Research Resources
Your library subscribes to many online databases ranging from magazine and journal subject indexes to dictionaries and encyclopedias. Below is a categorized list of both premium and free databases which may help you in your research.
Need Help? In the library, ask at the Reference Desk. Not in the library? You can still Ask a Librarian.
Choose from the Categories Below:
Premium Resources
- Business
- Morningstar Investment Research Center
- Data Axle's Reference Solutions
- Value Line
- The Wall Street Journal Online
- Genealogy and Local History
- (+) Ancestry: Library Edition (For use only inside the library)
- HeritageQuest
- Grants
- Foundation Directory
- Homework Help
- Explora
- Teacher Reference Center
- Language Instruction
- Mango Languages: Language Learning Tool
- Magazines, Journals, and Newspapers
- Black Freedom Struggle in the United States
- BookBrowse
- GreenFILE
- MasterFILE Elite
- NYTimes Current (1980-)
- NYTimes Historical (1851-2016)
- Publicly Available Content Database
- Libby (Digital Magazines, Books, Videos)
- The Wall Street Journal Online
- Health
- Coronavirus Research Database
- NOVEL NY
- NOVEL Dashboard of Many Additional Resources
NOVEL
- NOVELny at Saratoga Springs Public Library
- NOVELNY is an online library of literally hundreds of magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, maps, charts, research, homework resources, business resources and reference books that are available to every New Yorker, free of charge. All you need is your public library card, New York driver license -or- New York Non-Driver ID. Students may also access the NOVELny databases through their school or academic library.
Magazines, Journals & Newspapers
- Black Freedom Struggle in the United States
- In this website, ProQuest presents primary source documents from several of the time periods in American History when the river of the Black Freedom Struggle ran more powerfully, while not losing sight of the fierce, often violent opposition that Black people have faced on the road to freedom. This website contains approximately 1,600 documents focused on six different phases of Black Freedom.
- MasterFILE Elite
- MasterFILE Elite provides full text for magazines, periodicals and reference books covering a wide-range of subject areas including business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and much more. This database also provides an Image Collection containing photos, maps and flags. Includes Consumer Reports!
- Academic OneFile
- The premier source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Extensive coverage of the sciences, technology, medicine, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects - authoritative and comprehensive. Millions of articles available in both PDF and HTML full-text with no restrictions; updated daily. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- General OneFile
- 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. Millions of full-text articles, many with images. Updated daily. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- The New York Times Searchable Database (Backfile from 1980 Forward) through ProQuest
- Pairs robust searching features with detailed indexing to help you quickly find the news information you need. The searching covers complete bibliographic information so you can search on subjects, companies, people, products, and geographic areas so that you have access to not only top news stories, but also detailed information on the arts, sports, business, and popular culture. And workflow tools such as cite, share, print, and export help make the research process flexible, thorough, and efficient. Most content loads same day — oftentimes by 8 AM U.S. Eastern time. See how to search NYT Searchable Database.
- The New York Times (1851–2016) with Index (1851–1993) through (ProQuest)
- Offers complete paper, cover-to-cover, includes the full-page and article images in easily downloadable PDF format. You’re able to search PDF images of every part of every page back to the first issue. Coverage includes: editorials and letters to the editor; obituaries and death notices; birth and marriage announcements; historical photos; classifieds and display advertisements. Due to publisher restrictions, there is a three-year lag in coverage.
- GALE OneFile News
- "InfoTrac Newsstand is an innovative Web-based full-text newspaper database which allows users to search articles instantly by title, headline, date, newspaper section or other assigned fields. [...] With InfoTrac Newsstand, you can search a collection of thousands of national, international, state and local newspapers" - GALE CENGAGE. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- Chronicling America - The Library of Congress
- "This site allows you to search and view newspaper pages from 1860-1922 and find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program".
- General Reference Center Gold with InfoTrac Collections
- General-interest sources include magazines, children’s magazines, newspapers, almanacs, encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and more. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- Informe Académico
- Spanish interface provides access to Spanish- and Portuguese-language scholarly journals both from and about Latin America. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- Libby Digital Media (Downloadable Magazines, Books, Videos)
- Libby, the world's largest newsstand, offering full color, interactive digital magazines for your enjoyment. Browse from your library's collection of popular titles with no holds, no checkout periods, and no limit to the number of magazines you can download. NOTE: Access to digital magazines is limited to Saratoga Springs School District residents only.
