https://walthamma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/whs/page/databases: all of these databases have information that pass the CRAAP test and are available for student use. Using the citations and links included in these databases gives students the opportunity to find more sources that can expand the scope of research. Otherwise, using keywords from these databases can provide students with pathways to narrow down their searches.
Here are some suggestions on databases to get you started:
If you are researching a war/conflict (Vietnam War, Gulf War, WWII)
ABC-CLIO: American History, Issues
Gale: Opposing Viewpoints, U.S. History, War and Terrorism
If you are researching a person (Marilyn Monroe, Pablo Picasso):
ABC-CLIO: The African-American Experience, The Latino American Experience, World History The Modern Era
Gale: Biography, Diversity Studies, Fine Arts or another area this person contributed to
Gale connects to the New York Times obituaries. These are a great place to find information about a person's achievements and accomplishments. They provide keywords to search if students aren't extremely familiar with their person and need to dig deeper.
If you are researching American cultural impact (Woodstock, serial killers):
ABC-CLIO: World History The Modern Era, American History
Gale: Communications and Mass Media, Fine Arts, Criminal Justice
If you are researching health and science (Development of medications, diseases):
World Book: Timelines includes visual representations of events and developments. Click on "Science and technology" to discover topics of interest
Advanced with searching options also gives you the opportunity to dive deeper into your topic
Gale in Context: Science, Gale Interactive: Science, Proquest Science, Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine
If you are researching leisure (sports, hobbies), here are suggested databases:
Gale: Pop Culture Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine
Britannica: keyword searching links you to various helpful articles
If you are researching media (movies, music) suggested databases:
ABC-CLIO: World History The Modern Era, American History
Gale: Communications and Mass Media, Fine Arts, Pop Culture Studies
All history & political science databases are at this link (https://www.bpl.org/resources/history-and-political-science/). The sidebar of this page allows you to click on different subjects that might be relevant to your project.
If this website looks overwhelming, here are some places to narrow down your search. Several of them are very broad, so please reach out to one of the school library teachers for further help if you need it.
War/conflict:
The AP Newsroom (https://newsroom-ap-org.ezproxy.bpl.org/home): a current resource that provides updates on what's happening around the world. Operating since 1846, this newspaper provides current stories as well as historical ones
CQ Researcher (https://cqpress-sagepub-com.ezproxy.bpl.org): gives access to legislative reports for the United States, including who has been elected, what policies they have championed, and more government information
People:
Biography and Genealogy Master list from Gale (https://go-gale-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/ps/aboutSeries.do?userGroupName=mlin_b_bpublic&inPS=true&prodId=GDL&seriesId=6BJC): gives citation lists for further sources of information about famous people
American cultural impacts:
Boston TV News Digital Library (https://bostonlocaltv.org): Video clips from 1960-1999 that were aired on local Boston Public television, including WGBH, CCTV, WCVB, and WHDH
Leventhal Map Center collections (https://www.leventhalmap.org/collections/): The digital collections of the BPL's maps, which can be used to trace the geographical history of where and when events took place
Gale Criminal Justice (https://go-gale-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/ps/start.do?p=PPCJ&u=mlin_b_bpublic): provides journal articles, news, images, and videos on law, criminology, forensics, sociology, psychology and mental health, and substance abuse and addiction
Heath & Science
National Geographic Magazine (https://go-gale-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/ps/start.do?p=NGMA&u=mlin_b_bpublic): Look through all issues of National Geographic from 1888 to today! Includes options to search through other books, maps, images, and videos to supplement the articles in the magazine
Gale Power Search (https://go.gale.com/ps/dispPublicationSearch.do?userGroupName=mlin_b_bpublic&prodId=GPS&ugroup=outside&aty=password): Click on the checkboxes for "Health and Medicine" to filter your search or leave it open-ended to find articles that would help your project
Leisure (sports, hobbies):
Reader's Guide Retrospective (https://research-ebsco-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/c/rqw4sq/search?defaultdb=rgr): provides access to book reviews, poems, articles, and short stories from popular periodicals from
Media (movies, music):
Gale Pop Culture Studies (https://go.gale.com/ps/subjectguide.do?method=displayForm&userGroupName=mlin_b_bpublic&prodId=PPOP): gives access to scholarly journals that analyze the impacts that popular media has on American culture
JSTOR (https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.bpl.org): provides access to scholarly journals across the humanities and sciences. This connects to ARTSTOR, which provides high-quality images related to artists and creators