Online Resources

Online information resources include a wide variety of materials of varying accuracy and authority. The most accurate and authoritative sources are generally the Online Databases made available through public libraries by state and regional funding.

The Online Databases listed below are available at the library. Most are also available at home, school or the office. For access please enter your library card number when prompted to do so. Resources especially well-suited to younger users are identified as:(kid-friendly).

A limited selection of additional online resources are available through the menu at left.

New Database!

Literary Reference Center
The Literary Reference Center provides broad, full-text information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines and timeframes. The database includes 27,000 plot summaries, synopses and work overviews, 140,500 author biographies, 350 literary journals, 54,000 poems, 14,500 short stories, 8400 classic texts, 4000 author interview and more.

Recommended Databases

Live Homework Help(kid-friendly)
Get free, online help with your homework from 5pm to 10pm everyday. This online resource will connect you with live, professional tutors providing expert assistance on a wide variety of topics.
World Book Online(kid-friendly)

PowerSearch
Select one or more databases from an alphabetical list and then cross-search in a single search.
Biography Resource Center
An excellent full-text resource combining biographies from reference books with full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals. The Biography Resource Center offers award-winning biographies in the areas of literature, science, business, entertainment, politics, sports, government, history, current events and the arts. Also includes more than one million thumbnail biographies from the Complete Marquis Who's Who, the Who's Who of African Americans, and 250 full-text periodicals.
Search by birth and death years, nationality, ethnicity and occupation or gender, or create custom searches.

Other High Quality Databases

BigChalk eLibrary(kid-friendly)
A full-text, general reference resource providing a dictionary, thesaurus and almanac as well as content from newspapers, magazines, news wires, books, maps, television and photographs. Natural language searching is supported.
Contemporary Literary Criticism Select
An extensive collection of critical essays & biographical information on contemporary writers. Each entry contains a biographical and critical introduction, listing of the author's principal works and sources for further study.
Dictionary of Literary Biography
Nearly 10,000 biographical and critical essays on the lives, works, and careers of the world's most influential literary figures from all eras and genres. These essays outline the lives and careers of authors from all eras and genres and summarize the critical response to their work. In addition, each DLB entry contains:
  • Personal information including birth and death dates, nationality and ethnicity, principal genres, awards and family history. (some entries include an author portrait)
  • Principal Works including a list of the author's most important writings.
  • Further Readings about the Author including a list of additional writings, published interviews, biographies, and a bibliography of writings about the author.
As of April 2006, the DLB online provides access to more than 12,500 essays selected from 322 DLB bound volumes focusing on all genres and time periods of American and British literature and selected other literatures.
Expanded Academic(1980 to present)
Articles from more than 500 scholarly, trade and general interest publications, as well as references for The New York Times.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
More than 20 full-text, online reference books covering the arts, biography, business, environment, history, literature, medicine, multicultural studies, geography, and science.
General BusinessFile ASAP

General Reference Center Gold
Includes material from magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias and other reference material covering 1980 to present.
Health Reference Center Academic

InfoTrac Junior Edition(kid-friendly)
This periodical database is designed for students in junior high and middle school, with access to magazines, newspapers and reference books for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more. Reference books include:
  • Information Please Almanac
  • Information Please Sports Almanac
  • Information Please Environmental Almanac
  • Reader's Companion to American History
  • Merriam-Webster's College Dictionary
  • Columbia Encyclopedia

InfoTrac OneFile
This resource provides access to periodical and news sources as well as a variety of general and specialized journals. Sources include:
  • More than 5,000 full-text titles
  • Full indexing of some of the world's greatest newspapers
  • 89 wire services covering worldwide current events

InfoTrac Student Edition(kid-friendly)
This database is designed for high school students, with access to a variety of indexed and full-text magazines, newspapers and reference books for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more.
Kids InfoBits(kid-friendly)
Search magazines & reference books for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more. This database is designed for students in kindergarten through grade 5.
Literary Reference Center
The Literary Reference Center provides broad, full-text information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines and timeframes. The database includes 27,000 plot summaries, synopses and work overviews, 140,500 author biographies, 350 literary journals, 54,000 poems, 14,500 short stories, 8400 classic texts, 4000 author interview and more.
Educator's Reference Complete
This database is designed for teachers and school administrators and provides access to full-text periodicals and other resources.
Scribner Writers Series
More than 1,600 original and detailed essays on the lives and works of important authors from around the world. Entries average 15-20 pages in length and include a concise essay, links for cross-referencing, a citation and biographical information that places the author's work in personal and historical context.
What Do I Read Next?
Provides more than 115,000 titles and related information. Most books recommended are award-winners, best sellers or have appeared on a recommended reading list. Genres covered include inspirational, mystery, romance, science fiction, fantasy, horror, western and historical novels, general fiction, classic fiction and nonfiction. Searches may be conducted by title, author, subject, genre, locale and more.
Users can:
  • Find new books using a personalized reading profile.
  • Create customized reading lists using the "Keeper List" function.
  • Conduct a "Find Similar" title search or view a list of similar titles supplied by genre experts.

New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)
Available only at the Library. NEHGS membership allows genealogical researchers within the Library to access over 2,200 databases on the NEHGS Web site. The most popular databases are:
  • Cemetery Transcriptions
  • Massachusetts Vital Records 1841-1910
  • Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850
  • The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1847-1994
  • Social Security Death Index
A Master Search option offers cross-database searching by name only, but the search parameters may be narrowed by location, date range, and record type.
LearningExpressLibrary
This free service provides interactive online practice tests and tutorial courses that help adult learners and students from elementary to college age succeed on academic or licensing tests. You'll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations,and an individualized analysis of your results. Test and review materials include:
  • History and Civics Review for U.S. Citizenship
  • Elementary, Middle and High School Skills Improvement (MCAS Preparation)
  • Practice for ASVAB, GED, ACT, TOEFL, and more!
To register as a new user, use your library card number as your user name and pick a password you'll remember. Then you can use LearningExpressLibrary any time, from home, office or in the library.
Qikan Library
Access to over 100 full-text popular magazine publications from mainland China. Subjects include the arts, current events, business, health, children's literature and much more. Most titles viewable in both simplified and classical viewing styles.
Coverage: 2005-present. Access funded by the Boston Public Library.
qikan library 期刊圖書館 一 百 種 中 國 大 陸 出 版 的 風 行 期 刊, 展 示 全 部 內 容, 主 題 涉 及 藝 術 、 時 事 、 商 業 、 健 康 、 兒 童 文 學 以 及 其 它 多 種 範 疇, 大 部 份 有 繁 體 字 和 簡 體 字 可 以 選 讀, 訂 閱 日 期 始 自

Newspapers

Massachusetts Newstand (Search Multiple Newspapers)
In the Library | From Home
Massachusetts Newstand (Search Newspapers by Name)
Berkshire Eagle (2005 to current)
Boston Globe (1980 to current)
Boston Herald (1991 to current)
BusinessWest-Chicopee (1992 to current)
North Adams Transcript (2005 to current)
Patriot Ledger (Quincy) (1991 to current)
Plymouth County Business Review (1991 to current)
Providence Journal (1983 to current)
Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg) (2005 to current)
Sun, The (Lowell) (2004 to current)
Telegram & Gazette (Worcester) (1989 to current)
Gazette (Haverhill, Mass.) (12-31-92 to 8-9-97)
Standard Times (New Bedford) (1-4-92 to 8-19-97)
Wall Street Journal (1982 to current)