Online Resources

Professional journals and reference materials available at your fingertips!

Resources from reliable documents that can be cited in research papers.

 

How to Use

  • Most resources are available from home and may require a password.
  • All passwords are listed in the Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches. You can also call your local branch library for more information.
  • Some resources are only available in our branches.

 

MeL Logo
Indicates resources is provided by the Michigan eLibrary with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Need Help?

ask a librarian banner

Automotive

Auto Repair Source

Powered by the automotive experts at MOTOR, Auto Repair Source provides accurate, authoritative and up-to-date service and repair information for thousands of domestic and imported vehicles.


Mitchell’s ProDemand 

Car repair manuals and wiring schematics.
This resource is only available at the Bedford Branch Library and the Ellis Library & Reference Center.

Biography

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.

Books

Accelerated Reader Bookfinder

Find AR book for your child’s classroom reading requirements.  Search for book titles based on authors, topics, or titles of books.


eBooks by Ebsco

Includes books on religion, history and business. For more on eBooks please check out our downloadables page.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


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.


NoveList K-8

Created especially for children and the adults who work with them, NoveList K-8 Plus is an online database of reading recommendations which encourages reader success. Featuring an easy-to-use interface, kids can use NoveList K-8 Plus to find just the right books for their reading levels and interests, while parents, teachers and librarians can use it to find valuable teaching resources that will engage young readers.


Novelist Plus

Created especially for people who love books, NoveList Plus is the premier online database for reading recommendations, available through libraries around the world. Helping readers of all ages find just the right book to read, this comprehensive source of popular and professional book information includes expert recommendations, reviews, articles, lists and more.


Poetry & Short Story Reference Center

This full-text database 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.


Read It! is 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.

 


With 24/7 unlimited, simultaneous access and unlimited renewals per book per user, eBooks are available anytime, anywhere, and feature a free app that is compatible with all Apple, Windows, and Android devices.

 


Engaging and exciting all minds, from beginning readers to those simply interested in learning or keeping their facts straight. World Book Online aligns end-users with their appropriate learning level within a progressive sequence of databases that build upon the individuals capabilities.

 

Business and Law

Business Book Summaries

Business Book Summaries® (BBS) provides comprehensive, yet concise summaries of the best business books available. Using stringent criteria, only the top 1% of the more than 6,000 business books published each year in the United States is selected for inclusion in the database. Summaries and reviews are provided for more than 700 of the top business books from the last 20 years.


Demographics Now

Business & People provides detailed demographic data on more than 23 million businesses and 206 million consumers. Designed with an intuitive interface, interactive mapping tooks and comprehensive data, this new resource makes it easy for all types of researchers to collect, analyze and act upon information, all from one location.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches. You can also call your local library for more information.


Entrepreneurial Studies Source

Entrepreneurial Studies Source is 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.


Foundation Directory Online

To win grants, you need the most up-to-date, complete information you can get about grant-makers and the grants they’ve made. How can you get that? Only from the comprehensive database and powerful search tools Foundation Directory Online offers.

Only available from the Ellis Library & Reference Center.


Learning Express: Job and Career Accelerator

This easy-to-use online application enables Michigan residents to combine everything they need for a successful job search. Explore over 1000 occupations, search over five million recent national and local job openings, create effective resumes and cover letters, and store them all in one convenient place.


Professional Development Collection

Professional Development Collection is a highly specialized database of full-text electronic information especially for educators, professional librarians and education researchers.


Reference Solutions (Formerly ReferenceUSA)

Excellent source of business and residential information including business start-up and marketing, job searching, company directories and sales volumes, SIC codes. Data on millions of U.S. and Canadian households such as income and home value. Reverse phone directory.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


Regional Business News

Regional Business News provides full-text regional business publications for the United States and Canadian provinces. Users can search newspapers, magazines and other resources from trusted news sources.


Small Business Reference Center (EBSCO)

Small Business Reference Center offers exclusive full text for many top consumer small business reference books, as well as tools to address many small business topics. It includes business videos, a help and advice section and details on how to create business plans.


Weiss Financial Ratings Series Online

Weiss Financial Ratings Series Online provides powerful new tools to protect your finances, invest wisely, grow your wealth, and learn more about your finances.

Children & Young Adults

ABCmouse (Library only)

From Age of Learning, Inc., the award-winning ABCmouse.com curriculum is designed to help young children (ages 2-7+) build a strong foundation for future academic success. ABCmouse.com is 100% educational, with 3,500+ learning activities across all major subject areas—reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music. Best of all, kids love it!


