Reference Databases

This is a list of the databases currently available to Library patrons. A short description and the funding source is provided after each name. Use the menu at the right to go directly to a category in the list.

To access a database, click on the appropriate link at the end of each description. When accessing a particular database from outside of the library, you will be required to log in with your Minuteman Library card number. Most of the time, it must be entered without any spaces between the numbers. Do not prevent cookies from being enabled or access will be denied. In many cases, access will provide you with a menu which requires you to select the requested database again once you've located it within the site.

Should you have a problem logging in, please contact a Reference Librarian at 978-318-3347 or concordref@minlib.net during library hours.

BIOGRAPHY

Biography Resource Center (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) This database includes full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals and biographical information in the Complete Marquis Who's Who. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

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BUSINESS RESOURCES

Banker & Tradesman Online (CFPL) (In-library use only; password required; see Reference staff.) A real estate, banking and commercial weekly for Massachusetts. [Go to database.]

General BusinessFile ASAP (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Indexes over 1,300 periodicals and includes the full text of articles from 650 of the indexed titles. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

FOR STUDENTS/CHILDREN

InfoTrac Student Edition (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Designed for high school students, for access to a variety of indexed and full-text magazines, newspapers and reference books. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Kids InfoBits (MBLC) (Remote access requires Minuteman library Network Library card number.)
For elementary school students, includes reference books, magazines, and newspaper articles. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Lands and Peoples (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) An encyclopedia of countries, cultures, and current events geared to student readers. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

The New Book of Popular Science (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) Science and technology, plus science in the news for middle and high schools. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

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CONSUMER INFORMATION

Consumer Reports (CFPL) (In-library use only; password required; see Reference Staff.) [Go to database.]

ENCYCLOPEDIAS

America the Beautiful (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) State-by-State history and current events for elementary and middle schools. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Encyclopedia Britannica Online (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Encyclopedia Americana Online (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Online (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Lands and Peoples (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) An encyclopedia of countries, cultures, and current events geared to student readers. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

The New Book of Knowledge Online (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

The New Book of Popular Science (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) Science and technology, plus science in the news for middle and high schools. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

World Book Online (MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Lbrary Network library card number.) [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

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GENERAL

Academic One-File (MBLC) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Millions of peer-reviewed, full text articles from leading journals and reference sources. Includes the full text of the New York Times back to 1995.[Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Ancestry Library Edition (CFPL) (In-library use only.) With more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases, Ancestry Library Edition includes records from the United States Census; military records; court, land and probate records; vital and church records; directories; passenger lists. [Go to database.]

Educator's Reference Complete (MBLC) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) A selection of more than 450 full-text academic journals, hundreds of full-text reports, and many reference sources. Included content focuses on educational principles, child development and psychology, and best practices in education. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Expanded Academic ASAP (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Provides indexing of 2,300 scholarly and general interest periodicals and full text from 1,300 of the academic titles. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Gale Virtual Reference Library (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) A database of encyclopedias, almanacs and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

General Reference Center (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Provides indexing of over 3900 general interest periodicals, and full text from 2958 of the indexed titles. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

InfoTrac OneFile - (MBLC) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) A one-stop source for news and periodical articles on a wide range of topics: business, computers, current events, economics, education, environmental issues, health care, hobbies, humanities, law, literature and art, politics, science, social science, sports, technology, and many general interest topics. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

netLibrary (BPL/MBLC) (Remote access requires Minuteman library Network Library card number.)
A collection of over 3500 newly published e-books. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

OCLC FirstSearch (MMRLS) (In-library use only.) Search for books, periodicals, and other media worldwide on WorldCat. [Go to the database]

PowerSearch - (MBLC) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) PowerSearch is a one-stop source for newspaper, magazine and journal articles from 1980 to the present on a wide range of topics. With the cross-search feature of Thomson Gale PowerSearch, you can search one, several, or even all available Thomson Gale databases simultaneously. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

WorldCat - Over 1 billion items in more than 10,000 libraries worldwide [Go to the database]

HEALTH

Health Reference Center - Academic (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Indexes 180 health journals; full text from 142 of those titles; full text of 700 medical pamphlets and six medical reference books. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

