Using the Library from Home via Databases
By Kathleen Christy, Head of Reference, Blount County Public Library

It is 9 p.m. and the paper is due first thing in the morning.  What to do?  If this sounds familiar, know that the Blount County Public Library has excellent resources to help you with research – without even leaving home.  The library’s electronic resources are free, high quality, and most can be accessed from any Internet computer.  All you need is a Blount County Public Library card or password. 

Databases are…
The library has a virtual library of information.  Databases are resources the library pays for to provide you with accurate, up-to-date information and often contain the same information as is available in reference books, but in a much easier search format.   Databases are accessed through the Internet, but are not “the Internet.”

You Can Stay at Home to Do Research
In most cases, you don’t even have to leave your home’s Internet connection to get this information.  You can access online databases from your home computer, public or school library computer, iPhone – anywhere with an internet connection by going to the library’s website at www.blountlibrary.org and clicking on “Electronic Resources” and then the individual database you need.

Many Databases Available for Your Needs
The Blount County Public Library has a wealth of electronic information – more than 50 collections of online resources, some of which are 

  • Databases geared to elementary, middle and high school readers (Tennessee Electronic Library), 

  • Foreign Language instruction equivalent to a college level class (Mango Languages),

  • Contemporary and 19th Century Literary Criticism,

  • Pro/Con essays on both sides of current and controversial topics (Points of View),

  • plus more than 10,000 magazines and journals with articles on business, culinary arts, education, gardening, health, popular culture, history and more.  Academic journals can be limited to peer-reviewed articles, 

  • E-books on science, medicine, law, literature and more, 

  • Some of the databases will translate their articles into one of 12 foreign languages.

  • You can even download materials so you can listen to them on your MP3 player. 

One of the databases, Learning Express (in Tennessee Electronic Library), has learning centers for elementary school (Kids InfoBits) through college student level, GED preparation and job searches.  More than 700 practice exams range from topics for fourth grade math to ACT tests to nursing to the firefighter exam as well as other professional licensure exams.  This database requires a password which you can get by calling the reference desk.  Have I mentioned databases are free with a library card?

History & Social Studies   Many teachers assign family history projects.  To help with that research, the library has two online resources for genealogy and family history research.   Ancestry Library Edition (can be used only in the library) and Heritage Quest (available from any Internet computer but requires a password), contain federal census records, some family records and much more.  Global Road Warrior provides vast information about most countries of the world:  history, culture, maps, currency, demographics.

Need Science Research?  Not only does the library have science e-books, but Tennessee Electronic Library and Gale also have science databases for researchers composed of  200+ periodicals from highly specialized academic journals as well as general science-focused magazines.   You can search for your topic by subject or name of journal.

Isn’t Everything on Google?
As librarians, we get asked, “Isn’t everything available on the internet?  Why use the library?”  While the internet is a great starting point for research, the library’s resources are much more reliable.  Wikipedia warns that it “makes no guarantee of validity.”  What?  Not valid?  The library’s online resources need no warnings.  They contain only authentic, expert-chosen books and magazines.  You can trust the library’s database content! 

Google and other search engines are in business to make money.  Capitalism encourages intellectual and economic growth.  But for the researcher, that means that paid, ad-driven, and commercial results are pushed to the top of the page; whereas the library is in business to help you by offering free, unlimited access to reliable resources. 

Library Card is Passport to a World of Information
Using a Blount County Public Library card you have access to a world of reputable information. 
If you have questions or need a password, call Blount County Public Library Reference Desk at 982-0981 ext. 4 or 273-1408.