TeenZone Blog

Student Research Center is a one-stop search spot made especially for teens that searches a whole bunch of databases all at once  - ones with magazine articles, newspaper articles, biographies, images, history stuff, health stuff, science stuff, literature stuff, and more. So whether you’re researching solar energy or Marie Curie or the Emancipation Proclamation, give it a try.  Not at the library? All you need is your Carrollton Public Library card.

Not the best speller? If you’re even close, it will offer a “Did you mean…” with what it thinks you might be looking for.

What’s really cool is you can limit your search to see just the magazine articles…or the books & encyclopedias results…or the photos…or primary source documents. You can do that either before or after you search. You can also narrow the search results even more by clicking on one of the subjects listed to the left of the results.

The most important thing to remember when you are searching ANY database is to look for the option to Limit Your Results to Full Text. It doesn’t matter how awesome the article sounds if they aren’t going to give it to you NOW!

Once you find a great article or photo, you can print it, e-mail it, or save it. If you need a bunch of articles, you can save them to a folder so you can e-mail or print them all at once. You can even choose the citation style - MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian!

This is just one of the databases you’ll find on the Homework Databases page. Happy researching!

It’s 9:30 at night…you need to analyze the metaphors in Lord of the Flies for class tomorrow…and the library is CLOSED. Argggh! Don’t despair! With your Carrollton Public Library card and an Internet connection you’re just a few clicks away from some help to get that lit crit assignment done. Literature Resource Center is a one-stop database for literary criticism and biographical essays. The tabbed navigation menu makes it easy to see whether you’re looking at Literary Criticism or a Biography. Don’t forget to try our other homework databases when you need other kinds of articles or information for an assignment but can’t get to the library.

Whether you’re researching social issues like gun control for a debate or looking for info on a hot news topic like the sub-prime mortgage rate mess, we have research databases full of articles that can help. Have your Carrollton Public Library card handy if you’re not at the library.

ABC-Clio Issues lets you browse for information about social issues. Below are the categories with a couple of example topics:

• Society - Academic Plagiarism, School Violence, etc. ;
• Gender/Ethnicity - Affirmative Action, Domestic Violence, etc.;
• Criminal Justice - Cybercrime - File Sharing and Copyright, Domestic Terrorism, etc.;
• Government/Law/Politics - Religion in Schools, Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide, etc.;
• Environment - Global Warming, Animal Rights, etc.;
• Science/Technology - Genetic Engineering, Stem Cell Research, etc.

NewsBank lets you search the Dallas Morning News and The New York Times. What’s cool about this database is you can get the local perspective since it covers the local newspaper. Click the “Hot Topics” link under “Current Events” to get the best search terms to find hot news stories. Check out the “Special Reports” for links to timely stories.

The library also has the Opposing Viewpoints books. They have articles giving both sides on a controversial issue. They’re super-helpful when getting ready for a debate because they present some of the arguments you might have to counter.

Did you know you can search the encyclopedia right from inside the library catalog by just clicking a buttom? Outside the library you need to have your Carrollton Public Library card handy.

Just click this button after you do a search

and your search terms are passed through to encyclopedias at 3 different levels:

• Encyclopædia Britannica - for high school and adults
• Compton’s by Britannica - for middle school
• Britannica Elementary - for elementary school

One more source is always a good idea. It even tells you how to cite the article in both MLA and APA style. You can also find this encyclopedia listed on the database pages. Happy researching!

You’re working on a history project and can’t get to the library. Sure, you can google your topic and find tons of stuff, but is it any good? Who writes those Web pages? Do they really know what they’re talking about or is it just my best friend’s cousin’s little brother’s Web page? Don’t freak out. Help is just a few mouse clicks and your library card away.

Try ABC-CLIO American History database for info on American history topics from way back in 1350 all the way to the present. It’s not just articles either  - there are photos, video clips, and maps.

Not studying American History? What about World History?

ABC-CLIO World History database has biographies, country overviews, articles, maps, photos, video clips, and more on what’s been happening in the world since 1500. Try the Topic Explorations for interactive studying materials.

Whew! History’s covered. For your other homework needs check out some of the other databases the library offers. Most are available 24-7 with your Carrollton Public Library card. Study on!