Reference and Research

Reference and Research

You will need your library card number and library card password/pin to access several of these resources.

Please email medford@minlib.net if you do not know your library card password/pin or call 978-395-7950.

Visit Medford Public Library’s Niche Academy for online tutorials on accessing many of these eResources.

Alphabetical List of Reference and Research Resources

Click here for a list of resources by subject

Below is a comprehensive A-Z list of Digital Resources, including free online resources.

A-BC-D | E-F | G | H-I | K-L | M | N | O-Q | R-S | T-U | V-W

A-B

Academic OneFile – Contains 8,000 academic journals, the majority in full-text. Also contains hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC, as well as full-text New York Times content from 1985.

Academic OneFile Select (Expanded Academic ASAP)

Acorn TV on hoopla

Action for Boston Community Development – ABCD Connect will put you in touch with a broad range of ABCD programs including…

  • food
  • clothing and heating assistance
  • early education and childcare
  • alternative high schools and youth programs
  • career training
  • housing services
  • immigration services
  • elder programs
  • and more

Ad*Access – Over 7,000 U.S. and Canadian advertisements covering five product categories: Beauty and Hygiene, Radio, Television, Transportation, and World War II propaganda, dated between 1911 and 1955.

Ancestry Library Edition – In Library Access Only.

Author Check – Tracks your favorite authors and alerts you when a new book arrives.

Biography In Context (Gale) – Biography In Context provides information and insight into the world’s most influential people. This resource combines biographical information with multimedia and articles to present lives in context.

Boston Globe Article Archive (ProQuest) – Provides full text access to The Boston Globe – 1980-current.

Boston Public Library Online Resources – Boston Public Library databases are available to all Massachusetts residents with a Boston Public Library e-card.

Britannica Library – Contains the Encyclopædia Britannica, Compton’s by Britannica, Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia, and Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, each covering the research needs of a different age group. Also contains magazine articles, a homework help section, a world atlas, Merriam-Webster dictionaries and thesauri, a Spanish-English dictionary, and video and audio content.

Britannica Escolar – Enciclopedia K-8 para hablantes nativos y estudiantes que aprenden español / K-8 encyclopedia for native speakers and students learning Spanish.

Britannica Fundamentals  – Britannica Fundamentals is an innovative early learning product for students in grade levels kindergarten through second grade. Formerly the Learning Zone, the updated platform will improve utilization of Britannica School by providing content designed and written specifically for early learners.

Britannica Moderna (Spanish) – Enciclopedia española para estudiantes mayores y educadores. Spanish encyclopedia for older students and educators.

Britannica School Edition – For Elementary, Middle and High School levels,  this reference and learning suite also offers high-quality online learning materials that have been developed by teachers and curriculum experts.

Business Collection (OneFile, Gale) – This collection contains articles on accounting, marketing and management, and related fields.

C-D

Central Register Online – In Library Use Only. Also access Massachusetts State Publications.

Census Archives (contained in the National Archives) – From Archives.gov. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept forever.

Census Bureau Homepage – From Census.gov. The Census Bureau’s mission is to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy.

CIA World Factbook – CIA’s World Factbook is your authoritative source on the world’s countries, territories, oceans, and more. Explore world facts at your fingertips.

City of Medford – This is a link to the website for the City of Medford.

Commonwealth Catalog – Massachusetts catalogs. Please search the Minuteman catalog first.

Communitas – Communitas is committed to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities – and their families – in the community.

We offer Family SupportResidential ServicesDay Services, and Recreational Programs  – as well as employment and volunteering opportunities – for more than 1,000 families from Everett, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham, Wakefield and surrounding communities.

By eliminating barriers, expanding opportunities and supporting independence, we empower our people to lead full and meaningful lives. Whether you have a child, a transitioning adult, or older adult; we provide a safe environment with services that meet individual needs, whatever they are and however they change, while inspiring dreams.

Consumer Reports – Products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and more.

Country Studies, Library of Congress – Contains the electronic versions of 80 books previously published in hard copy as part of the Country Studies Series by the Federal Research Division. Intended for a general audience, books in the series present a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of select countries throughout the world. Most books in the series deal with a single foreign country, but a few cover several countries or a geographic region. The series includes several books on countries that no longer exist in their original configuration—such as Czechoslovakia, East Germany, the Soviet Union, Sudan, and Yugoslavia. These books remain in the series because they continue to offer valuable historical information and perspective. In some cases, studies on successor states are also part of the series.

Creativebug Free Trial – Free trial for temporary unlimited access to online art and craft classes.

Credo Reference – Hundreds of Digital Reference eBooks! Includes dictionaries and thesauri.

