Databases, Encyclopedias, and Virtual Reference Library Titles at Middletown Thrall Library: Databases A-Z
Featured Resource
About Databases
What is a database?
A database contains information. Databases let you search through that information (“data”) so you can retrieve specific facts or articles quickly. Databases can cover specific subjects or many different topics.
As a member of our library, you enjoy access to “full text article databases,” which contain complete articles as well as abstracts (article summaries) from magazines, scholarly journals, newspapers, and other publications.
Specialized encyclopedias, illustrated reference works, educational services, online music, genealogy tools, and much more are available to you for free!
Why use databases?
Databases often contain a higher quality of information than what you might encounter when generally searching the Web. Anyone can publish information online, and you might have no way of knowing if that information is accurate, up-to-date, or free of bias or propaganda.
Databases can help you find better information faster, especially since they contain many “peer-reviewed” articles (meaning that information has been examined by professionals or scholars prior to its publication).
Did you know?
Databases can save you money! Often you will be asked to pay to access an article through a newspaper or journal website. Because Thrall subscribes to numerous databases on your behalf, you can tap into all of that information freely at the library or elsewhere (e.g. at home!) using your Thrall library card!
Some databases are available to all New York State residents through the NYS NOVEL program (www.novelnewyork.org).
Databases also offer powerful search options and often empower you to discover related information within a few clicks. When you’re serious about doing research, databases can be tremendously helpful!
Where?
Access databases right at Thrall on most of our computers. Members of Thrall can access most of our databases and electronic reference works remotely through our website (www.thrall.org) by clicking the Databases link on our home page and logging in with their library card numbers.
Also…
Articles in databases are usually as good as ones in print. Many articles are available as PDFs (Adobe Portable Document Format), which display an article as it was originally printed, along with any photos or illustrations.
If you have an e-mail account, you usually can e-mail copies of articles to yourself for FREE. At the library you can print articles at $ .20 a page.
Many articles include citation information, making it very easy for you to write your “Works Cited” or “Bibliography” page!
- Academic OneFile
- The African American Almanac
- African American Song
- The African-American Years: Chronologies
- American Decades (1900-1999)
- American Decades (2000-2009)
- American Song
- Ancestry Library Edition
- Ancient Europe, 8000 BC to 1000 AD
- Annals of American History
- Arts and Humanities Through the Eras
- Biography in Context
- Books in Print Professional Edition
- Britannica Library (formerly Encyclopedia Britannica)
- Business Insights: Essentials
- Business Plans Handbooks
- Chilton Library (Auto Repair)
- Classical.com Classical Music Library
- Contemporary World Music
- CountryWatch
- Dictionary of American History
- Drama for Students
- EBSCO Middle Search Plus
- Educator's Reference Complete
- Elizabethan World Reference Library
- Encyclopedia of Associations (U.S. Organizations)
- Encyclopaedia Judaica
- Encyclopedia of Irish History & Culture
- Encyclopedia of Latin American History
- Encyclopedia of Political Science
- Encyclopedia of Religion
- Encyclopedia of Small Business
- Encyclopedia of Scientific Principles
- Encyclopedia of Space
- Encyclopedia of Terrorism
- Encyclopedia of World Biography
- ERIC: Educational Resources
- Eyewitness Companion: Art
- Eyewitness Companion: Film
- Eyewitness Companion: Great Musicians
- Eyewitness Companion: Mythology
- Eyewitness Companion: Philosophy
- Eyewitness Companion: Photography
- Eyewitness Companion: Religions
- Fiction Connection
- Gale Directory Library
- Gale Directory of Publications & Broadcast Media
- Gale in Context: Elementary (formerly Kids InfoBits)
- Gale Research in Context
- Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
- Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- General OneFile
- Global Viewpoints: Climate Change
- Global Viewpoints: Immigration
- Global Viewpoints: Religion
- Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia
- Health Reference Center Academic
- HeritageQuest Online
- Historical Newspapers: New York Times
- Historic Events: The Great Depression
- Holidays Symbols and Customs
- Hudson Valley Help Wanted
- Informe Academico
- InfoTrac Collections
- InfoTrac Newsstand
- Jazz Music Library
- JobNow / Adult Learning Center
- Kanopy (video streaming service)
- Legal Forms
- Literature Criticism Online