- GreenFILE
- This free research database provides scholarly, government and general-interest sources covering the environmental effects of individuals, corporations and governments and what can be done at each level to minimize negative impacts.
- BookBrowse
- BookBrowse is an online magazine for booklovers - including reviews; previews; "beyond the book" articles; author interviews; author read-alikes; extensive resources for book clubs, including reading guides; and much more. Sign up for the BookBrowse newsletter to get a twice-monthly email with information on the latest industry book buzz, reviews, interviews and more!
- Publicly Available Content Database
- Over 3,000 scholarly journals, and trade journals, magazines, reports and conference papers published from a number of different sources around the world. Includes content from major subject repositories such as arXiv as well as open access journals.
- The Wall Street Journal Online
- Access to in-depth coverage by reporters on the ground when news happens, all over the world, with sources and market insights. WSJ provides news on topics from business and the economy to politics, tech and much more.
Account creation is required. Access is available for 3 days. After 3 days, you must use this link again to reactivate your account.
Guides by Librarians
- Recommendations from Our Librarians
- These guides made by our librarians include reading recommendations in a variety of subject areas, as well as guides about library services, programs, and helpful links and tools.
Educational / Tutoring
- Educators Reference complete
- Resource for educators and education students. Provides access to periodicals covering pre-school to college and most educational specialties. Includes full-text for many titles cited in ERIC. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- Academic OneFile Select
- Resource for academic research includes scholarly journals and selected general interest titles in a wide variety of subjects. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- Explora
- With Explora, EBSCO's dedicated interface for students, completing research and writing essays is easier than ever. Watch this video to learn how Explora helps!
- Explora Educator's Edition
- Focuses on the needs of teachers and librarians offering professional development resources, lesson plans, research guides, and curriculum standards.
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context
- This database, which develops research skills and promotes issue awareness, information literacy and critical thinking, will support the new Common Core Curriculum Standards adopted by New York State. It contains a range of perspectives on many important issues, with over 13,000 pro/con viewpoints. Students of all levels will benefit from a variety of resource types: reference, news, primary sources, multimedia and more. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- Teacher Reference Center
- A complimentary research database for teachers, Teacher Reference Center (TRC) provides indexing and abstracts for more than 220 peer-reviewed journals to aid in curriculum development, instructional media, assessment, and best practices to name a few.
Business
- Data Axle's Reference Solutions
- Detailed information on 12 million businesses and 120 million households including addresses and phone numbers. Business information includes executive names, number of employees, credit ratings, SIC code, and more. Search using whatever information you have, even if it is incomplete. Previously known as Reference USA.
- Business Insights: Essentials
- Business Insights: Essentials is provided by NOVEL, a project of the New York State Library. Research and analyze companies and industries around the world. Featuring the content you need to explore a global business landscape. Extensive reference content from Gale's core business collection; easy-to-use company fundamentals and investment research reports; industry rankings, profiles, market share data, company histories, and more... Compare companies, generate lists, and see more of what's inside!
- Thomas Register
- Thomas Register is a comprehensive online resource for finding companies and products manufactured in North America. You can search this free Web site by Product or Service, Company Name or Brand Name. Helpful Search Tips and a Site Demo that gives step-by-step directions, makes this site user friendly.
- Value Line
- Value Line provides investment research on stocks, mutual funds, options and convertibles, and offers a family of no-load mutual funds. Updated every Friday at noon.
- Morningstar Investment Research Center
- Morningstar Investment Research Center is an online database designed specifically for libraries. With data and analysis on over 41,000 investments, the database is available to fulfill the investing needs of patrons, students, and researchers across all levels of expertise.
- Financial Literacy Resources
- A jam-packed guide full of financial literacy related topics, guidelines, services, and reference materials.
- The Wall Street Journal Online
- Access to in-depth coverage by reporters on the ground when news happens, all over the world, with sources and market insights. WSJ provides news on topics from business and the economy to politics, tech and much more.
Account creation is required. Access is available for 3 days. After 3 days, you must use this link again to reactivate your account.
Job and Search Sites
- Department of Civil Service
- Resources to assist with the types of questions and the format of examinations of NY State and local civil service employment exams.
- National Labor Exchange
- A national job search website.
- CareerOneStop
- The CareerOneStop provides job seekers with career information and business and economic developers access to labor market information, business services, and skills competency information. America's Service Locator provides tools to find employment and training services.
- Indeed
- This easy to use site has combined job listings from job boards, newspapers and company career pages.
