Research Databases

List of research database titles, descriptions and links
About Books screenshot

about:books

Information about books and authors.

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Access World News landing page

Access World News | Remote Access with WCPL Library Card

Explore diverse perspectives, topics and trends that align with curricular areas such as English, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Technology, Arts, History and more to foster critical thinking skills. Features reliable, credible information from a wide variety of international, national and local sources. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.

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African American Heritage database image

African American Heritage

Search records, books, serials, and other historical records specific to African Americans to trace your genealogy or to do research.

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American & English Literature landing pagee

American & English Full Text Literature Collections

A fully searchable library of more than 350,000 works of English and American poetry, drama, and prose, plus biographies, bibliographies and key secondary sources.

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American Ancestors landing page

American Ancestors: New England Ancestors | In House Use Only

Resources and databases of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Offers full text access to the New England Historical and Genealogical Register from 1847 to 1994, genealogies, vital records of many New England towns, military records, and church records. Updated weekly.

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Library Ancestry Edition screenshot

Ancestry Library Edition | In-Library Use Only

(In-library use only) U. S. Census records; military records; court, land and probate records; vital and church records; directories; petitions for naturalization; passenger lists and more. You must be in the library to access this database.

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Biography Reference Bank landing page

Biography Reference Bank

Biography Reference Bank provides biographical information on approximately half a million people, from antiquity to the present, along with thousands of images.

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Business Source Premier

Company and market reports.

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Chilton landing page

Chilton Library

Get the detailed information you need to tackle vehicle maintenance and repairs. Step by step repair procedures, wiring diagrams, and more.

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Cleveland Necrology File landing page

Cleveland Necrology File and Cleveland News Index

The Cleveland Necrology File contains local cemetery records and newspaper death notices for the following years: 1833, 1847-1848, 1850-1975. A more complete description of the file's contents can be found in the about section of the database.

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Community History Archive of WCPL | Advantage Preservation

Includes 26 different titles of Wayne County, Ohio newspapers covering the years 1836-2019. Newspapers were published in the communities of Creston, Dalton, Doylestown, Rittman, Shreve, West Salem, and Wooster.

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Consumer Health Complete landing page

Consumer Health Complete

Full text journals, magazines, and reference books from EBSCOhost dealing with health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition – coverage includes a focus on the complementary, holistic and integrated approaches to health and wellness. Browse medical, health-related and drug reference books. Read articles on health and fitness. Find sources for alternative health information.

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Consumer Reports landing page

Consumer Reports

Research your next big purchase through unbiased product testing and ratings. The website provides updates on product availability and adds new products to previously published test results. Read product reviews and ratings on cars, appliances, electronics and more.

 

 

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Image is a link to the CultureGrams database

CultureGrams

CultureGrams® is the leading primary source reference for concise, reliable, and up-to-date cultural information on the countries of the world. It goes beyond mere facts and figures to deliver an insider's perspective on daily life and culture, including the history, customs, and lifestyles of the world's people.

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Daily Record Collection landing page

Daily Record Collection | Remote Access with WCPL Library Card

Includes two options: Daily Record E-Edition from 2018 - present and Daily Record text only from 1999 - present.

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Image for the Reference Solutions database

Data Axle Reference Solutions | formerly Reference USA

Provides information for 60 million U.S. businesses and 157 million U.S. households. Search for businesses by SIC code, sales volume, number of employees and more. Search for residence directory information by name, location or phone number.

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Digital Public Library of America

Historic digital collections from libraries, museums, and archives across Ohio and more. The DPLA portal to photographs, maps, documents, and AV materials from across the country is a great starting place for your local history and genealogy reference.

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Duolingo

Duolingo is the fun, free app for learning 40+ languages through quick, bite-sized lessons. Practice speaking, reading, listening, and writing to build your vocabulary and grammar skills.

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EBSCOhost Databases

EBSCOhost Databases

Search thousands of magazines, academic journals, newspapers, reference books, photos and maps on millions of topics. Click on Choose Databases to add or remove databases from your search.

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ERIC

Education resource. Cross-search ERIC (Education Resource Information Center) with other electronic resources through EBSCOhost Research Databases. Access this resource through EBSCOhost.  EBSCOhost offers a point of access to many specialized research databases with the opportunity to search multiple EBSCO databases at once and retrieve a single set of results. 

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Link to the database Explora for Middle Schools

Explora for Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)

Specifically designed with the needs of middle school students in mind, Explora for Middle Schools includes full-text articles from popular, vocational, and trade magazines, full-text newspaper articles, along with images, videos, and primary sources. Lexile reading levels included.

Starting in Fall 2023, the public library user experience of Explora will more closely align with the INFOhio user experience.  The goal is that a student using Explora at school will have a similar set of resources and results when they use Explora at home or at their local library.

