Finding Reliable Sources
Online Databases
You may wonder, should I care about databases when “everything” can be found easily online with a simple search on Google, Qwant, or Wikipedia? Many of the websites we come across while searching could be written by anyone. It could be an expert, a reporter, your neighbour or a student who is researching a topic.
Online databases, however, contain collections of different types of media that provide information created by teams of subject specific experts that work to ensure that what they present is as complete as possible. The media they contain often include high quality videos, images, interactive models, educational games, and eBooks. They are closer to what we have known of “traditional” encyclopedias that we had in our school libraries growing up.
EMSB Virtual Library
At the EMSB, we have the largest collection of databases of any school board in Quebec. Being that these are databases paid for by the EMSB Educational Services, their use is limited to our students (and their households) and EMSB staff.
It is not always possible to know everything about a subject, especially if the topic is one with different opinions or interpretations. Databases try as much as possible to provide all of the relevant facts without influencing people’s opinions.
For example, one database in the EMSB Virtual Library, Canadian Points of View, even highlights many of the main points where people have different opinions and provides as much information on the different opinions so that readers can make their own opinions.
All the resources can be accessed with usernames and passwords.
If you have any problems or questions about the EMSB Virtual Library, you can contact the organizers at: virtuallibrary@emsb.qc.ca
Click on the EMSB Virtual Library image to access it.
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ)
In addition to the databases that can be used by EMSB students, there is another great collection of databases available for free to all Quebec residents through the BAnQ.
While the interface to select the database you would like to use is in French only, many (if not most) of the databases are in English, French and several other languages.
You can see all of their databases at: http://numerique.banq.qc.ca/ressources
To get your own personal subscription to all of the BAnQ’s services, you (and other members of your household) can complete their online form. Keep in mind that children ages 13 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or tutor when they subscribe.
You can subscribe using one of the following links: