If you check on Miriam-Webster.com you will see Encyclopedia Brittania listed on one of the tabs at the top of the home page. I find that to be a good source of information.

I use Wikipedia often and have for the most part found it reliable. They solicit input from users and people with contradictory information are encuoraged to update the entries. References are often listed for the information I've used. You may also want to try http://www.encyclopedia.com/about.aspx which uses info from the Columbia Encyclodedia and is updated regulary. I've qalso used www.infoplease.com, which has not only an encyclodedia but dictionary, thesaurus, etc. and is part of the Pearson Edication network and has been in operation since 1938 (radio first, not web!).

Last semester when my son was writing papers for Humanities in college, they were not permitted to use Wikipedia, because they said it was not a trusted site, anyone can post on it, so the info may not be accurate.

You may want to check with your local library. Many libraries have online access to all sorts of reference materials. All you have to do is get a library card and sign in with that.

I use answers.com it is a great resource.