Reference Resources



A-Z Databases

Detailed information on 30 million businesses and executives and 2 million new businesses. Includes data on over 200 million residents as well as new movers/homeowners. Special features include a background and criminal history search. Information provided on U. S. healthcare professionals. Includes a jobs database and email marketing.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



AfriGeneas

Providing education and resources for those researching African-American roots, this site hosts regular opportunities for users to communicate with one another. Start with the Beginner’s Guide under the Records tab, then search marriage, death, surname and slave data databases under the same tab. If you have questions or want to take your learning to the next level, browse the various topics under the Forums tab.




Agricola

Agricola, (AGRICultural OnLine Access) is a bibliographic database produced by the National Agricultural Library. It consists of worldwide literature citations for journal articles, monographs, proceedings, theses, patents, translations, audiovisual materials, computer software, and technical reports pertaining to all aspects of agriculture and related fields.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Alt HealthWatch

A full-text alternative health research database focused on complementary, holistic and integrated approaches to health care and wellness. It offers the latest information about the evolving practice of holistic medicine and therapies. 

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

Publication list


Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

This isn’t the place to start tracing your family tree; rather it’s a tool you’ll find yourself consulting once you’ve begun. Many genealogical records are created by counties. But most county boundaries have changed over time. So you’ll want to make sure you know what county your ancestors lived in at a particular time period when looking for records about them.




Ancestry Library Edition

The most popular genealogy website in the U.S. is packed with everything you need to start your family history: how-tos, historical records, online tree-building with built-in collaboration tools and DNA tests that link you genetically with others.
Some of these resources are available for free and some require purchase.



Applied Science & Technology Source

Offers a diverse array of full-text and indexed content covering the full spectrum of the applied sciences and computing disciplines — from acoustics to aeronautics, neural networks to nuclear engineering. 

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL)



 

Art & Architecture Source

Covers fine, decorative and commercial art, as well as architecture and architectural design. With strong international coverage, it offers hundreds of full-text art journals, magazines and books, plus detailed indexing and abstracts and thousands of images.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Associates Programs Source

Full-text coverage for the subject areas most relevant to two-year college programs, including biotechnology, graphic arts, criminal justice and veterinary assisting.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Auto Repair Source

Powered by the automotive experts at MOTOR, Auto Repair Source provides the most accurate, authoritative and up-to-date service and repair information for thousands of domestic and imported vehicles. All content comes from the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and includes step-by-step repair information, diagrams, maintenance schedules, parts and labor estimates, service bulletins and recalls.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).


BillionGraves.com

Search an enormous GPS-tagged database of tombstone images. You also can upload tombstone photos you’ve snapped with a free iPhone/Android camera app. Users can add personal history information to individual photos and link them to other tombstone images. This is a fantastic tool to use on the virtual highway and fun to use when you’re on the “real” road, snapping pictures of tombstones in your family cemetery.



Biography Reference Center

Containing many of the top-ranked biographical reference collections and magazines, this database offers a comprehensive collection of full-text biographies and unique narrative biographies.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Britannica Elementary

Find information on countries, animals, and people in articles, media, and a world atlas geared towards grades 3-4. Watch and learn with videos, games, and activities.

View a guided tour of this database.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Britannica High School

Primary sources for quick facts and in-depth information on history, geography, people, places, science, and much more geared toward high school and adult learners. Biographies, world atlas, countries comparison, articles and interactive
resources are available.

View a guided tour of this database.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Britannica Learning Zone

Activity-centered learning to explore, play, read, and build technology skills geared toward grades PreK-2. Letters, numbers, geography, shapes and much more are included.

View a guided tour of this database.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Business Book Summaries

Provides concise yet comprehensive summaries of the best business books. With these summaries, professionals and students can keep up with the latest information in the business world and learn more effectively.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Chronicling America

This is the Library of Congress’ portal to historical newspapers, both online and offline. You’ll find over 11 million pages of digitized, searchable newspaper pages from across the country, mostly for 1836-1922, but now some reaching
before and past that timeframe. Chronicling America also hosts a master index of all known newspapers published in the United States, sortable by time and place. The index entries link to library holdings of each newspaper. To learn more about using the site, including what’s on it and what’s not, click on the Help section.



Consumer Reports

As a library user, you have full access to all of the valuable content on ConsumerReports.org through your library membership, including ratings and recommendations on thousands of products and services in categories such as appliances, cars, electronics and computers, home and garden, health and fitness, babies and kids, food, personal finance, and travel.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).


Cyndi's List

For more than 20 years, Cyndi Howells has compiled (and kept current!) a master “table of contents” of all genealogy-related websites. The U.S. alone has more than 165,000 links! Start with the Beginner’s category, then browse over
180 cross-referenced categories such as places, record types, ethnic and religious groups and various technologies. Cyndi works hard to keep the list current, adding on average 1500 links each month and correcting or deleting nearly 1000. 



DemographicsNow: Business & People

Robust and highly-detailed demographic data, ideal for gaining consumer and market insight as you consider opening a business, finding an untapped audience for your products, analyzing the shifts and needs of a given population, and more. Reporting capability allows you to rapidly produce a variety of compiled reports to help you make informed and accurate decisions.

