Research Resources
To succeed in a rapidly changing world, students must be critical thinkers and develop the ability to acquire, evaluate and interpret information. Research is an organized process of searching for answers to questions, which in turn pose additional questions.These needed information literacy skills are taught in a sequential order according to a plan developed jointly by the media specialist and classroom teachers.
PRINT RESOURCES
Each research unit has appropriate print resources. These books, including reference books, can be checked out by students, but often check out is restricted to one night.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Online Resources provide current, reliable information needed for research from thousands of sources not available using commercial search engines. These are easily accessed on any computer at school from the desktop "Media Center" folder. They can be accessed at home using passwords. Check Edline (Departments/Media Center) or ask for a print copy of the passwords in the Media Center.
Encyclopedias:
- Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition Four versions of the encyclopedia for different reading levels and research needs; provides weblinks & graphics; includes a Spanish language version. [password required]
- Encyclopaedia Britannica Global Reference Center: Britannica's foreign language content, offering information in Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and French. [password required]
- Encyclopaedia Britannica Spanish Reference Center: Gran Enciclopedia Planeta y Enciclopedia Juvenil: Britannica’s comprehensive Spanish language encyclopedia. Also includes an elementary encyclopedia with images, videos and Spanish language learning materials. [password required]
- Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition: Recommended for high school and higher education. Includes links to current events articles from The New York Times and the BBC. [password required]
- World Book Web School and Library Edition AND Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos General encyclopedia for varied reading levels; videos and related web links, atlas and dictionary. Includes access to World Book Student, World Book Kids (an elementary encyclopedia), Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos, an elementary Spanish language encyclopedia, the World Book Atlas and the World Book Dictionary; as well as three digital libraries: Living Green, Early Peoples and Inventions & Discoveries. [password required]
e-Books:
Science textbook [password required]: Pearson SuccessNet
Databases:
- Annals of American History: Online access to original primary source documents in U.S. history. [password required]
- AP Images: Search for current and historical images, graphics, audio files. [password required]
- Bridges Choices Explorer: Explore career and education options. [Use site ID to login, password required]
- CultureGrams: Profiles of the culture, people, geography, history, maps, flags and statistics of countries and states. [password required]
- eLibrary: Periodical database of 800+ full-text sources: magazines, newspapers, reference books, pictures, maps, TV/radio scripts. [password required, then click the "My Products" button]\
- History Reference Center: Provides info from reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books and for history periodicals, historical documents, biographies of historical figures, historical photos and maps, and more than 80 hours of historical video. [password required, click on EBSCOhost Research Databases]
- Image Quest: Provides more than 2 million high-quality images covering art, geography, science, history and culture. All images can be downloaded and are rights-cleared for educational use. [password required]
- Issues and Controversies: Pro/Con positions on current events, with statistical data, etc. [password required]
- MasterFILE Premier : Search for information, primary sources and images in this multidisciplinary database. [password required, click on EBSCOhost Research Databases]
- NoodleTools: Bibliography composer with fully integrated note-taking. Note for first-time users: you must set up your own account after signing in under Hoover MS. Please visit Media Center if you need assistance. [password required]
- Proquest Historical Newspapers: Primary source historical New York Times newspapers from 1851 through 2005. [password required]
- Science Reference Center: Search science topics from science encyclopedias, reference books and periodicals. [password required, click on EBSCOhost Research Databases]
- SIRS Decades: 20th century American sources, including cartoons, maps, speeches. [password required]
- SIRS Discoverer: Database with subject information and biographies from hundreds of magazines, newspapers and selected web sites. [password required]
- SIRS Knowledge Source: 5 separate databases [Researcher, Govt. Reporter, Renaissance, Web Select, Interactive Citizen] with articles on all subjects and current events, US Govt. resources, arts and humanities with related weblinks. [password required]
- Student NewsNet: News and current events designed for the classroom with related learning activities, lesson plans, and vocabulary builders. From Britannica. [password required]
- Student Resource Center, Jr.: A database with full-text periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, primary source documents and websites for all subjects with selected biographies and timelines.
- TeachingBooks.net: An online collection of K-12 multimedia author and book resources. [password required]
- TumbleBooks: Online lower-level books and activities.
- 21st Century Explorer: Provides online reference and learning tools for students on two levels for differentiated learning. [password required]
- U.S. History in Context A database for US history with full-text periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, primary source documents and websites with selected biographies and timelines. [password required]
- Webster's New International Dictionary: Comprehensive American dictionary, includes a thesaurus. [password required]
- World Data Analyst: Up-to-date information and statistics about world countries. [password required]
- World History -- Ancient & Medieval Eras: Research ancient and medieval eras, such as ancient Greece, ancient African empires and medieval Europe. [password required]
Other Libraries:
Search Engines:
NetTrekker: A search engine which provides reliable, teacher-evaluated web sites.[password required]
THE RESEARCH PROCESS
Evaluating Web Pages: Web Site Evaluation Form: When researching on the internet, it is important to evaluate the reliability of web sites. Use this form (from Churchill HS) and submit it with your assignment when using web sites other than those from our online databases.
Copyright and Plagiarism: It is important to know about these topics. Write using your own words and make sure you give proper credit to others when using their work:
Plagiarism (Oregon School Library Information System): Good information on plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Copyright & Plagiarism Information (Naperville Central HS): Easy to read web site with good sections for students and teachers.
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