- Literature for Students
- Literature Resource Center
- MasterFILE Premier
- Masterplots (via Salem Literature)
- Men's Health Concerns Sourcebook
- Music Online
- National Newspapers
- New Catholic Encyclopedia
- New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
- New York State Job Bank
- New York Newspapers
- Newspaper Archive
- Novelist Plus
- Novelist Plus K-8
- Novels for Students
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context
- Poetry for Students
- RAVES! Reader's Advisory Service
- ReferenceUSA
- Rosetta Stone Library Solution / Rosetta SA (formerly Tell Me More)
- Salem Health: Magill's Medical Guide
- Salem History
- Salem Literature - Critical Insights
- Science of Everyday Things
- Searchasaurus
- Shakespeare for Students
- Short Stories for Students
- Smithsonian Global Sound
- Something about the Author
- Southeastern NY Library Catalogs
- Terrorism: Essential Primary Sources
- Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC)
- Travel Guides
- Universal Class
- UXL Encyclopedia of Science
- VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
- Westlaw Next
- World Book Encyclopedia
- World News Digest
- Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures & Daily Life
- Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations
Direct Database Links
(for use only at Middletown Thrall Library)
- Academic OneFile
- The African American Almanac
- African American Song (now in American Song database below)
- The African-American Years: Chronologies
- American Decades (1900-1999)
- American Decades (2000-2009)
- Ancestry Library Edition
- Ancient Europe, 8000 BC to 1000 AD
- Annals of American History
- Arts and Humanities Through the Eras
- Biography in Context
- Books in Print (see Fiction Connection below)
- Britannica Library (formerly Encyclopedia Britannica)
- Business Insights: Essentials
- Business Plans Handbooks
- Chilton Library (Auto Repair)
- The Complete Mental Health Directory
- CountryWatch
- Dictionary of American History
- Drama for Students
- EBSCO Middle Search Plus
- Educator's Reference Complete
- Elizabethan World Reference Library
- Encyclopedia of Associations (U.S. Organizations; via Gale Directory Library)
- Encyclopaedia Judaica
- Encyclopedia of Irish History & Culture
- Encyclopedia of Latin American History & Culture
- Encyclopedia of Political Science
- Encyclopedia of Religion
- Encyclopedia of Small Business
- Encyclopedia of Scientific Principles, Laws, & Theories
- Encyclopedia of Space
- Encyclopedia of Terrorism
- Encyclopedia of World Biography
- ERIC: Educational Resources Information Center
- Eyewitness Companion: Art
- Eyewitness Companion: Film
- Eyewitness Companion: Mythology
- Eyewitness Companion: Philosophy
- Eyewitness Companion: Photography
- Eyewitness Companion: Religions
- Eyewitness: Great Musicians
- Fiction Connection
- Gale Directory Library
- Gale Directory of Publications & Broadcast Media (via Gale Directory Library)
- Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
- Encyclopedia of Mental Health
- Gale in Context: Elementary (formerly Kids InfoBits)
- Gale Research in Context
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- General OneFile
- Global Viewpoints: Climate Change
- Global Viewpoints: Immigration
- Global Viewpoints: Religion
- Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia
- Health and Medicine (formerly Health Reference Center Academic)
- HeritageQuest Online
- Historical Newspapers: The New York Times
- Historic Events for Students: The Great Depression
- Holidays, Symbols, and Customs
- Hudson Valley Help Wanted (HudsonValleyHelpWanted.com)
- Informe Academico
- InfoTrac Collections
- InfoTrac Newsstand
- JobNow / Adult Learning Center
- Literature Criticism Online
- Literature for Students
- Literature Resource Center
- MasterFILE Premier
- Masterplots (via Salem Literature)
- National Newspapers
- New Catholic Encyclopedia
- New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
- New York State Job Bank
- The New York Times
- Newspaper Archive
- Novelist Plus
- Novelist Plus K-8
- Novels for Students
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context
- Poetry for Students
- RAVES! Reader's Advisory Service
- ReferenceUSA
- Rosetta Stone Library Solution / Rosetta Stone SA (formerly Tell Me More)
- Salem Health: Magill's Medical Guide
- Salem History
- Salem Literature - Critical Insights
- Science of Everyday Things
- Searchasaurus
- Shakespeare for Students
- Short Stories for Students
- Southeastern NY Library Catalogs
- Terrorism: Essential Primary Sources
- Testing & Education Reference Center
- Travel Guides
- Universal Class
- UXL Encyclopedia of Science
- The Value of a Dollar
- VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
- Westlaw Next
- World Book Encyclopedia
- World News Digest (Facts on File)
- Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life
- Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations