Research Databases
Research Databases at SMS
The Smith Middle School Library Media Center subscribes to a number of research databases for student and staff use. The comprehensive list is below.
Students and staff should follow the directions provided here to access these resources.
Students and Staff Database Access
Please click the button below to access SMS Databases and Password information. You will need to login using your Glastonbury Schools Google account.
SMS Database List
Below are quality research information available to students, staff and parents in the Smith Middle School community. These databases have been reviewed and purchased by the Smith Middle School library media specialist with school projects in mind.
What is the difference between databases and free web resources?
A database is a paid subscription service where the information is accessed on the worldwide web. The charge is based on the number of students and staff in a school and the information is password protected. All the information found in a database is age appropriate, reliable, current, reviewed by editors and chosen by the library media specialist to support classes taught at Smith Middle School. The specific information available in a database cannot be found through a search engine like Google.
A free web resource may or may not be professionally written, unbiased, reliable, current or reviewed by editors. It is searchable by search engines like Google but the student is responsible for evaluating the quality of the information.
ABC-CLIO Solutions
ABC-CLIO publishers provide excellent world history and American history resource with articles, pictures, audio, video and primary sources in four separate databases: American History, Issues, World at War, and World History:Ancient and Medieval Eras. Additionally a great source for issues of concern in contemporary society.
Britannica School
Publisher Encyclopaedia Britannica presents Britannica School a general purpose online encyclopedia which covers a wide range of topics with the option to change reading levels. This is a great place to start research projects when you are unfamiliar with a topic. This is not a good source for in depth research on a topic that you know a lot about.
Cavendish Square Digital
A variety of interactive electronic versions of Cavendish Square Digital publisher’s print reference books. Individual databases include: Civil War, Colonial America, Diseases and Disorders, Earth and Physical Sciences, Elements, Facts About Drugs, Family Health, Growing Up with Science, How It Works, Technology and Applied Sciences.
Culturegrams
Proquest publisher provide easy to read information about countries of the world including maps, pictures, flags and recipes in it database, Culturegrams Online Edition.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education producers provide a searchable and editable collection of documentary videos in their database named Discovery Education.
Image Quest From Britannica
The publisher Encyclopaedia Britannica provide thousands of professional images appropriate for educational purposes with photographers' identified in the searchable database, Britannica ImageQuest. It is a great alternative to a Google Image search.
Issues & Controversies
The publisher Infobase Learning provides the database Issues & Controversies which explores the pros and cons of more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture with pro/con statements, timelines, statistics and in-depth articles.
Issues & Controversies in American History
The publisher Infobase Learning provides the database Issues & Controversies in American History which explores hundreds of issues in American history by defining the issue, providing background, cases for, cases against and the conclusion. Students can also explore primary sources regarding the topic.
NoodleTools
A subscription service that allows students and teachers to create an account and save work cited lists in all the major citation styles.
ResearchIT CT
State funded comprehensive database with magazines, newspapers, biographies, e-books and more.
World Book Online
Publisher World Book presents World Book Student a general purpose online encyclopedia which is easy to read and covers a wide range of topics. It is a great place to start research projects when you are unfamiliar with the topic. This is not a good source for in depth research on a topic that you know a lot about.