LibGuides: Databases: Home

What are databases and how can they help me research?

LIBRARY DATABASES are large collections of information from reference books, popular magazines, scholarly journals, newspapers, primary sources, and sometimes multimedia sources. These reference materials cannot usually be found on the free web, but don't despair! The Connecticut Digital Library and the SVS Library provide them for you!

How can I effectively use databases? OneSearch Tutorial
Search several databases at once: OneSearch
For remote access: Usernames and Passwords
Differences between news stories, editorials, and columns
Anatomy of a Scholarly Article

Why use databases instead of Google for your research?

Library databases are credible, accessible, and permanent. You can be sure where the information comes from. General Google searches provide results including everything including from hoaxes and jokes to biased propaganda. Let's search wisely. Life is too short for irrelevant or inaccurate information.

Be sure to select the database that best meets your information need!

The following list is organized by content area. Save time by looking at the entire list before choosing the most appropriate database for your specific purpose.

GENERAL REFERENCE

Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new window
Multidisciplinary full-text periodicals for high school students.

Britannica School This link opens in a new window
Quick facts & in-depth info on a variety of subjects.

Explora for High School This link opens in a new window
Good starting point for high school researchers.

Explora for Middle School This link opens in a new window
Good starting point for middle school researchers.

Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
E-reference books in all curricular areas.

Gale In Context: Elementary This link opens in a new window
Info on current topics in all subject areas, especially for kids!

MainFile This link opens in a new window
Multi-disciplinary information for all academic and general interest subject areas.

MAS Ultra - School Edition This link opens in a new window
Magazines, reference books, biographies, primary sources, & more.

MasterFILE This link opens in a new window
Full-text articles, reference books, and primary source documents.

Middle School Plus This link opens in a new window
Middle school magazines, biographies, essays, primary sources, photos, maps and flags.

National Geographic Magazine This link opens in a new window
Every article since 1995, including photos, videos, & maps.

National Geographic Kids This link opens in a new window
Images, videos, and books from 2009 till now.

ScholasticGO This link opens in a new window
Credible, accurate, reliable content on almost every core-curricula subject.

BIOGRAPHIES

Biography Reference Bank This link opens in a new window
Full-text articles, images & abstracts from today’s magazines and journals.

Biography Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Search for actors, artists, authors, current world leaders, explorers, religious leaders and more.

BUSINESS

Small Business Reference Center This link opens in a new window
State-specific resources, including videos, supported with demographic data.

CAREERS

Salem Career Library This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive information on education and training required for science and engineering careers, work environment, contacts, employment outlook and more!

CONNECTICUT HISTORY

Connecticut Digital Newspaper Project This link opens in a new window
Digitized copies of many articles published in CT newspapers between 1690-1963.

ConnecticutHistory.org This link opens in a new window
Stories about the people, traditions, innovations, and events of Connecticut.

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new window
Explore 800+ hot topics in our world today.

SIRS Issues Researcher This link opens in a new window
Full-text articles exploring current issues in our world.

TOPICSearch This link opens in a new window
Explore social, political & economic issues, scientific discoveries & more!

COUNTRIES AND CULTURES

CultureGrams This link opens in a new window
Cultural and statistical snapshots of every state in the U.S. and every country in the world.

Salem History Library This link opens in a new window
Includes the following resources: Countries, Peoples and Cultures, The 1920s in America, The 1930s in America, Great Events from History (Middle Ages 477 - 1453), Great Lives from History: Notorious Lives, Computer Technology Innovators, and Internet Innovators.

EDUCATION

ERIC This link opens in a new window
Online library of education research and information, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.
Professional Development Collection This link opens in a new window
Specialized collection for educators.
Teacher Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Indexing and abstracts for more than 200 peer-reviewed journals.

ENGLISH & LITERATURE

MagillOnLiterature Plus This link opens in a new window
Biographical essays of authors and essays on literary genres, themes and settings.

Poetry and Short Story Reference Center (avail. till 6/30/20) This link opens in a new window
Thousands of poems and short stories, biographies, essays, videos, audio recordings, lesson plans and learning guides.

Salem Literature Library This link opens in a new window
Literary criticism resources - Critical Insights, Critical Surveys, Magill's, and Masterplots.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Salem Health Library This link opens in a new window
Includes Adolescent Health and Wellness, Psychology and Behavioral Health, and Salem Health: Addictions, Substance Abuse & Alcoholism.

HISTORY

History Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Full-text history articles from reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books.

National Geographic Magazine This link opens in a new window
Every article since 1995, including photos, videos, & maps.

Salem History Library This link opens in a new window
Includes the following resources: Countries, Peoples and Cultures, The 1920s in America, The 1930s in America, Great Events from History (Middle Ages 477 - 1453), Great Lives from History: Notorious Lives, Computer Technology Innovators, and Internet Innovators.

LEGAL ISSUES

Legal Information Reference Center This link opens in a new window
"How-to” instructions covering a wide-range of legal issues.

NEWSPAPERS

News & Newspapers This link opens in a new window
Search the following newspapers simultaneously: Hartford Courant, Historical Hartford Courant, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

Aljazeera
Christian Science Monitor
1997 to present
Financial Times
Hartford Courant
1992 to present
Hartford Courant - Historical
1764 to 1922
Hindustan Times
Los Angeles Times
1985 to present
Middle Eastern and North African Newspapers
New York Times
1985 to present
Wall Street Journal
1987 to present
Washington Post
1987 to present
Xiahua

SCIENCE

GreenFILE This link opens in a new window
Articles about the environment with topics ranging from global warming to recycling.

Science Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, and more.

SOCIAL STUDIES

CultureGrams This link opens in a new window
Cultural and statistical snapshots of every state in the U.S. and every country in the world.

History Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Full-text history articles from reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books.

National Geographic Magazine This link opens in a new window
Every article since 1995, including photos, videos, & maps.

SPANISH

Referencia Latina This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive Spanish-language content from a variety of multidisciplinary sources.