Research Tools at the Library

With your Monroe County Library System library card, you have access to a variety of online resources, including our catalog, newspaper and magazine indexes, encyclopedias and downloadable audiobooks. Most of these resources can be used in every public library in Monroe County, and also from your computer at home or at work.

Databases

Databases that you can access with your library card number include:

What is a library database?

Library databases contain information from published works.
Examples: magazine and newspaper articles, encyclopedias, and other reference books.
Library databases are searchable and provide citation information
Library databases often contain the full text of the article which can be printed or emailed.

How is a library database different from a website?

Databases contain published works by professionals or experts in the field
Websites can be written by anyone regardless of expertise.
Database articles are easy to cite in a bibliography because the information is readily available.
Websites often do not provide authors, dates or sources.
Databases have functions to help your search—narrowing topics, suggesting related topics.
Websites are rarely organized to support student research needs.
Databases are updated frequently, sometimes daily, and always include the date of publication.
Websites may not indicate when a page is updated or contain any date at all.