West Shore's libraries subscribe to many online information resources that cover a wide range of subjects. These resources are available to students and teachers and provide information from books, magazines, newspapers, and other sources. Much of the information is full-text and can be printed or downloaded for student and teacher use. With so many different databases to choose from, read the description of each before choosing a database that is appropriate for your research needs!
For home use of these online resources, students must see their school librarian to obtain the passwords. No passwords are necessary when using the resources at school. Click on the name of the desired resource to go to the log in screen, and then enter the correct password for that resource. Students having problems logging on or using these resources should see their school librarian for assistance. Please note that some resources are only available to middle school and/or high school students.
- Access Pennsylvania, K-12 resource
Access PA is the Pennsylvania state-wide library catalog. Anyone can search the library catalogs of more than 2,700 libraries throughout the state of Pennsylvania. - Ask Here PA
If you need the answer to a question fast, try Pennsylvania's new virtual library reference service! Available 24/7, this service will connect you with a librarian who will answer your question via online Chat. - Culturegrams, grades 6-12 resource
Contains information to help give students an understanding of how people in other countries live and think. Culturegrams includes facts about countries around the world, famous people, recipes, geography, religions, arts, traditions, peoples, languages, worldviews, statistics, and much more. - eLibrary, grades 6-12 resource
Provides information from more than 600 books, magazines, newspapers, and TV and radio transcripts, plus thousands of maps and pictures. This database is provided through the Internet so articles are available a few days after they are published. All articles are full-text. Please Note: General encyclopedia and dictionary articles are included. These may not be acceptable sources for many assignments. - Gale Discovering Collection, grades 9-12 resource
Contains thousands of curriculum-targeted primary documents, biographies, topical essays, background information, critical analyses, full-text coverage of over 450 magazines, newspapers, over 20,000 photographs and illustrations, and more than 8 hours of audio and video clips. - Gale History Resource Center U.S., grades 9-12 resource
Includes many historical (primary source) documents, articles from more than 30 reference titles, and over 110 full-text journal covering themes, events, individuals and periods in U.S. history from pre-Colonial times to the present. This database also includes content of American Journey Online. - Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, grades 9-12 resource
Contains information on current social topics providing both sides of an issue with conflicting views. Provides access to viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to web sites, and related full-text articles form more than 30 major newspapers and news magazines. - ProQuest, grades 9-12 resource
Contains about 2,000 periodicals, and over 100 newspapers from the United States and around the world. Includes a variety of Pennsylvania newspapers, such as The Patriot-News, York Daily Record, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This database is provided through the Internet, so articles are available a few days after they are published. Many are available full-text, and some are available as full image, which includes charts and illustrations. Please Note: Some resources are available in an abstract format, so only a summary will appear. - World Book Encyclopedia Online Grades K-12
World Book Encyclopedia Online provides access to every article in the print edition of World Book Encyclopedia and much, much more. Articles are updated continuously, and this year’s version offers a kid’s Interface with simplified content for younger users. Check out World Book Encyclopedia Online for video clips, maps, charts, and links to web sites in addition to the articles from the print version.