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Explora Primary Schools landing page

Explora for Primary Schools (Grades PreK - 5)

A trustworthy environment for students in grades PreK through 5 to look up facts for class projects for fun, Explora for Primary Schools includes full-text articles from the most popular children's magazines and eBook content from top children's publishers as well as encyclopedia entries from Funk & Wagnalls. Lexile reading levels included.

Starting in Fall 2023, the public library user experience of Explora will more closely align with the INFOhio user experience.  The goal is that a student using Explora at school will have a similar set of resources and results when they use Explora at home or at their local library.

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Explora Secondary Schools landing page

Explora for Secondary Schools (Grades 9-12)

A far better alternative to websites and search engines for students to look up articles and facts for research papers or homework, Explora for Secondary Schools offers full-text articles from thousands of magazines, journals, and newspapers on a wide variety of subjects, along with images, videos, and primary sources. Lexile reading levels included.

Starting in Fall 2023, the public library user experience of Explora will more closely align with the INFOhio user experience.  The goal is that a student using Explora at school will have a similar set of resources and results when they use Explora at home or at their local library. 

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Fold 3 Landing page

Fold3 Library Edition

A premier collection of historical U.S. military records that brings to life the details of America's military veterans with stories, photos, and personal documents.

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Image for Gale Legal Forms database

Gale Legal Forms

View a wide selection of state-specific (and multi-state) legal forms across the most popular legal areas. Includes real estate contracts, wills, pre-marital agreements, bankruptcy, divorce, landlord-tenant law, and many others. Includes a comprehensive attorney by state directory and a dictionary of legal definitions explained in laymen's language.

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HeritageQuest Online landing page

HeritageQuest Online

Locate the U.S. Census, 1790-1930 (1850-60 Slave Census Schedules not included), a digitized collection of more than 25,000 family and local history books, records from the Revolutionary War era, Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files and Freedman's Bank Records (1865-1874).

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This is a link to the EBSCO Hobbies & Craft Source database.

Hobbies & Crafts Source

Discovered detailed “how-to” instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby enthusiast. Full text is provided from leading hobby and craft magazines. Includes full text for nearly 2,000 magazines and books, more than 720 videos and more 10,000 recipes.

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This is a link to the EBSCO Home Improvement Source database.

Home Improvement Source

Discover detailed, user-friendly “how-to” textbooks, magazines and videos covering a variety of home improvement and repair projects. Topics covered include maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, decorating home and garden, outdoor improvements, plumbing, and wood projects

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LinkedIn Learning for Library (LiLL) (formerly Lynda.com)

LinkedIn Learning for Library (LiLL) (formerly Lynda.com)

Learn business, technology, and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals using these free video courses on the latest software, taught by industry experts. Online videos are available for Developer, IT, Business, Marketing, Photography, 3D + Animation, Video, Web, and more. Users must enter their library card number and PIN to access this resource.

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Literary Reference Source landing page

Literary Reference Source

This database is the definitive source for brief plot summaries, character profiles, and critical analyses of the most studied works of literature. It covers works by more than 8,500 long and short fiction writers, poets, dramatists, and essayists, and provides more than 15,000 biographical records. Included are the full texts of thousands of poems and short stories, literary journals, and respected literary reference works including MasterplotsMasterplots II, and the Salem Press Critical Surveys series.

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Image link to Morningstar  Invest Research Center database

Morningstar Investing Center

Morningstar Invest Research Center offers real-time access to comprehensive data and independent analysis on thousands of investments, spanning mutual funds, stocks, exchange-traded funds, and closed-end funds.

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Newspaper Archive logo

Newspaper Archive

Search 5+ billion newspaper records & obituaries from 47 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Search through 15,941 historic newspaper archives to do genealogy and family history.

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Image is a link to the Newspaper Source database

Newspaper Source

Newspaper Source provides cover-to-cover full text for hundreds of national (U.S.), international and regional newspapers. In addition, it offers television and radio news transcripts from major networks. 

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Image for link to Novelist K-8 database

NoveList K-8 Plus

Kids will enjoy this comprehensive reading resource for fiction and nonfiction.

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NoveList Plus

This comprehensive readers' advisory resource for fiction and nonfiction is designed to help you find what to read next. 

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Ohio Means Jobs landing page

Ohio Means Jobs

 The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provides online career exploration and skills training through Ohio Means Jobs.  The online training module includes much of the content that was previously available through LearningExpress Library.

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Ohio Newspapers landing page

Ohio Newspapers | Remote Access with WCPL Library Card

Includes the Akron Beacon Journal 1984 - present; the Ashland Times-Gazette 2006 - present; several newspapers from the Columbus area; Medina Sun 2007 - present; Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 1991 - present; Repository (Canton) 1999- present; and many more titles.

