<< Reference Home

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 (Ebscohost) Multi-disciplinary database covering nearly every area of academic study with full-text coverage from over 2000 journals.
		CQ Researcher Provides in-depth, unbiased coverage of issues in health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Each single-themed, 12,000-word report is researched and written by a seasoned journalist. Coverage extends back to 1991. This database can only be accessed on computers in the Joplin Public Library.
		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.
		Ebsco Animals (Ebscohost) Provides full-text coverage on topics related to animals.
		eLibrary News and Reference Database of more than 2000 full-text magazines, newspapers, reference books and transcripts plus thousands of pictures, maps, web sites, and audio/video files.
		Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (Ebscohost) General encyclopedia with over 25,000 entries covering a variety of subjects.
		Kids Search (Ebscohost) Interface designed for students in grades K-8 to search Primary Search, Newspaper Source, Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, and Ebsco Animals with one search.
		MAS Ultra – School Edition (Ebscohost) full-text coverage of 500 magazines, 350 reference books, biographies, primary source documents, and images designed for high school libraries.
		MasterFILE Premier (Ebscohost) Indexing with some full-text coverage for general interest magazines, newspapers, reference books, biographies and images.
		NetLibrary eBooks 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. To use eBooks from a computer outside the library you must have an account. See Reference Staff.
		Oxford Language Dictionaries Online Comprehensive bilingual dictionaries for French, German, Italian, and Spanish with phonetic guides for pronunciation, tools for language learning and usage, and correspondence templates for letters, email, resumes, and more.
		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.
		Student Research Center (Ebscohost) Searching interface designed for students in grades 6-12 to access Health Source-Consumer Edition, Newspaper Source, MAS Ultra, and the Columbia Encyclopedia with one search.

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.