SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES

Not all information on the internet is accessible without charge. Many libraries now subscribe to electronic databases, collections of digital information organized for efficient retrieval by computer searches. The information in these proprietary collections is often more selective, quality-controlled or specialized than freely available information. In addition, many valuable publications are now available in a digital format.

Use of these select digital information sources is limited to those who hold library cards.

Mark Twain Library cardholders have access to the subscription databases listed here. Some databases are subsidized directly by the library, some are offered by Joel Barlow High School and can be accessed by Redding residents, and some are made available to all state residents by ICONN, Connecticut's Digital Library.

Please stop at the front desk on your next visit to the library for a complete list of web addresses and passwords to access these valuable information sources.

Library-funded databases/digital publications
(can be used only in the library)

  • Ancestry® Library Edition: the most comprehensive source of genealogical information on the web; the site recently added complete U.S. military records

  • Morningstar: the well-known investment research firm rates mutual, hedge and other funds (library also receives the print edition of its reports)

  • Statesman's Yearbook Online - the standard geopolitical reference book, published continuously since 1864; an "indispensable reference tool for anyone needing reliable, concise information on any country in the world"

  • Value Line Online - publishes the widely-respected Value Line Investment Survey, an "enormously efficient" analysis of investment securities (library also subscribes to the print edition)

Library-funded databases/digital publications with remote access
(can be used at the library and from home)

  • Britannica Online: the country's most respected encyclopedia is now available in digital format. The website is available from the library and also from home (requires your 14 digit barcode).

  • ConsumerReports.org: on-line access to product reviews and ratings from Consumer Reports (to use from home, you will need to enter your library card number)

  • Novelist Plus: provides a wide range of resources for reading recommendations, including Author Read-alikes and Recommended Reads; fiction and nonfiction suggestions for all ages; offers reviews from professional journals for all 200,000 titles included in the database

  • Redding PILOT Online (from NEWSBANK): allows patrons to browse PILOT articles by date, starting with the June 5, 2003 edition; letters to the editors, obituaries, and general news articles can be accessed. (To search for articles on a specific subject in the PILOT: do a keyword search in the archives on the Redding PILOT website - to locate the publication dates of the appropriate issues - then search for those specific issues in the NEWSBANK database.)

  • Reference USA: a "one-stop" database for information on businesses and people; great resource for research on local and regional businesses, commercial and residential phone numbers, etc.

Joel Barlow High School electronic databases
(can be used at the library and from home)

  • ABC-CLIO A set of five separate interactive databases, in the areas of American government, American history, ancient history, world geography, and world history; each database includes at least 15,000 primary and secondary sources

  • eLIBRARY a collection of diverse information resources, ranging from newspapers and books to radio transcripts and video clips, that can be searched by reading level

  • FACTS ON FILE: ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES an excellent database providing articles on more than 800 "hot topics"; each article defines the topic, summarizes various viewpoints on the subject, and provides suggestions for further study; updated weekly

  • PROQUEST DIRECT the world's largest collection of magazine, journal, and newspaper articles

  • SIRS Its Leading Issues database provides hundreds of editorially-selected resources on selected topics from a broad selection of periodicals.

  • You may search more than one JBHS database at a time by using the ONE SEARCH or POWER SEARCH options.

ICONN databases
(can be used at the library and from home)

ICONN, Connecticut's Digital Library, offers more than 25 periodical, newspaper and reference databases in five different subject areas. They can be searched in a number of different ways:

on the SEARCH page, just type your keywords in the search box for a complete search through all databases as well as the statewide library catalog; your results will include digital resources that you can immediately access, as well as books on your subject that can be immediately requested through the ICONN reQuest delivery system (by clicking on the book link and then the "request item" button)

also on the SEARCH page, click on SELECT ICONN RESOURCES for the option to search through the group of databases focusing on your desired subject or resource area; you will have direct access to information in these databases, which offer collections of periodical and reference sources

and the final search option (also on the SEARCH page) choose the LINK TO INDIVIDUAL RESOURCES to search through just one database at a time. Elementary and secondary school students may want to use this option.