View a guided tour of this database.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



eBook Business Collection

Encompasses a variety of business topics such as marketing, finance, supply chain management and entrepreneurship and also focusing on career growth, personal development, communication and networking.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



eBook High School Collection

The collection aligns with Common Core guidelines for grades 9-12 in English language arts and literacy, history/social studies, science and technical subjects.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



eBook K-8 Collection

The collection aligns with Common Core guidelines for grades K-8 in English language arts and literacy, history/social studies, science and technical subjects.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



eBook Public Library Collection

Includes general reference eBook titles in a variety of subjects and topics including social sciences, language and literature and science and technology. A substantial selection in the areas of self-help, health and fitness, games, crafts and hobbies, medical, cooking and religion. Also features recreation and leisure, geography, commerce, finance, the family, marriage, women, folklore, social and public welfare and home economics.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Education Source

Scholarly research and information to meet the needs of education students, professionals, and policy makers. It covers all levels of education — from early childhood to higher education — as well as all educational specialties such as multilingual education, health education and testing.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Entrepreneurial Studies Source

An essential database for business students and researchers, providing the latest insights on entrepreneurship and small businesses topics. It offers full-text business journals, magazines, reference books, case studies and company profiles.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

Publication list



FamilySearch.org

This is in the online portal to the world’s largest genealogical library—and arguably the world’s most comprehensive free genealogy website. Newbies should head straight to the FamilySearch wiki and enter “beginner” in the search box,
then click on the Family History for Beginners article that comes up.



FamilyTreeMagazine.com

Our own website offers abundant beginner help. Under the Get Started tab, find frequently asked questions, free forms and cheat sheets, a genealogy glossary, and tips on two popular beginner subjects: researching your surname and
conducting oral history interviews. Our online archive of how-to articles is keyword-searchable and packed with content from past issues of the magazine and web-only extras. See the Tool Kit for a few suggested beginner articles; some are free and some require a Plus subscription to our site. Or dive into intense learning at our sister site, Family Tree University; click on Fundamentals of Genealogy Research Collection for courses especially for beginners.



Find a Grave

Dig up ancestral burial information from millions of tombstone images here. Search by an individual or cemetery name. Users are encouraged to upload tombstone photos and submit biographical information for memorial pages. The
image submission tool has improved recently; it now allows you to upload multiple photos, edit them, transcribe headstone text and attach new images to existing memorials. You can also create virtual cemeteries to connect loved ones buried in different places.



General Land Office Records

CFind many records generated when our ancestors bought land from the federal goverment, especially in the Midwest and West.  Access images of more than 5 million land title records dating back to 1820.  Click on the Reference Center for more information about public land sales, patents, and survey plats.  No state land sales are located here.



Health Source: Consumer Edition

This rich collection of consumer health information provides access to full-text consumer health magazines and reference books. It also includes searchable full text for current health pamphlets.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



History Reference Center

Covering both U.S. and world history topics, History Reference Center is a full-text database featuring historical reference books, magazines, journals and thousands of primary source documents.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Humanities Source

Humanities Source is a valuable full-text database covering literary, scholarly and creative thought. It provides full text, indexing and abstracts for the most noted scholarly sources in the humanities.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).


JewishGen

Make this your first stop for tracing Jewish roots. Under the Get Started tab, choose First Timer for an intro to Jewish research and the site. Tead the free tutorials, watch the 5-minute instructional videos and browse the online class offerings (some are free with a site membership and others are fee-based). From the home page, search databases of Jewish surnames, family trees, towns, Holocaust victims and burials. Contribute your data to the centralized “family tree of the Jewish people.”




KDL StoryCompass

Find librarian-curated recommendations based on your favorite genres, authors, books, or movies.

Developed and maintained by Kent District Library.



LearningExpress Library

A completely interactive online learning platform providing instant access to a comprehensive collection of test preparation tools, skill-building materials, and career resources. Includes over 1,000 online practice tests and interactive skill-building tutorials to prepare for the GED, ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT tests, as well as AP exams and professional certification and licensing tests in a range of occupations.

View a guided tour of this database.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Legal Source

Providing indexing and full-text coverage of the most respected scholarly law journals, Legal Source is the authoritative database for current issues, studies, thoughts and trends of the legal world. It is an excellent resource for attorneys, educators, business people, law librarians, students, paralegals and others involved with the law.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Library & Information Science Source

The most complete resource for library and information science studies. It offers journals and periodicals that help librarians and researchers keep pace with the latest trends in the rapidly evolving field.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Literary Reference Center

This robust full-text database provides the most relevant information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines and timeframes. It gives students, teachers and librarians a complete foundation of literary reference
works to meet their research needs.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

Publication list


MAS Complete

Designed specifically for high school libraries, MAS Complete is a full-text database providing hundreds of popular high school magazines and reference books. Covering subjects such art, history, sports and music, it also includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents, plus over a million photos, maps and flags.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



MasterFILE Complete

The largest collection of popular full-text magazines, reference books and other highly-regarded sources from the world's leading publishers. Covering virtually every general interest subject area, it also includes an extensive collection of photos, maps and flags.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).


