I’m not a computer or Internet junkie, but I know a good thing when I see it. And CultureGrams is it.

This database, accessible from computers in any of the eight branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library District or from your home computer if you have a valid library card, is a passport to the world.

Via this electronic product’s photos, maps, statistics and data, you really can experience the cultures of more than 190 countries and all 13 Canadian provinces and territories and tour all 50 states and the District of Columbia from the comfort of your chair or sofa.

The easy-to-use database is so intuitive I could find my way around it and locate all kinds of interesting information in about 2 minutes.

“CultureGrams, even though it contains lots of good history and socio-economic data, is just plain fun,” said Librarian Mike DePue who works at the Library Center. “It’s useful for would-be travelers, young and old students and cooks.”

Cooks? Well, yes, that’s one of my favorite parts of CultureGrams. Click on Recipe Collection and on the country of your choice, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and five native recipes in an easy-to-read format will appear.

I clicked on Greece and got recipes for the following: Authentic Greek Lamb, Greek Home-Style Chicken, Dolmades Avgolemono, Tsourekia and Tiropitakia. For Puerto Rico, I found Arroz Con Guandules, Lechon Asado Al Horno, Sofrito, Tostones and Coquito. This section of the site occupied me for quite a while, but then I went on to the Photo Gallery.

That alphabetical listing of countries came up again and I found hundreds of images from around the globe. If you’re planning a trip, definitely take a trip to this database first.

Now, the serious part: If you have homework—geography, history, world affairs, current events—check out the maps, charts, facts and data tables. Go to Famous People, click on, say, Liechtenstein, and find brief biographies of Hanni Wenzel, a former Olympic skier, and members of the monarchy.

The site is easy to get to. Go to thelibrary.org/infolink/databases.cfm. Or ask a librarian.

Jeanne C. Duffey, community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, can be reached at jeanned@thelibrary.org.