Department of Developmental Services – Enhancing opportunities for individuals.

Digital Commonwealth – Materials from historical collections across Massachusetts.

Digital Media Law Project – Fair Use – Founded in 2007 as the “Citizen Media Law Project,” the Digital Media Law Project (DMLP), through its five core initiatives, works to ensure that individuals and organizations involved in online journalism and digital media have access to the legal resources, education, tools, and representation that they need to thrive.

Digital Public Library of America – The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) makes millions of materials from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions across the country available to all in a one-stop discovery experience and provides a library-controlled marketplace and platform for libraries to purchase, organize, and deliver eBooks and other e-content to their patrons. Contains images, texts, videos, and sounds from across the United States.

Driving-tests.org – This resource has practice driving tests and RMV handbooks.

DSM-5 – The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is the product of more than 10 years of effort by hundreds of international experts in all aspects of mental health. Their dedication and hard work have yielded an authoritative volume that defines and classifies mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research.

E-F

(EBSCO) LearningExpress Library – Learning Express Library includes nearly 1,000 online tutorials, practice tests, and e-books. Covers job search and workplace skills improvement, skill building in reading, writing, math, and basic science, career certification and licensure exam prep, college and grad school entrance test prep, GED test prep, and more.

Elementary (In Context, Gale formerly Kids InfoBits) – For Grades K-5. A content-rich, authoritative, easy-to-use digital resource featuring age-appropriate, reliable, curriculum-related content covering a broad range of educational topics.

English at Large – Each year EAL trained volunteers provide free one-to-one English language tutoring and small group instruction to hundreds of adult learners in 21 Boston-area cities and towns, helping them improve their English language skills, adapt to American life, and participate in their communities.

Environmental Studies and Policy Collection – This collection provides multiple viewpoints of the field of environmental issues and policy including perspectives from the scientific community, governmental policy makers, as well as corporate interests.

Environmental Studies In Context – Gale In Context: Environmental Studies focuses on the physical, social, and economic aspects of environmental issues and includes sources such as topic summaries, scholarly articles, statistics, conference proceedings, news and magazine articles, podcasts, videos, industry reports, and consumer data.

eResources By Subject (Gale)

Fair Use – Digital Media Law Project

Fair Use – U.S. Copyright Office

Fashion Era – Fashion-Era.com looks at women’s costume and fashion history and analyses the mood of an era. Changes in technology, leisure, work, cultural and moral values, home life and politics have all contributed to lifestyle trends which influence the clothes we wear. These are the changes that make any era of society special in relation to the study of the costume of a period.

Fashion-Era.com can take no responsibility for the information above and any outcome which may cause you error, loss or costs incurred from use of the information and links either directly or indirectly.

G

Gale Academic OneFile – Contains 8,000 academic journals, the majority in full-text. Also contains hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC, as well as full-text New York Times content from 1985.

Gale Academic OneFile Select (Expanded Academic ASAP)

Gale Biography (In Context) – Biography In Context provides information and insight into the world’s most influential people. This resource combines biographical information with multimedia and articles to present lives in context.

Gale Business Collection (OneFile) – This collection contains articles on accounting, marketing and management, and related fields.

Gale Environmental Studies and Policy Collection (OneFile) – This collection provides multiple viewpoints of the field of environmental issues and policy including perspectives from the scientific community, governmental policy makers, as well as corporate interests.

Gale Environmental Studies (In Context) – Gale In Context: Environmental Studies focuses on the physical, social, and economic aspects of environmental issues and includes sources such as topic summaries, scholarly articles, statistics, conference proceedings, news and magazine articles, podcasts, videos, industry reports, and consumer data.

Gale Elementary (In Context, formerly Kids InfoBits) – For Grades K-5. A content-rich, authoritative, easy-to-use digital resource featuring age-appropriate, reliable, curriculum-related content covering a broad range of educational topics.

Gale eResources By Subject

Gale General OneFile – General OneFile is a source for news and periodical articles, including most of the content across all Thomson/Gale databases. OneFile contains full-text periodical titles, and more than 9,200 titles in all, on a wide range of topics.

Gale Global Issues (In Context) – Global Issues In Context offers international viewpoints on a broad spectrum of global issues, and current events. Portals bring together a variety of sources for analysis of social, political, military, economic, environmental, health, and cultural issues.

Gale High School Edition (OneFile) – Find information on high school research topics plus pop culture, sports, and more the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more.

Gale Leadership and Management (OneFile) – Provides access to authoritative periodical content covering topics such as 21st-century skills, organizational dynamics and leadership, adult learning and continuing education, and more. Updated daily, this library resource is useful for researchers or any professional interested in career development.