HISTORY

American History Online (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) A comprehensive and authoritative reference to the most important individuals, events, and topics in United States history. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Ancestry Library Edition (CFPL) (In-library use only.) With more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases, Ancestry Library Edition includes records from the United States Census; military records; court, land and probate records; vital and church records; directories; passenger lists. [Go to database]

Massachusetts History Online (MBLC)
Contains full-text articles gathered from almost 50 sources that directly relate to Massachusetts history. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

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LAW

Westlaw (CFPL) (In-library use only.) Includes full text of Code of Massachusetts Regulations, Massachusetts General Laws Annotated, United States Code Annotated, and the Massachusetts Practice series. [Go to the database.]

Other databases in this Westlaw subscription include:

Massachusetts Cases

Massachusetts Statutes & Legislative Service

Massachusetts Court Rules & Orders

Massachusetts Administrative & Executive Materials

Massachusetts Insurance Materials

Massachusetts Texts & Periodicals

Massachusetts Corporate Records & Business Registrations (CORP-MA)

Westlaw State Bulletins-Massachusetts (WSB-MA)

West Legal Directory-Massachusetts (WLD-MA)

Massachusetts Blue Sky Regulations (MASEC-REG)

Massachusetts Tax Regulations (MATX-ADC)

U.S. Supreme Court Cases after 1944 (SCT)

U.S. Supreme Court Cases before 1945 (SCT-OLD)

U.S. Supreme Court Headnotes (SCT-HN)

United States Code Annotated (USCA)

United States Code (USCA unannotated) (USC)

USCA General Index (USCA-IDX)

USCA Popular Name Table (USCA-POP)

United States Code Annotated-Tables (USCA-TABLES)

United States Public Laws (US-PL)

Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (FMAHRA-PL)

Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (FLIHTCRED-IRC)

United States Public Laws 1973-2002 (US-PL-OLD)

Federal Rules (US-RULES)

Federal Orders (US-ORDERS)

Westlaw Bulletin-U.S. Supreme Court (WLB-SCT)

1st Circuit Materials

USCA Historical Databases

USCA by Practice Area

U.S. Code Congressional & Administrative News

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LITERATURE & BOOKS

Contemporary Literary Criticism Select (MBLC/MMRLS) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) A collection of critical and biographical essays on contemporary writers. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Gale's Literary Index (In-library Use and Remote Access) A master index to the major literature series published by Gale Group. [Go to the database.]

Literary Reference Center (MBLC)(Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Provides users with information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines and timeframes. It has been specifically designed for public libraries, secondary schools, junior/community colleges, and undergraduate research. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

LitFinder (MLN) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) Contains Poemfinder, Short Story Finder and Essay Finder. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

netLibrary (BPL/MBLC) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.)
A collection of over 3500 newly published e-books. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

NoveList: Your Guide to Fiction (MLN) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) A reader's advisory resource which helps readers of all ages find fiction authors and titles through subjects, reviews, booklists and many more. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

LOCAL RESOURCES

Community Information and Referral File (MLN) (Remote access does not require a library card.) A database of educational, health, recreational, religious, advocacy and governmental organizations in the Boston Metrowest region. [Go to database.]

Massachusetts "QuickFind" Websites (MLN) (Remote access does not require a library card.) A directory of Internet websites pertinent to the state of Massachusetts. [Go to database.]

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NEWSPAPERS

Barron's Online (CFPL) (In-library use only; password required; see Reference staff.) Weekly publication for investors from the publisher of the Wall Street Journal. [Go to database.]

