Understanding Society Through Its Institutions
Internet Sociology is a research and publishing initiative dedicated to examining the social structures, communities, and public institutions that define how we live, learn, and connect — both online and off.
Current Projects
Public Library Collection Rankings
Not all public libraries are alike. Some maintain truly distinctive collections — materials you won't find at every branch stocked from the same supplier catalog. Our infographic rankings identify the libraries that are genuinely worth the visit, measuring collection uniqueness rather than sheer volume.
Explore the Rankings →Social Archive
A self-hosted archive of forum communities — the kind of long-running, conversation-rich sites whose history is most at risk of disappearing. Built as a hedge against the slow degradation of the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, with content-addressed snapshots stored under our own control. Currently in private beta.
Sign in →Sociology Resources
Useful references for researchers, students, and the curious.
- Sociology Dictionary — Open-access definitions of sociological terms and concepts.
- International Sociological Association — The global body for sociologists, hosting conferences and publications since 1949.
- Google Scholar — Sociology — Search scholarly literature across many disciplines and sources.
About
Internet Sociology publishes data-driven research on public institutions and social infrastructure. Our work combines quantitative analysis with a belief that the institutions people share — libraries, schools, civic spaces — are the bedrock of a functioning society.
We also produce Positive Action Ads (PAA), a creative initiative from the same team.