Michigan eLibrary (MeL)

An anywhere, anytime library available free to all Michigan residents. Contains a variety of databases, recommended web links, the Michigana digital Michigan history collection, and online resources for educators that are tied to the state curriculum standards.

View a guided tour of the MeL website.



Middle Search Plus

A full-text database providing popular middle school magazines and reference books. Covering subjects such as history, current events, science and sports, it also includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents, plus over a million photos, maps and flags.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



MyHeritage Library Edition

A MyHeritage Library Edition is one of the largest, most internationally diverse genealogy databases of it's kind.  Access to billions of historical documents, millions of historical photos and other resources in thousands of databases that span the last five centuries.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL)
.


National Archives Resources for Genealogy

If you know whose military or naturalization records you want to order, head to this genealogy portal for The National Archives. Start by watching a PowerPoint tutorial on this page. Read descriptions of census, military, immigration, naturalization and land records housed at the National Archives. Before shelling out money to order copies, learn what records are already available online elsewhere. Censuses are at all major genealogy websites; many federal land records are at the General Land Office site, described above. Click Access to Archival Databases to search National Archives databases or click Online Research Tools > Records Digitized by Partners for collections now on Ancestry.com, FamilySearch and Fold3. 




Newspaper Source Plus

A full-text digital collection of the world's major news content. It includes millions of articles from newspapers, newswires and news magazines. In addition, it offers television and radio transcripts and ongoing daily updates from popular news sources.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

Publication list

 


NoveList K-8 Plus

Find just the right book by subject, age, awards won, Lexile reading levels, Common Core standards, books made into movies, and much more. Read reviews, learn about the author and create your own reading wish list.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



NoveList Plus

Don't know what to read? Start your journey here. Search by author, title, series, plots, or even books like the one you just finished. Browse lists of award winners, lists of genres, and lists based on age. Create and save lists of your own favorites. Find book discussion guides and more. In addition to fiction, includes includes suggestions for audiobooks and nonfiction.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Opposing Viewpoints In Context

A complete one-stop source for information on hundreds of today's hottest social issues, featuring continuously updated viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into an engaging and user-friendly online experience.

View a guided tour of this database.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).


Poetry & Short Story Reference Center

Provides a historically rich collection of hundreds of thousands of classic and contemporary poems, as well as short stories, biographies and authoritative essays on such topics as poetic forms, movements and techniques — including contemporary content from the finest publishers.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).

Publication list



Points of View Reference Center

Containing resources that present multiple sides of an issue, this database provides rich content that can help students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Political Science Complete

Covers political topics with a worldwide focus, reflecting the globalization of contemporary political discourse. Geared toward students, researchers and government institutions.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).


RBdigital

RBdigital, the world's largest digital library newsstand, offers full-color digital magazines. Browse our collection with no holds, no checkout periods, and no limit to the number of magazines you can download.



Read It!

Designed for middle and high school students and adults who have a basic foundation in English grammar and reading but need adapted reading material for a variety of subjects. It offers resources to help build background knowledge,
conduct research and improve study skills.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).


Referencia Latina

This full-text Spanish-language database covers a broad array of subjects inside and outside academia. It offers content from a variety of sources, including reference books, general interest magazines and health reports.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Science Reference Center

Designed to meet every student researcher's needs, Science Reference Center contains full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, encyclopedias, reference books and a vast collection of images.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



SCOLA

SCOLA is a non-profit educational organization. SCOLA receives and re-transmits foreign TV programming from around the world and provides other foreign language resources, language lessons, and learning material on this website.
Universities, colleges, K-12 schools, cable systems, language schools and individual language learners use SCOLA foreign language resources for current events, language learning, and cultural studies.



USGenWeb Project


This volunteer-led network of websites contain free genealogical resources for every US state and most counties. Quality, content and design varies from site to site. You’ll commonly find what local resources exist and how to access them, along with indexes to cemetery, marriage and other local records. Share your own records on these sites, too.



Vocational Studies Premier

Designed specifically for the research needs of two-year colleges, this full-text resource offers scholarly content most relevant to vocational programs.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



Webpages by Stephen P. Morse

Don't let the complicated appearance fool you: Beginners looking for passenger and immigration information won't want to pass up this site.  Morse has created better search tools for data found on other websites.  Click on About This Website and How to Use It for a prime, or just scroll down to the various search forms and the accompanying explanations. Where search results lead to paid subscription sites (including Ancestry.com), that site will charge you.




World Book Early World of Learning

A wealth of resources to help preschoolers and children in the early grades grasp critical early childhood themes. Strengthen reading foundations with stories, activities and videos. Explore the Know It encyclopedia designed especially for early readers. Also includes materials for educators.

View a guided tour of this database. 

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).



World Book Online for Kids

Online version of the popular World Book Encyclopedia! Features easy-to-read articles and a wealth of engaging multimedia, games, science projects, interactive tools, and activities.

View a guided tour of this database.

This database is provided by the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).