Britannica Fundamentals

The Britannica Learning Zone offers an engaging online tool for early-childhood learning, covering letters, words, numbers, time, sound, geography, and more.  This activity-centered learning environment has been created for Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade students, supports classroom curriculum, and helps students build technology skills.


Britannica School

Britannica School offers age-appropriate resources at 4 levels, the Learning Zone for early learners and elementary, middle and high school levels.

Britannica School content reflects the most up-to-date information available. New and revised articles are added every day. The content is carefully crafted to meet students’ needs at various reading levels and correlated to Lexile® reading scores. Articles for elementary school students have scores ranging from 600 to 1000, and those for middle school students range from 860 to 1360.


CultureGrams

Information on 50 states, 180 countries, cultural information.


Driving-Tests.org

Free DMV Permit Practice Tests


Early World of Learning

An interactive learning tool for young students, produced by World Book.


Middle Search Plus

Designed for middle school libraries, Middle Search Plus is 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.


Novelist K-8 Plus

Created especially for children and the adults who work with them, NoveList K-8 Plus is an online database of reading recommendations which encourages reader success. Featuring an easy-to-use interface, kids can use NoveList K-8 Plus to find just the right books for their reading levels and interests, while parents, teachers and librarians can use it to find valuable teaching resources that will engage young readers.


PebbleGo

PebbleGo is a curricular content hub specifically designed for K-3 students. Packed with informational articles, ready-made activities, and literacy supports for students of all abilities, it boosts engagement and fosters independent learning in core subject areas. Your students will love exploring PebbleGo time and time again.


Primary Search

Designed for elementary school libraries, Primary Search is a full-text database providing popular children’s magazines, easy-to-read encyclopedic entries and a vast image collection. Students can learn about a variety of topics, including endangered species, famous musicians, fitness and space exploration.


Tutor.com

Tutor.com offers one-to-one tutoring services in more than 200 academic subjects and test preparation areas in an engaging and uplifting learning environment. Learners of all ages are connected with qualified, expert tutors and resources online, on-demand.


World Book Kids

An interactive learning tool for young students, produced by World Book.

Education

ABCmouse (Library only)

From Age of Learning, Inc., the award-winning ABCmouse.com curriculum is designed to help young children (ages 2-7+) build a strong foundation for future academic success. ABCmouse.com is 100% educational, with 3,500+ learning activities across all major subject areas—reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music. Best of all, kids love it!


Art and Architecture Source

Art & Architecture Source covers a broad range of related subjects, from fine, decorative and commercial art, to various areas of architecture and architectural design. Providing over 600 full-text journals, more than 220 full-text books, and a collection of over 63,0000 images, it is designed for use by a diverse audience, including art scholars, artists, designers, students and general researchers.


Associates Program Source

This unique research database provides full-text coverage for the subject areas most relevant to two-year college programs, including biotechnology, graphic arts, criminal justice and veterinary assisting.


Britannica Fundamentals

The Britannica Learning Zone offers an engaging online tool for early-childhood learning, covering letters, words, numbers, time, sound, geography, and more.  This activity-centered learning environment has been created for Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade students, supports classroom curriculum, and helps students build technology skills.


Britannica School

Britannica School offers age-appropriate resources at 4 levels, the Learning Zone for early learners and elementary, middle and high school levels.

Britannica School content reflects the most up-to-date information available. New and revised articles are added every day. The content is carefully crafted to meet students’ needs at various reading levels and correlated to Lexile® reading scores. Articles for elementary school students have scores ranging from 600 to 1000, and those for middle school students range from 860 to 1360.


CultureGrams

Information on 50 states, 180 countries, cultural information.


Driving-Tests.org

Free DMV Permit Practice Tests


eBooks by Ebsco

Includes books on religion, history and business. For more on ebooks please check out our downloadables page.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


Education Source

The world’s largest and most complete collection of full-text education journals, Education Source provides 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.


ERIC: Education Resources Information Center

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is an authoritative database of indexed and full-text education literature and resources. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, it is an essential tool for education researchers of all kinds.


GCF Learn Free

Free Technology tutorials, resources and tools provided by the Goodwill Community Foundation.

For more than a decade, the GCFLearnFree.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers 125 tutorials, including more than 1,100 lessons, videos, and interactives, completely free.