Here is a brief rundown of the databases and the kinds of information they offer.

Information from magazines and journals

  • General One-File ICONN's largest collection of articles from magazines, newspapers, academic journals and trade publications; currently including more than 76 million articles (includes the seven databases described immediately below)

    • Kids InfoBits
      An information collection aimed at elementary school students which allows searches at "easy" (K-2) and "more difficult" (grades 3-5) reading levels; provides information in text, images, and audio format

    • InfoTrac Junior Edition
      An information collection aimed at middle schoolers (grades 6-8) with full-text articles from 350 magazines and journals

    • InfoTrac Student Edition
      An information collection produced for high school students with full-text articles from more than 1400 periodicals (and a limited number of reference sources)

    • Expanded Academic ASAP
      A collection designed to meet the needs of college and graduate students, offering access to more than 16 million full-text articles covering all academic areas

    • Academic OneFile
      an authoritative and comprehensive information collection, providing more than 27 million full-text articles from the world's leading academic journals and reference sources; outstanding resource for professionals and students

    • !Informe
      more than 4 million articles from Spanish-language and bilingual publications

    • General Reference Center Gold
      This collection focuses on business and general interest publications, with more than 8 million full-text articles from 3500 periodicals; a great "ready-reference" source

Information on People, Places, and Events; Primary Sources

  • Discovering Collection
    This information collection is especially designed for middle and high school students. It allows researchers to examine topics from multiple perspectives, including related creative works, primary sources, multimedia content, literary analysis and reference material.

  • Biography Resource Center
    This comprehensive collection includes more than 400,000 articles from a combination of 135 biographical reference sources, 325 magazine and newspaper sources, and Marquis Who's Who.

  • History Reference Center
    The "world's most comprehensive" full-text history database designed for high school and college students; includes articles from 2,400 history books, references and encyclopedias; 130 history periodicals; 61,000 historical documents; 110,000 photographs and maps; and more than 80 hours of historical videos

  • Connecticut History Online
    A collection of 15,000 digital primary sources developed to serve the needs of students, scholars and the general public; a joint effort of the Connecticut Historical Society, the Connecticut State Library, Mystic Seaport, and the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.

  • Encyclopedia of Connecticut History
    Features hundreds of articles on Connecticut people, places and historical events; also offers a convenient set of links to Connecticut history resources

  • Heritage Quest
    This is a genealogy database with some distinctive resources, including 23,000 family and local histories, the PERSI genealogy periodical index, Revolutionary War records and Reconstruction records

Health and Science

  • Science Reference Center
    designed to meet the research needs of middle and high school students in science, providing access to hundreds of science periodicals, reference books, and videos, along with almost 10,000 related scientific images

  • Health and Wellness Resource Center
    provides access to 400 health and medical journals, articles in 2,200 general-interest publications, 700 health-related videos, and a broad range of respected health and medical references

  • 2-1-1 Community Resources Directory
    a valuable, comprehensive directory of health and human service providers, information sites, help-sites, plus an e-library of information on a wide variety of service topics; most of the resources listed are Connecticut-based. (If you cannot find what you need in the directory, you may dial 211 from anywhere in Connecticut to speak to a resource specialist.)

  • CT Consumer Health Information
    connects you with Healthnet, the University of Connecticut Health Center Library consumer health information program for Connecticut residents

  • Connecticut Physician Profiles
    search the Connecticut Department of Public Health 's database to find a range of information on individual physicians licensed in Connecticut, including their education, training, specialty, affiliations, malpractice claims, etc.

Business and Law

  • Business and Company Resource Center
    This up-to-date database is designed not only to meet the research needs of business students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, but also the information requirements of the job seeker and the casual investor; includes millions of records providing - on a global basis - company profiles, investment reports, industry rankings, etc.

  • LegalTrac
    combines a comprehensive index to more than 1400 legal publications with full-text law-related articles from more than 1000 business and general interest publications

Newspapers

The ICONN Newstand offers access to full-text articles (no graphics) in the archives of the following newspapers

Also available is a complete archive of images in the Associated Press, starting in the mid-1800s.