- Glassdoor
- Search more than 15 million job listings by title, location, and more as well as reviews and ratings on more than 300,000 companies. Research and compare companies by overall rating, CEO ratings, pros & cons and more. Set up job alerts to get new listings sent to your email inbox and find out what current employees are saying about their employers, all under a single website resource of Glassdoor.com.
- Snagajob
- This site's focus is on hourly employment only. It has the most up-to-date hourly job openings currently found on the internet and is searchable by zipcode.
- SimplyHired
- Search jobs by category, keyword and location. This site searches millions of listings across the web and also features international jobs.
- GotResumeBuilder
- A free and feature-rich online résumé building tool allowing the creation of a résumé online by filling out a few forms. Résumés can be formatted in 2-3 clicks by choosing a template, and can be downloaded in a neatly organized file with various formats (text, Word, ODT, HTML, PDF) or stored online and even sent by fax (for free). Samples, a résumé tutorial, and context-sensitive résumé writing tips are also provided.
- Resumonk
- A free resource to assist you in creating a professional looking résumé, easily, quickly, and beautifully. Save your résumé as a PDF or store it online.
- NY Department of Labor: Jobs Express
- "The site takes thousands of job openings and sorts them by region to help job seekers evaluate what industries are growing in their area and find out what opportunities are available in specific companies. Complete with other helpful features - like video tutorials on resume writing, interview techniques, and transitioning to a new career - use Jobs Express to enhance your job search today." - Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Please see our talented and helpful Reference Desk staff for additional suggestions and resources!
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
- Britannica Academic
- Includes Encyclopedia Britannica plus Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, magazines and periodicals, and many other research tools.
- Britannica Escolar
- Accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish for native Spanish speakers, bilingual students and students learning Spanish. Available at two levels—primary and secondary.
- Contenido en español preciso y apropiado para la edad para hablantes nativos de español, estudiantes bilingües y estudiantes que están aprendiendo español. Disponible en dos niveles: primario y secundario.
Genealogy & Local History
- Ancestry: Library Edition
- In library use only.
- Start your own genealogy using the U.S. Census (1790-1930), New York Passenger lists (1851-1891), World War I Draft Registration Cards (1917-1918), Civil War Service Records, the Social Security Death Index, and the England, Wales, Scotland & Ireland Parish and Probate Records plus much more.
- Please note: ProQuest has announced COVID related remote access will end on December 31st. After December 31st, Ancestry Library Edition will only be accessible from inside the library.
- HeritageQuest
- Your library's resource for census data, family records and local histories. This collection assembles every extant U.S. federal census, banking and military records, genealogies, local histories, primary source materials, and genealogical and local history serials. HeritageQuest Online is an ongoing project (new content is added regularly).
- Where to find historical information on Saratoga Springs
- A guide to the physical location of information on Government/laws, Business records, Horse racing, Battle of Saratoga (1777), and Personal papers.
- Ellis Island
- Research passenger records from 1892 to 1924.
- Familysearch.org
- Search international genealogical index, pedigree resource file, US Social Security Death Index, Vital Records Index, other genealogical sites, and more.
- American Memory
- American Memory is a gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 digital collections. Enter the name of your hometown to find historical images.
- Local History Resources at the Saratoga Springs Public Library
- Look for the local history collection, history and genealogy links, and the Saratoga History Roundtable listing the best source for a variety of Saratoga Springs information.
- Cyndi's list of genealogy sites on the web
- A categorized and cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet.
- NY GenWeb
- Link to each County within New York State, where you will find a wealth of county related genealogy information.
- NYS Slavery Records Index
- The NYS Slavery Records Index is a searchable compilation of records that identify individual enslaved persons and their owners, beginning as early as 1525 and ending during the Civil War.
- The World Genealogy Web Project
- The WorldGenWeb Project is a non-profit, volunteer based organization dedicated to providing genealogical and historical records and resources for world-wide access!
- The US Genealogy Web Project
- This Project is non-commercial and fully committed to free genealogy access for everyone. Organization is by county and state, and this website provides you with links to all the state genealogy websites which, in turn, provide gateways to the counties. The USGenWeb Project also sponsors important Special Projects at the national level and this website provides an entry point to all of those pages, as well.
Grants
- Foundation Directory
- This database will help grant writers find sources for grants. It should be most helpful to nonprofit organizations looking to raise money. The Saratoga Springs Public Library is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center. "Founded in 1956, the Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public." - Source: Foundation Center
- Foundation Grants to Individuals
- In library use only.