Gale LegalForms (Massachusetts) – Gale LegalForms brings together thousands of national and state-specific legal forms for everything from wills to business contracts. The forms are fill-in-the-blank, downloadable, and continuously updated to reflect the latest laws.

Gale Middle School (OneFile) – A Gale database created specifically for middle school students.

Gale Opposing Viewpoints (In Context) – Covers timely issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana. This cross-curricular resource supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions.

Gale: Peterson’s Career Prep – Provides users access to core career tools including, career assessments focused on a user’s interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences, comprehensive career information and Job searching capabilities via integration with Indeed.com matches listings based on a user’s assessment results, and resume editing software that provides 5,000 resume templates and cover letter samples.

Gale PowerSearch – Search across all Gale Databases including periodicals, academic journals, eBooks, audio, and video.

Gale “Power Pack” Search – Search across all Gale Databases utilizing “power pack” cross-searching functionality.

Gale Science (In Contex) – Science In Context provides topic overviews, experiments, biographies, pictures and illustrations, as well as articles from over 200 magazines and academic journals and links to quality web sites.

Gale U.S. History (In Context) – This resource combines content from reference sources with with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.

Gale World History (In Context) – Combines content from reference sources with with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.

General Health from Salem Press – From Salem Press.

General OneFile (Gale) – General OneFile is a source for news and periodical articles, including most of the content across all Thomson/Gale databases. OneFile contains full-text periodical titles, and more than 9,200 titles in all, on a wide range of topics.

Global Issues (In Context) – Global Issues In Context offers international viewpoints on a broad spectrum of global issues, and current events. Portals bring together a variety of sources for analysis of social, political, military, economic, environmental, health, and cultural issues.

GovInfo.gov – A service of the United States Government Publishing Office (GPO).

The Great Courses in Libby – Click here to access. Users must be logged in to Libby to use this resource link. The Great Courses is the leading global media brand for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. This collection includes more than 250 courses.

The Great Courses on hoopla – Click here to access. The Great Courses is the leading global media brand for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. This collection includes more than 250 courses.

H-I

Health and Wellness Resource Center with Alternative Health Module (Gale) – Includes health/medical journals, numerous reference volumes, health videos from Healthology, Inc., pamphlets and health-related articles from general interest publications, in addition to a broad collection of Gale reference titles. Material is intended for informational purposes only.

Health and Medicine (Gale, OneFile) – Articles on: Fitness, Pregnancy, Medicine, Nutrition, Diseases, Public Health, Occupational Health & Safety, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, HMOs, Prescription Drugs, and more. Material is intended for informational purposes only.

HeritageQuest Online – U.S. federal genealogical census records, images, and digitized books containing family and local histories.

High School Edition (Gale, OneFile) – Find information on high school research topics plus pop culture, sports, and more the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more.

The History Net – HistoryNet.com is brought to you by Historynet LLC, the world’s largest publisher of history magazines. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 5,000 articles originally published in our various magazines.

hoopla Borrow digital video, music and audiobooks. Access thousands of titles and watch on your smartphone, tablet or computer. There’s no waiting to borrow and automatic return eliminates all late fees. Create an account with your library card number.

Housingfamilies.org – ***This housing, legal, and law-related link is provided for informational purposes only and may represent a link from a third-party vendor. The Charlotte & William Bloomberg Medford Public Library does not endorse any of the views or services at this website.

Immigration Forms – Download forms from the US Customs and Immigration Services.

Indieflix – Users must be logged in to Libby to use this resource link. IndieFlix allows patrons to stream classic and contemporary features, award-winning shorts, film festival favorites and documentaries from around the world. Explore thought-provoking, well-known and undiscovered content by both young up-and-coming filmmakers and seasoned professionals.

Internet Archive – A digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.

K-L

kanopy – Watch thousands of award-winning theatrical releases, classic and indie films, documentaries, and more. Create a kanopy account using an email, a kanopy password, and your library card number to access kanopy.

Leadership and Management (OneFile, Gale) – Provides access to authoritative periodical content covering topics such as 21st-century skills, organizational dynamics and leadership, adult learning and continuing education, and more. Updated daily, this library resource is useful for researchers or any professional interested in career development.

LearningExpress Library by EBSCO – Learning Express Library includes nearly 1,000 online tutorials, practice tests, and e-books. Covers job search and workplace skills improvement, skill building in reading, writing, math, and basic science, career certification and licensure exam prep, college and grad school entrance test prep, GED test prep, and more.