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OhioMeansJobs Wayne County logo

OhioMeansJobs Wayne County

  • All first-time visitors receive an orientation of all available OhioMeansJobs Wayne County services
  • Receive one-on-one assistance with Career Planner for employment and/or training requests
  • Access to network of valuable career preparation activities and resources through OhioMeansJobs Wayne County partners
  • Career Planner will connect you with appropriately matched career preparation activities. View Calendar for all career activities.
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Oxford Research Encyclopedias landing page

Oxford Research Encyclopedias

Working with international communities of scholars across all fields of study, Oxford University Press is developing new comprehensive collections of in-depth, peer-reviewed summaries on an ever-growing range of topics.

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Points of View Reference Source landing page

Points of View Reference Source

Points of View Reference Source contains many topics, each with an overview, point and counterpoint . Providing a balance of materials from all viewpoints, it also includes over 1,300 main essays, leading political magazines from all sides of the political spectrum, newspapers, radio & TV news transcripts, primary source documents and reference books. It also offers guides for writing position papers, developing arguments and debating. Containing resources that present multiple sides of an issue, this database provides the basis from which students can realize and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills.

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Image is a link to the Professional Development Collection database

Professional (Educational) Development Collection

Designed for professional educators, this database provides a specialized collection of nearly 550 high-quality education journals, including more than 350 peer-reviewed titles. Contains more than 200 educational reports, a professional development collection and the most comprehensive collection of full-text education journals in the world.

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landing page R.B. Hayes Ohio Obituary Index

R. B. Hayes Ohio Obituary Index

This index covers obituaries, death notices, and probate notices from more than 60 partners across Ohio.

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landing page Regional Business News

Regional Business News

Access comprehensive, full-text coverage of regional business publications. Includes coverage of 75 business journals, newspapers and newswires from all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States. Updated daily.

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Sanborn Insurance Maps landing page

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1867-1970

Features detailed maps at building level for more than 400 Ohio communities from 1868 to 1970. An excellent resource for local historians to locate and identify buildings and neighborhoods, urban historians to study the growth of towns and cities, and environmentalists concerned about impact of new developments.

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Science Reference Source landing page

Science Reference Source

Topics covered in Science Reference Source include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science, health and medicine, history of science, life science, physics, science and society, science as inquiry, scientists, technology and wildlife. By providing a wide range of topics, Science Reference Center satisfies the demand for standards-based content by providing teachers and librarians with articles correlated to state and national curriculum standards. Science Reference Center contains full text for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals and other sources.

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Image is a link to the EBSCO Small Business Source database

Small Business Source

Offers exclusive full text for many top consumer small business reference books, as well as tools to address many small business topics. Includes business videos, a help and advice section and details on how to create business plans.

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Very Short Introductions landing page

Very Short Introductions

The full text of the entire catalog of Oxford University Press's Very Short Introductions series. The books in this platform offer concise overviews to a range of academic  subjects in the arts & humanities, law, medicine & health, science & mathematics, and social sciences. **Patrons should read Very Short Introduction's Privacy Policy before searching.**

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Wayne County, Ohio Online Resource Center

Access to research databases, genealogy and local history information, guides, events and more.

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What Snake is it? landing page

What Snake is it?

This program includes 30 species and subspecies of snakes that are found in Ohio. Of these 30 kinds of snakes only three are poisonous and dangerous to people and domestic animals. We also have included one species of poisonous snake that does NOT live in Ohio, the Water Moccasin. We added the Water Moccasin to our list for this program because a great many people think that it does live in Ohio.

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What Tree is it? landing page

What Tree is it?

This resource will help to identify Ohio trees by leaf, fruit, or by name.

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What's the Point landing page

What's the Point? Ohio Arrowhead Identification

Identify flint artifacts, found in Ohio, using this resource.

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WorldBook Online landing page

World Book Online Portal

A portal of various WorldBook databases available to search.

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WorldBook Kids

WorldBook Kids

Intended for grades K-8, World Book Kids is a fun and interactive way to introduce younger students to the world of online learning. Searching is simple and can be done by keyword or by choosing a general subject that breaks down into specific topics. The encyclopedia also provides images, diagrams, maps and activities tied to national curriculum standards.

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WorldBook Online: Early World of Learning landing page

WorldBook Online: Early World of Learning

A wealth of resources to help preschoolers and children in the early grades grasp critical early childhood themes. 

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WorldBook Spanish landing page

WorldBook Spanish - Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos

Spanish speakers and students of Spanish can benefit from the clear, concise information in Estudiantil Hallazgos, World Book’s intermediate Spanish-language encyclopedia.

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