LearningExpress Library

Study guides and practice exams for GED, ACT, ASVAB, and others (formerly Learn-A-Test) .


Mango Languages

Mango Languages creates lovable language-learning experiences for libraries, schools, corporations, government agencies, and individuals. Happy learners around the globe have used Mango to learn new languages, connect with new cultures, and broaden their horizons.


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.


Opposing Viewpoints in Context

Full text essays and articles on current social issues.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


PebbleGo

PebbleGo is a curricular content hub specifically designed for K-3 students. Packed with informational articles, ready-made activities, and literacy supports for students of all abilities, it boosts engagement and fosters independent learning in core subject areas. Your students will love exploring PebbleGo time and time again.


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.


Tutor.com

Tutor.com offers one-to-one tutoring services in more than 200 academic subjects and test preparation areas in an engaging and uplifting learning environment. Learners of all ages are connected with qualified, expert tutors and resources online, on-demand.


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.

Genealogy

Ancestry Plus (Library only)

Over 1.2 billion records for genealogical research.


LaFrance (Library only)

The French America: Directory of birth, baptism, marriage, death and burial since the beginning of European settlements.  One of several databases located on the Genealogie Quebec website.  Search for records by individual, by couple or by place specifying a precise date or time frame.  Page may be displayed in French or English.

Available from any Internet computer at all of the MCLS Branches only.  Using this site requires a password. Ask your local library for more information.


MyHeritage Library Edition

Family history/genealogy resource including more than 6 billion historical ​records from the United States, Europe, Latin America, and other regions. Includes the full USA federal census (1790-1940); census of England and Wales (1841-1901); U.S. World War II Army Enlistment as well as records of Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers. Over 2 billion family trees.

General Reference

A-Z Databases

AtoZdatabases is the premier reference and marketing database marketed to Library, Academic, and Government institutions throughout the U.S. This simple, user-friendly, web-based solution provides details on businesses and households within the U.S.


Academic Search Complete

This database provides access to full text coverage from scholarly publications in many areas of academic study including animal science, anthropology, biology, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, ethnic & multicultural studies, food science & technology, general science, geography, geology, law, materials science, mathematics, mechanical engineering, music, physics, psychology, religion & theology, veterinary science, women’s studies, zoology and many other fields.


AGRICOLA

Covers all aspects of agriculture, forestry, and animal science.


Birds of the World

Definitive life histories for every bird in the world.


Caribbean Search

Caribbean Search is the most extensive research database of full-text content pertaining to the countries and people of the Caribbean. Covering all areas of Caribbean study, it includes hundreds of full-text journals, magazines, newspapers, reports and reference books.


Central & Eastern European Academic Search

This full-text database is an essential tool for researchers and students, providing content pertaining to central and eastern European countries. It is a multidisciplinary, multilingual resource covering a variety of subject areas including history, business and law.


Consumer Reports

Make better purchasing decisions on the products you are shopping for. Whether you are looking to find the best deal on an LCD TV or researching the top-recommended used vehicles, ConsumerReports.org® provides ratings and reviews, recommendations and buying advice for thousands of products and services.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches. You can also call your local library for more information.
 

CultureGrams

Information on 50 states, 180 countries, cultural information.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


Demographics Now

Business & People provides detailed demographic data on more than 23 million businesses and 206 million consumers. Designed with an intuitive interface, interactive mapping tooks and comprehensive data, this new resource makes it easy for all types of researchers to collect, analyze and act upon information, all from one location.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos

An interactive learning tool for young students, provided in Spanish and produced by World Book.


Environment Complete

This leading full-text database offers extensive coverage in the areas of agriculture, ecosystem ecology, energy, and affiliated areas of study. Offering full text and indexing for journals, books and monographs, it is an invaluable resource for students and scholars across all environmental disciplines.


ERIC: Education Resources Information Center

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is an authoritative database of indexed and full-text education literature and resources. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, it is an essential tool for education researchers of all kinds.


Explora

Ensure student and educator success with EBSCO’s interface for schools and public libraries. Designed to meet the unique needs of its users, Explora supports both student research and classroom instruction with rich, reliable content and easy-to-use functionality.


Health Source: Nursing/ Academic Edition

Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition is a trusted full-text database covering nursing and allied health topics, including pediatric nursing, critical care, mental health, nursing management, medical law and more.


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.


Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center

This database offers detailed “how-to” instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby enthusiast. Full text is provided from leading hobby and craft magazines.