- Look here for information about foundation programs that fund students, artists, researchers and other individual grant seekers. The Saratoga Springs Public Library is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center.
- Grants.gov
- "Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal government grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proud to be the managing partner for Grants.gov, an initiative that is having an unparalleled impact on the grant community." - grants.gov
- Candid Learning
- "Candid is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Candid maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants - a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level." - via Candid.org
Health
- Coronavirus Research Database
- "A health and medical research database for openly available content related to the COVID-19 outbreak." - ProQuest
- Health Reference Center Academic
- Multi-source database providing access to full-text of nursing and allied health journals, plus a wide variety of personal health information sources that offer reliable health information to researchers, including nursing and allied health students. The material contained in this database is intended for informational purposes only. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- MEDLINEplus
- This site has a wealth of electronic resources and links to other sites. Consumers can also subscribe to their electronic mailing lists at no cost. Health consumers are encouraged to discuss search results with their health care professional.
- Express-Scripts' Drug Information Lookup Tool
- Search this site for information on various prescription drugs and medications.
- NY State of Health
- Affordable Health Care for Residents of New York State. Individuals, families, and small businesses can use this website to shop for, compare and enroll in health insurance coverage online, in-person, over the phone or by mail.
- HealthCare.gov
- Affordable Health Care for Non-NYS Residents. The Health Insurance Marketplace. Learn all you can about qualifying healthcare options for individuals and families, and small businesses.
Support Resources
- NYS Crime Victims Help
- Crime victims often have legal needs as a result of becoming a victim of crime. Get information about your legal needs and what your rights are. You can also search their directory to find a trusted nonprofit legal aid program that may be able to help and find legal forms for matters that you can handle yourself.
- NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
- "The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance."
- New York State of Health, Health Plan Marketplace
- If you are in need of health insurance, enrolling, comparing plans, or getting help to do these things for you, your family, or your employees, this is the place to go for NYS residents.
Technology
- Computer Database
- Provides access to business and technical publications in the computer, electronics, and telecommunications industries. This database is funded by NOVEL, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
- Tech-Talk
- "Tech-Talk: contains easy-to-read articles, videos, and other fun stuff with the tips and tricks you need to be competitive in today’s hi-tech world. Available as a website, an app, and a weekly newsletter (sign up).
Language Instruction
- Mango Languages: Language Learning Tool
- Mango is an online language-learning system that teaches actual conversation skills for 42 different languages. Recommended by LA Times Travel as an online language learning resource for travelers.
There are also mobile apps for your phone for on-the-go learning!
Law & Government
- New York State Unified Court System
- Provides continuous and easy access to New York State courts and the services they provide. This site has a link to all public access law libraries in the state.
- FindLaw
- Best legal information starting point for the consumer. Serious researchers can find Supreme Court Decisions from 1983-date.
- USA.gov
- "Whatever you want or need from the U.S. government, it's here on USA.gov. [...] Our powerful search engine and ever-growing collection of topical and customer-focused links connects you to millions of web pages from the federal government, local and tribal governments and to foreign nations around the world." From the U.S. General Services Administration. (Formerly FirstGov.gov.)
- Cornell's Legal Information Institute (LII)
- Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute is probably the most expansive legal reference tool online. Useful features include Law About with links to every legal topic imaginable, constitutions and codes, court opinions, law by source or jurisdiction (the 50 states and DC), and the American Legal Ethics Library. Key features are The United States Code, U.S. Supreme Court (1990-date), and New York State Court of Appeals opinions.
- GOVInfo.gov
- Official Federal government information from the US Government Printing Office. Included here are popular regulatory materials such as the Federal Register (1994-date) and The Code of Federal Regulations, critical Congressional products such as the Congressional Record (1994-date) and Congressional Bills, and important business materials such as Commerce Business Daily (CBDNet).
- International Trademark Association
- Listings for nearly 3,000 registered trademarks and service marks with their generic terms and indicates capitalization and punctuation.
- United States Copyright Office
- Key publications, including informational circulars, application forms for copyright registration and links to the copyright law.
- New York State Assembly
- Information on bills, hearings, laws, committees and more.
- New York State Senate
- Includes senator information, schedules, press releases and senate reports, and bill information.
- New York State Government
- A portal for links to all areas of New York State government information, websites, and governing entities...laws, rules, regulations, etc...
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