Link to eBooks in LearningExpress Library – Be sure to register or sign into your LearningExpress Library Account.

LegalForms (Massachusetts, Gale) – Gale LegalForms brings together thousands of national and state-specific legal forms for everything from wills to business contracts. The forms are fill-in-the-blank, downloadable, and continuously updated to reflect the latest laws.

Libby by OverDrive – Both the Libby App and the OverDrive App access eBooks and Audiobooks. New and expanded features are being added to Libby on an ongoing basis!

Libby Extras – Additional eResources are available in the Libby App.

Library of Congress Digital Collections – See also the World Digital Library.

Library of Congress Country Studies – Contains the electronic versions of 80 books previously published in hard copy as part of the Country Studies Series by the Federal Research Division. Intended for a general audience, books in the series present a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of select countries throughout the world. Most books in the series deal with a single foreign country, but a few cover several countries or a geographic region. The series includes several books on countries that no longer exist in their original configuration—such as Czechoslovakia, East Germany, the Soviet Union, Sudan, and Yugoslavia. These books remain in the series because they continue to offer valuable historical information and perspective. In some cases, studies on successor states are also part of the series.

Literary Hub – A link to online literary resources including reviews and publishing news.

Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts – Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts (LVM) is about bringing people together to make a real difference. LVM trains volunteers who provide free, confidential and individualized tutoring to adults in basic literacy and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). With improved literacy skills and the confidence that comes with them, adults are able to pursue a better life and a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.

Literature Resource Center – Biographical information, full-text literary criticism, and reviews.

Local History and Genealogy – Local History and Genealogy links and resources.

M

Magazines on OverDrive

Magill’s Medical Guide, 8th Edition and General Health from Salem Press – From Salem Press.

Mango Languages – Courses in 70+ languages, including ESL instruction!

Massachusetts Archives – Massachusetts State Archives and public records.

Massachusetts Central Register – In Library Use Only. Also accesses  Massachusetts State Publications.

Massachusetts Databases – Check out these fantastic resources offered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners: Transparent Languages Online, Gale, Britannica, the Boston Globe, the New York Times, and more.

Massachusetts Historical Society – Founded in 1791, the Massachusetts Historical Society is an invaluable resource for American history, life, and culture. Its extraordinary collections tell the story of America through millions of rare and unique documents, artifacts, and irreplaceable national treasures.

Masslegalservices.org – This legal/law-related link is provided for informational purposes only and may represent links from third-party vendors. The Charlotte & William Bloomberg Medford Public Library does not endorse any of the views or services at this website.

Masslegalhelp.org – This legal/law-related link is provided for informational purposes only and may represent links from third-party vendors. The Charlotte & William Bloomberg Medford Public Library does not endorse any of the views or services at this website.

Massachusetts Libraries Digital Collections (MBLC) – Includes U.S.-wide resources. Libraries and organizations throughout Massachusetts and the U.S. are working together to make the resources of libraries, archives, and museums freely available to the public. These digital collections – including historical records and maps, works of art and culture, and research and scientific data – expand access and offer learning opportunities to everyone. Below are just a small sample of some of the digital collections offered by Massachusetts Libraries.

Massachusetts State Publications – In Library Use Only. Also accesses Central Register Online.

Medford Transcript Online – In Library Use Only. Please see staff for access.

MedlinePlus – MedlinePlus is an authoritative database from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Also available in Spanish. See also the National Institutes of Health Library and Research Resources. See also PubMed. See also NIH Library Online Journals.

Middle School Edition (In Context) – A Gale database created specifically for middle school students.

Morningstar – Comprehensive and up-to-date financial information on stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Use the “Help & Education” tab to access the User’s Guide and investor education resources.

N

National Archives (including Census archives) – The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) – The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the US medical research agency.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Library and Research Resources.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Library Online Journals – Search for journals by entering a journal title in the search box or use the “Journals by category” option to browse journals by category.

National Library of Medicine (NIH) – The National Library of Medicine (NLM) connects consumers and health professions.

New Book Alerts – You can select to receive alerts via email and RSS feeds.

New York Times – From Gale. Different from the NYTimes.com daily access resource.
(see below)

NYTimes.com
Click here for remote access.
Click here for in-library access.
For more information see Minuteman’s NY Times FAQ.

News (Gale OneFile)

Niche Academy – Niche Academy provides ready-to-use tutorials for the most commonly used library electronic resources.

NoveList – A Readers’ Advisory resource provided by the Minuteman Library Network.

Nursing and Allied Health Collection (OneFile, Gale) – This collection’s current and authoritative content will be of use to both professionals already working in the field as well as students pursuing a nursing-focused curriculum.

