site (if they have one)very handy for quick comparison shopping. Search for a business or residence and next to the each result is a link to a map and driving instructions to each address.

MyTelus' maps and driving instructions feature can also be used directly at www.mytelus.com/maps/index.jsp. I'm hoping to see transit instructions added in future.

An underutilized but fantastic service is the Distance Search from Superpages.ca, a nation-wide directory site at yp6.superpages.ca/dsearch.phtml. Distance search allows you to search for businesses within a certain area. For example, get a list of restaurants that are within a few kilometres from any location like your home or hotel. One of the best inventions, the criss-cross or reverse directories, are also online. There are many to choose from, but one of the most comprehensive is from 411.ca (http://411ca.whitepages.com/reverse_lookup.pl). Do a reverse look-up by phone number, address, area or postal code for businesses or residences.

Canada Post's beloved (no exaggeration) postal code look-up at www.canadapost.ca/personal/tools/pcl/bin/default-e.asp is a must to add to your bookmark list. Nothing fancy here—type in an address and Canada Post delivers the correct postal code instantly.

So, go ahead and use your phone books to prop up the TV—you won't be needing them for phones or addresses anymore.

This column and its links can be accessed from the Internet version of the Richmond Review, found on the Richmond Public Library's website at www.yourlibrary.ca.