Encyclopedias & Reference

  • African-American History – Read about key figures and events, examine famous speeches and other primary sources, and get context from the in-depth timelines
  • Biography in Context – Covering a vast array of people from historically significant figures to present-day newsmakers, this continuously updated database ensures that students have access to the very latest information
  • Britannica Library – Trusted information, including articles, images, websites and timelines for all ages
  • Explora Public Libraries – Easy-to-browse categories organized by popular topics inspire research ideas
  • Gale In Context | Elementary – Articles and reference books for K-5 students
  • Issues & Controversies – Helps researchers understand today’s crucial issues by exploring hundreds of hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture
  • Opposing Viewpoints In Context – Explore today’s most hotly debated topics as well as enduring controversies
  • Oxford English Dictionary – Find the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words—past and present—from across the English-speaking world
  • Read It! English Language Learner – For English language learners and adult basic education; learn about topics that you need for school and everyday life
  • World Book Online – Encyclopedia articles for students of all ages, research help, and science project ideas; Spanish version included