O-Q

Online Book Clubs – Clubs include fiction, non-fiction, romance, mystery, and more.

Opposing Viewpoints In Context – Covers timely issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana. This cross-curricular resource supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions.

Patents and Trademarks – Information about the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) program.

PebbleGo – Access hundreds of animal articles, educational games, and learning activities from school or from home with easy to-use searching tools.  Introduces early learners to database and research concepts.

Peterson’s Career Prep (Gale) – Provides users access to core career tools including, career assessments focused on a user’s interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences, comprehensive career information and Job searching capabilities via integration with Indeed.com matches listings based on a user’s assessment results, and resume editing software that provides 5,000 resume templates and cover letter samples.

Peterson’s Test Prep – Contains over 300 practice tests and courses, dozens of ebooks containing valuable study material and practice tests, information on over 4,000 accredited schools, scholarship search featuring $8 billion in available scholarships, resume builder with over 1,000 brainstorming phrases to get you started, career modules covering subjects from career change to salary negotiations.

Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Collection (OneFile, Gale) – This collection covers the fields of physical therapy and sports medicine, providing researchers with access to topics discussed in the field, including proven treatment techniques, experimental research theses, and many more.

Popular Magazines (Gale OneFile)

PowerSearch (Gale) – Search across all Gale Databases including periodicals, academic journals, eBooks, audio, and video.

“Power Pack” Search (Gale) – Search across all Gale Databases utilizing “power pack” cross-searching functionality.

ProQuest – Contains…

ProQuest Science Database – 7.3 million full text articles from over 1,600 sources. In full-text format, researchers have access to all the charts, diagrams, graphs, tables, photos, and other graphical elements so vital to scientific and engineering literature. It supports the needs of students studying applied and general sciences.

PubMed – PubMed® comprises more than 32 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Qello Concerts by Stingray – Users must be logged in to Libby to use this resource link. Qello is the world’s largest collection of full-length concerts and music documentaries streamed on-demand to just about any digital device.

R-S

Reference Solutions – Formerly called ReferenceUSA, Reference Solutions by Data Axle provides on businesses, consumers, historical business information, and more. Also includes white pages.

SABES ESOL – The SABES ESOL Center continues to develop and deliver high-quality professional development opportunities to support your instructional practices in the remote, blended, or face-to-face environment.

Salem Health – Magill’s Medical Guide, 8th Edition. Also includes General Health Collection from Salem Press.

Sanborn Maps – Database of Sandborn fire insurance maps from the Library of Congress.

Science In Context (Gale) – Science In Context provides topic overviews, experiments, biographies, pictures and illustrations, as well as articles from over 200 magazines and academic journals and links to quality web sites.

SelectReads – Awards lists and book recommendations by email.

Science Database (ProQuest) – A new science resource from ProQuest.

Science In Context (Gale) – Science In Context provides topic overviews, experiments, biographies, pictures and illustrations, as well as articles from over 200 magazines and academic journals and links to quality web sites.

Social Law Library Databases – In Library Use Only. Please ask a Librarian for access.

T-U

Trademarks and Patents – Information about the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) program.

Transparent Language Online – For learners of all levels looking to build their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a foreign language. Combining extensive courses and supplemental resources for over 100 languages, including English.

Triangle, Inc. – Empowering people with disabilities and their families to excel through support, challenge, and opportunity.

UNilibrary – The United Nations iLibrary is the comprehensive source for UN digital.

Universal Class Universal Class brings libraries lifelong learning courses in over 30 subject areas, many of which offer continuing education units (CEUs).

U.S. Copyright Office – Fair Use

U.S. History In Context (Gale) – This resource combines content from reference sources with with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.

U.S. National Library of Medicine – The NLM connects consumers and health professions.

V-W

Veterans’ Services Department – From the City of Medford.

Vocations and Careers Database (Gale)

White Pages (Reference Solutions) – Formerly called ReferenceUSA, Reference Solutions by Data Axle provides on businesses, consumers, historical business information, and more. Also includes WHITE PAGES.

World Digital Library
See also The Library of Congress Digital Collections.

World Factbook – CIA – CIA’s World Factbook is your authoritative source on the world’s countries, territories, oceans, and more. Explore world facts at your fingertips.

World History In Context (Gale) – Combines content from reference sources with with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.

WorldCat – In Library Use Only. OCLC’s catalog of books and other materials in libraries worldwide. For home access try the free version at http://www.worldcat.org.

If you have any questions, please contact the Reference Department:

medford@minlib.net | 781-395-7950