Online Reference: Databases


TitleDescription
Magazine Index (Master File Premiere)Designed specifically for public libraries, this database contains full text for nearly 1,700 periodicals covering general reference, business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and much more. It also contains full text for more than 500 reference books, over 107,000 primary source documents, and an Image Collection of over 510,000 photos, maps & flags.
50States.comThis site, from Weber Publications, provides a wide variety of facts about each state and 7 commonwealths and territories. Links to city newspapers and current events, among others, are included.
A+ MathAn interactive math skills builder. Includes flash cards, worksheets, and a homework problem checker.
ALA Great Web Sites for KidsOffers links to a variety of safe and useful web sites for students that have been approved and researched by the American Library Association.
Ask Dr. MathFind out all about numbers and the way they work.
AskUsNow!Receive answers 24 hours a day from a live librarian!
Awesome LibraryAwesome Library organizes the Web with 23,00 carefullyl reviewed sources in a wide variety of general topics from the arts to technology. Students may enter specific search topics or choose from many options to information links listed under each subject. Students may browse in other languages.
Awesome Library for TeensThe teen department of  the Awesome Library organizes the Web with carefully reviewed education resources on topics of interest to teens. Site contains a directory, an index, and a search engine.
Bartleby.comBartlett Quotes and other Reference Sources
Biography Resource CenterBiographical information on more than 1 million people throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. Searchable by person's name, range of dates, places, nationality, ethnicity, occupation and gender. Includes pictures.
Children's Literature Web GuideFind out all kinds of information about children's and young adult books and authors.
Columbia Granger's World of PoetryCurrently includes 250,000 poems in fulltext, and 450,000 poetry citations searchable by title, first line, full-text, author, subject, gender, nationality, etc. Includes commentaries, biographies, bibliographies, a glossary of terms, full-text books on the history and criticism of poetry, a hierarchical browsing feature with 6,000 subject categories, side-by-side poem comparison, and user customization features.
Country ReportsThis emulated site pulls information about countries from sources such as the CIA Factbook and presents them in a concise, easily readable format.
Dictionary of Units of MeasureInformation about units of measurement, conveting units, and more.
Diversity CalendarSponsored by the University of Kansas Medical Center. Includes world holidays arranged by month with a brief description of many of them.
eNature.comField guides and more for all kinds of wildlife including animals, birds, insects, and plants.
Evaluating WebsitesLearn how to evaluate a web site to make sure that you can trust the information on it.
FactmonsterIncludes a searchable homework center, reference, 'Today in History,' study skills, and a word of the day.
Funk & Wagnall’s New World EncyclopediaThis database provides over 25,000 encyclopedic entries covering a variety of subject areas.
High School AceA guide to free high-quality online learning resources for teens.
History Reference CenterThis history database features full text for more than 1,620 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books from leading history publishers. It also includes full text for more than 150 leading history periodicals including American Heritage, Civil War Times, Foreign Affairs, History Today, Journal of American History,Wild West, World War II and more. Further, the database contains nearly 57,000 historical documents; more than 78,000 biographies of historical figures; more than 113,000 historical photos and maps; and more than 80 hours of historical video.
Information Please AlmanacFacts, facts and more facts!
Internet Public LibraryGeneral information on a large variety of topics.
Internet Public Library KidSpaceKids Portal to what they need to complete homework assignments.
KidsClick!A web search for kids by librarians.
Library of Congress Country StudiesGet up-to-date information on 100 countries.  Includes the history, geography, economy and government of each country.  Maps, photos and charts are also provided for most countries.
Literature Resource CenterProvides access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of more than 90,000 authors from every age and literary discipline including the most studied authors. Searchable by author name, title, genre, literary movements and themes.
MD Kids' PageThe official Maryland Kids' Page sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State. Includes facts and trivia.
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and ThesaurusIncludes a dictionary, thesaurus, word games and more.
Multnomah County Library Homework CenterLinks to homework assistance sites by subject area.
National GeographicWeb site of the National Geographic Society. Includes a searchable Publications index.
PBS History Find out the history of the Ancient World, the United States, and there is an extensive biographies list. You can also find out information on the arts, science and technology, health, and more.
School DiscoveryDiscovery School offers study tools, brain boosters, and science fair project help. You can get some homework tips in B.J. Pinchbeck’s Homework Helpers. This site also features a clip art gallery to jazz up a report and a crossword puzzle maker.
Schoolwork.ughStart here to find homework help in over 25 subjects.
Science Fair Project IndexGreat site for developing your science fair project.
Science Reference CenterThis comprehensive research database provides easy access to a multitude of full-text science-oriented content. It contains full text for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, and other sources. Topics covered include: biology, chemistry, earth & space science, environmental science, health & medicine, history of science, life science, physics, science & society, science as inquiry, scientists, technology and wildlife. The articles in Science Reference Center are correlated to state and national curriculum standards.
Student Research CenterStudent Research Center makes it easy for students to search by keyword or by topic to find the most useful search results. Results can be easily sorted by source type—magazines, reference books, photos, flags, etc.
The Nine PlanetsAn overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and their moons in our solar system. Each page has text and images, some have sounds and movies, and most provide references to additional related information. Includes a multimedia tour of the solar system by Bill Arnett.
Visual Elements Periodic TableNeed to know the atomic number for hydrogen? What is rhodium and what does it look like? Visual Elements Periodic Table can answer your element question. The site is sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Works Cited for Grade 6A citation source with a thorough list of examples. The “online resources” section includes emails, websites, and online databases.
yourDictionary.comIncludes a dictionary, thesaurus, abbreviations, translations, and a whole lot more.