Massachusetts Newsstand (MBLC and MMRLS)
Includes The Boston Globe (1980-Current), The Boston Herald (1991-Current), Berkshire Eagle (2005-Current), BusinessWest (Chicopee) (1992-Current), North Adams Transcript (2005-Current), Patriot Ledger (Quincy) (1991-Current), Plymouth County Business Review (1991-Current), Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg) (2005-Current), The Sun (Lowell) (2004-Current), Telegram & Gazette (Worcester) (1989-Current), Gazette (Haverhill (12/31/92 - 8/9/97), Standard Times (New Bedford (1/4/92 - 8/19/97) [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

New York Times (1980-current) (MLN) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

New York Times Archive (ProQuest) (CFPL) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) To date, the New York Times Archive contains full image (including advertisements and death notices) from daily issues 1851 to 2003. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

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SCIENCE

The New Book of Popular Science (CFPL) (Remote access is available to Concord residents only.) Science and technology, plus science in the news for middle and high schools. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

Science Resource Center (CFPL) (Remote access requires Minuteman Library Network library card number.) A curriculum-oriented science database that provides a one-stop resource for all science-related research needs. [Remote access to database | Access from within library]

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STOCKS & INVESTMENTS

Barron's Online (CFPL) (In-library use only; password required; see Reference staff.) Weekly publication for investors from the publisher of the Wall Street Journal. [Go to database.]

MorningStar Library Edition (CFPL) (In-library use only; password required; see Reference staff.)
Information about stocks and mutual funds. [Go to database.]

Value Line Investment Survey (CFPL) (In-library use only; password required; see Reference staff.)
A comprehensive source of information and advice on approximately 1,700 stocks, more than 90 industries, the stock market, and the economy. [Go to database.]

Resources are provided by the following organizations:

  • BPL—Boston Public Library with funding from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

  • CFPL—Concord Free Public Library

  • MBLC—Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the six Regional Library Systems

  • MLN—Minuteman Library Network

  • MMRLS—Massachusetts Metrowest Regional Library System

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Advanced Searching – While the simple searches typically involve looking for a single subject or keyword, the advanced searches allow the user to pinpoint other kinds of information, often several at a time. For example, narrowing the date and specifying an author or geographic area are common features. In business databases, such elements as company name, ticker symbol, size, product and industry code are often searchable. The term field is used on many databases for those elements which are separately indexed and therefore searchable.

CD-ROM – This is a disc for storing digital information. At the Concord Free Public Library, the reference CD-ROMs are networked. This means that users do not actually see the disc, and access is virtually the same as for online databases. (CD-ROM stands for compact disc-read only memory, meaning that one can read the information, not change or edit it.)

Database – A collection of information in electronic format. In the library, a database usually refers to a collection of information used for reference. All the reference tools described in this guide are databases of one kind or another.

Default – The option that the computer software chooses automatically.

Full text – More and more databases are not only indexing material (i.e. identifying the source), but providing the text of the material as well.

Icon – This is the word used for the little pictures representing different databases on the first screen in Windows computers.

Index – Like an index in the back of a book, a periodical index lists alphabetically the contents of magazines or newspapers (or any other publication). From a computer, these lists are accessible by typing a keyword or subject.

Keyword – Whether subjects are indexed on a computer database or in print, the selection of subject terms is selective. Each index chooses different words to identify subjects. In order to allow users to take full advantage of huge electronic databases, the keyword search was developed. The keywords may be found in the title, subject, author’s name or even in the text of the article, depending on the database.

Log in – The is the procedure by which you are asked to provide information in exchange for being given access to a specific page or site on the World Wide Web. For the most part, here that means typing in your library card number when prompted.

Minuteman homepage – Concord Free Public Library is a member of the Minuteman Library Network. The Minuteman homepage refers to World Wide Web presence of the Network. Concord’s computers ( as opposed to the terminals), designate Concord Free Public Library Homepage. You can click on to the Minuteman Homepage from Concord Free Public Library.

Online – This means the database is located somewhere outside the building and accessible through the Internet.

Windows computers – This refers to the personal computers with a Windows interface. In the Concord Free Public Library, these computers are dedicated to networked functions (Internet, catalog, CD-ROM). In this guide, the term is used to distinguish computers from terminals, because not all databases are available on both.

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DATABASE MENU

Boston Public Library (BPL) Electronic Databases (including JSTOR) and Apply for a BPL eCard here.


Electronic Journals, Magazines and Newspapers (NEW)

Science Resource Center (NEW)

PowerSearch

All require Minuteman Library Network library card number for remote access.


Biography

Business Resources

For Students/Children

Consumer Information

Encyclopedias

General

Health

History

Law

Literature & Books

Local resources

Newspapers

Science

Stocks & Investments


Glossary of Terms