Lesson 6: Locating Database Resources
Learning the Library Databases
Databases are excellent resources for research. Databases are groups of articles or information on specific topics.
Individual Databases:
The library purchases individual databases for your use. Visit the PTHS Library Database Page to access these resources. You will need the passwords for most databases. Click HERE to access the database passwords Google Doc. You must sign in with your webapps account to access the passwords. Refer to this often as you complete research for your projects. This will be especially useful when trying to access databases from home.
Power Library:
Power Library is a service offered in Pennsylvania that provides access to many different databases. Here are some of the most useful databases for your project:
School Access: Click HERE to access Power Library at school.
Home Access: TWO OPTIONS
Complete Lesson 6 in your packet.
Database Citation info:
MLA Citation for a Database Source:
Usually, the citation will be at the bottom of the article you are reading, or you will be able to click on a button in the sidebar that says "cite this article" and find the citation there. The work is done for you!
Database:
Author's name. "Title of the Article." Title of Magazine Inverted Date of Original Source: page numbers. Name of the Database Used. Web. Inverted Date of Access.
Example:
Phillips, Charles. “A Day to Remember.” American History 26 Oct. 2010: 16-20. Omni File Full Text Mega Web. 28 Oct. 2010
Individual Databases:
The library purchases individual databases for your use. Visit the PTHS Library Database Page to access these resources. You will need the passwords for most databases. Click HERE to access the database passwords Google Doc. You must sign in with your webapps account to access the passwords. Refer to this often as you complete research for your projects. This will be especially useful when trying to access databases from home.
- FactCite: Lincoln Library of Essential Information: This database offers a variety of historical information as well as information on countries. This is an excellent resource for History classes, as well as Speech class, specifically the culture speech.
- Gale Virtual Reference Library: This searchable database provides digital copies of reference books in eBook format. You can search within the various encyclopedias for your topic.
- Gale Opposing Viewpoints: This database gives many articles about different topics and issues. It is a fully comprehensive database that is useful for current events. You should use this database to find information for American Government, World Cultures, Speech Class, and various science classes.
Power Library:
Power Library is a service offered in Pennsylvania that provides access to many different databases. Here are some of the most useful databases for your project:
- SIRS Discoverer: This database offers a great amount of information on various topics, ranging from Science, Math, English, Social Studies, etc. There is also an encyclopedia and a dictionary for student use. The encyclopedia articles are great places to START research for a topic! You can also search for newspaper articles and images. Look here for information on WWI.
- AP Images: These are images supplied by the Associated Press. It is updated hourly, so you can find images from today as far back as the early 1900s. This is a great resource for creating visual aids, because you can download the images and use them in projects for many classes.
- MasterFile Main Edition: This is a database of journal and magazine articles. It is updated daily. You will find articles on a variety of topics, so they can be used for many different classes, such as Social Studies, English, Science, etc.
- Newspaper Source Plus: This is a database of newspaper articles from all around the world. It is updated daily. You will find articles on a variety of topics, so they can be used for many different classes, such as Social Studies, English, Science, etc.
School Access: Click HERE to access Power Library at school.
Home Access: TWO OPTIONS
- Have a Peters Township Public Library Card. Go to PTLibrary.org Databases page, and scroll down to select Power Library. Put in your library card number to access the database.
- Sign up for an eCard via Power Library. Go to the Power Library ecard page. Sign up for an account. Your eCard number will be emailed to you.
Complete Lesson 6 in your packet.
Database Citation info:
MLA Citation for a Database Source:
Usually, the citation will be at the bottom of the article you are reading, or you will be able to click on a button in the sidebar that says "cite this article" and find the citation there. The work is done for you!
Database:
Author's name. "Title of the Article." Title of Magazine Inverted Date of Original Source: page numbers. Name of the Database Used. Web. Inverted Date of Access.
Example:
Phillips, Charles. “A Day to Remember.” American History 26 Oct. 2010: 16-20. Omni File Full Text Mega Web. 28 Oct. 2010