Home Improvement Reference Center

Through a collection of comprehensive full-text content, this database provides users with detailed, user-friendly “how-to” information covering a variety of home improvement and repair projects.


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.


Jewish Studies Source

This rich full-text database offers a multidisciplinary view of the study of Jewish civilization, from its historical origins to the present. It is one of the only full-text databases that focuses exclusively on Jewish studies.


Legal Information Reference Center

Legal Information Reference Center is an online database designed to assist the general public in legal matters of all kinds. It includes exclusive full text for many top consumer legal reference books, as well as thousands of legal forms.


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.


Library & Information Science Source

This full-text database is 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.


Making of Modern Michigan

Contains photographs, interviews, and many other materials for genealogy research.


NewsBank

Get unlimited online access to the Monroe News. Stay informed on local and national topics, as well as events in the Monroe area, including business, health, education, jobs and careers, politics, and social issues. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.


Opposing Viewpoints in Context

Full text essays and articles on current social issues.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


Political Science Complete

Designed specifically for students, researchers and government institutions, this full-text database covers political topics with a worldwide focus, reflecting the globalization of contemporary political discourse.


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.


Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

This full-text database is an essential tool for psychologists, counselors, researchers and students, providing extensive coverage for a broad range of subjects in the fields of psychology, behavioral sciences and related disciplines.


Reference Solutions (Formerly ReferenceUSA)

Excellent source of business and residential information including business start-up and marketing, job searching, company directories and sales volumes, SIC codes. Data on millions of U.S. and Canadian households such as income and home value. Reverse phone directory.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches.  You can also call your local library for more information.


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.


Small Engine Repair Reference Center

This reference database provides detailed yet user-friendly repair guides for all manner of small engines. All of the content is organized in a powerful, easy-to-use manner so that users can quickly find the information they need.


Turfgrass Information Center

The most comprehensive collection of materials on turfgrass available.

Health

Alt HealthWatch

Alt HealthWatch focuses on complementary, holistic and integrated approaches to health care and wellness. Full text articles, from international and peer-reviewed reports, proceedings, and newsletters. In addition, Alt HealthWatch includes pamphlets, booklets, special reports, original research and book excerpts.


Consumer Health Complete

Consumer Health Complete supports the information needs of patients and fosters an overall understanding of health-related topics. This resource provides content covering all key areas of health and wellness, from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary and holistic medicine.


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.


Salud en Español

Salud en Español offers basic overviews of health conditions, procedures, and treatments for those seeking information in Spanish.


Senior Advice

A resource to help seniors and their loved ones explore long-term care and housing needs, including different facilities available to them, costs, and payment options.

Magazines and Journals

Consumer Reports

Make better purchasing decisions on the products you are shopping for. Whether you are looking to find the best deal on an LCD TV or researching the top-recommended used vehicles, ConsumerReports.org® provides ratings and reviews, recommendations and buying advice for thousands of products and services.

Using this site from home requires a password. All passwords are located in our Online Resources Brochure, which is available at any of our 16 branches. You can also call your local library for more information.
 

 
 
MasterFILE Complete offers 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.

Newspapers

NewsBank

Get unlimited online access to the Monroe News. Stay informed on local and national topics, as well as events in the Monroe area, including business, health, education, jobs and careers, politics, and social issues. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.


Newspaper Source Plus

Newspaper Source Plus provides 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.

Science and Technology

Applied Science & Technology Source

Applied Science & Technology Source offers extensive coverage of research and development within the applied sciences and computing disciplines. This resource offers full text for almost 1,200 journals, and citations to millions of articles. The content within Applied Science & Technology Source derives from numerous sources, including leading trade journals, professional and technical society journals, and conference proceedings.


GCF Learn Free

Free Technology tutorials, resources and tools provided by the Goodwill Community Foundation.

For more than a decade, the GCFLearnFree.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers 125 tutorials, including more than 1,100 lessons, videos, and interactives, completely free.


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.


Turfgrass Information Center

The most comprehensive collection of materials on turfgrass available.

Test Preparation

Driving-Tests.org

Free DMV Permit Practice Tests


LearningExpress Library (Formerly Learn-A-Test)

Study guides and practice exams for GED, ACT, ASVAB, and others (formerly Learn-A-Test) .


Tutor.com

Tutor.com offers one-to-one tutoring services in more than 200 academic subjects and test preparation areas in an engaging and uplifting learning environment. Learners of all ages are connected with qualified, expert tutors and resources online, on-demand.