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Online Resources - Reference/Research

Databases to help with research and to answer reference questions on general information, debate topics, antiques & collectibles, and local & Missouri history.

Connect from computers outside the Library. (14-digit Library Card number required.)

Connect from computers inside the Joplin Public Library.

Reference Librarian

Patty Crane

Reference Desk Telephone

417-624-5465

Reference Databases

Click the applicable icon to connect.
		Academic Search Elite Provides core resource of scholarly information for academic Institutions containing full text for more than 2,100 journals and over 1,700 peer-reviewed, full-text journals.
		Book Collection Nonfiction - High School Edition A research database for students containing searchable full text for more than 2,450 popular nonfiction books including high interest titles on careers, health, life skills, ethnicity, disabilities, adventure, sports, technology, biographies, music, science, history, civics and more.
		Book Collection Nonfiction - Middle School Edition A research database for students containing searchable full text for more than 3,100 popular nonfiction books. The database includes high interest titles on careers, health, life skills, ethnicity, disabilities, adventure, sports, technology, biographies, history, science, women, civics and more.
		Book Collection Nonfiction - Elementary Edition A research database for students containing searchable full text for more than 1,300 popular nonfiction books. The database includes high interest titles on animals, weather, holidays, adventure, sports, Native Americans, United States, Canada, biographies, nature, civics and more.
		Discovering Collection Reference works, primary source materials, creative works, and audio and video clips covering the core curriculum subjects including history, science, literature, and social studies.
		eBook Collection (Ebscohost) formerly NetLibrary eBooks are electronic versions of 6000+ printed books including many general interest, reference, technical, and how-to books that can be viewed online on any PC connected to the Internet.
		ERIC The Education Resource Information Center provides citations to education literature and resources.
		Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia General interest encyclopedia containing over 25,000 articles on various subjects.
		Gale Directory Library Online access to the Gale Encyclopedia of Publications and Broadcast Media and the Encyclopedia of Associations: National Organizations of the U.S. Search for information on organizations in the U.S. and for the newpapers, magazines, television and radio stations, and other media in places all over the world.
		Gale Virtual Reference Library Health and medical e-books with teen-friendly titles including Adolescent Health Sourcebook, Alcohol Information for Teens, Gale Encyclopedias of Alternative Medicine, Cancer, Diets, Medicine, and Mental Health, and Human Body.
		Global Road Warrior Information on 175 nations and territories including geography, demographics, culture, society, and religion. The database also contains information travelers would need such as money, security, health, technical & electrical connections, and essential terms.
		Litfinder (Includes Poemfinder and Storyfinder) LitFinder is international in scope, covers all time periods, and contains primary literature content, including more than 126,500 full-text poems, 850,000 poem citations and excerpts, 5,000 full-text short stories, 2,800 full-text essays, 1,800 full-text speeches, and 1,000 full-text plays.
		Mango Language learning software for Spanish, French, German, Hebrew, Chinese, and Japanese. Mango Languages has generously offered us the use of their premier language learning database for the next year for these 6 languages.
		MAS Ultra - School Edition Specifically designed for high school students incudes full text for nearly 500 popular high school magazines, 85,670 biographies, over 107,000 primary source documents, more than 360 reference books, and an Image Collection of over 592,000 photos, maps & flags, color PDFs.
		MasterFILE Premier Designed for public libraries, MasterFILE™ Premier contains full text for nearly 1,700 periodicals covering general reference, business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and much more; full text more than 500 reference books; over 107,000 primary source documents; and an Image Collection of over 510,000 photos, maps & flags.
		Middle Search Plus Middle Search® Plus contains full text for more than 140 popular middle school magazines, primary source documents, reference books, and thousands of relevant photos, maps and flags.
		Price It! Antiques & Collectibles A comprehensive antique and collectible pricing tool. Search 23 million realized prices on items American collect, buy and trade everyday. Constantly updated and growing database with 125 searchable categories and more than 10 million images to make identification easier.
		Primary Search Primary Search®, designed specifically for elementary school students contains full text for more than 80 popular elementary school magazines, the Encyclopedia of Animals™, Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, the American Heritage® Children's Dictionary, and thousands of relevant photos, maps and flags.
		Professional Development Collection Professional Development Collection™ includes full text for nearly 520 high-quality education journals.
		Salem History Online versions of Milestone Documents, Great Events, Great Lives from History, and Great Athletes containing primary source documents, accounts of events that have shaped history, and biographies from ancient times through the twentieth century. Each entry includes the full-text of the document, expert analysis and commentary.
		Sharpe Global History & Culture Provides multidisciplinary perspectives on world history and the origins of human society to the present day. Titles in the collection include Global History, World Terrorism, Civilizations and Societies, and World Monarchies and Dynasties. Global Social Issues, World Food, and Native Peoples of the World will be added by Nov. 2012.
		Student Research Center A search interface designed specifically for secondary school students, according to their needs and search abilities.

Web Sites

Bartleby.com: Great Books Online
Provides students, researchers, and the intellectually curious with unlimited access to books and information on literature, reference, and poetry.

Internet Public Library
Web site created and maintained by library science students to provide library services to internet users including digital reference. Users can ask a librarian for help and information.

Missouri Census Data Center
Resources and information on the United States census and other statistical resources.

Online Encyclopedias
A collection of online encyclopedias including general and subject encyclopedias.

YourDictionary
A collection of dictionaries and thesauri on English and other languages offering definitions, spelling, pronunciation, and etymology.