Where do I find it?
GENERAL REFERENCE
General reference sources are a great place to start your research! These sources are usually books or encyclopedias (digital or print) that provide background information to introduce you to the basics of a topic.
In our library, these are some great examples of general reference resources:
Feel free to browse through Digital Maine Library to get access to alternate encyclopedias and their Gale Ebook library.
ACADEMIC JOURNALS
Academic journals contain a wealth of information and are considered the best resources available when doing research for school. To find these sources, you need to look at databases that contain these and other relevant periodicals. There are many databases, such as Academic Search Complete and Gale In-Context High School, that cover all topics but there are others, such as Gale Environmental Studies, that are focused on information about a particular topic.
Here are some places you can access academic journals through our library:
Lots of other databases are available through Digital Maine Library. To search the Gale databases on a variety of topics offered through DML, use this link.
NEWSPAPERS
You know what newspapers are but did you know you can access them through library databases? Using the newspaper databases available through Digital Maine Library, you can read current issues of local, national, and international papers in addition to archives of those publications all in one search.
Access newspapers:
PERIODICALS
Periodicals are available from many sources. Like academic journals, you can access them through the general reference databases in the Digital Maine Library.
Lots of other databases are available through Digital Maine Library. To search the Gale databases on a variety of topics offered through DML, use this link.
OPEN WEB
Searching on the open web can be beneficial, but you have to be discerning about the information you gather, especially for academic research. If you plan to search the open web, it is best to use advanced search features, like Google Advanced Search. And be sure to use criteria like the ABCD method to verify that your source is accurate, reliable, and current.