Online Resources
Art, Music & Performing Arts
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Art Full Text & Index - Provides access to full text of more than 170 art publications and indexing of more than 490 publications as far back as 1984 including art, architecture, film craft and costume. (Learn More! Art Full Text Handout
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Music Online - Access music from all of the following Alexander Street databases, or click the link below to search a specific collection. Listening only, no downloads. You do not need to set up a separate login unless you want your own playlists to be maintained by this site. Browseable from any computer in the library but music clips can only be played through internet access. (Learn More! Music Online Handout )
- Oxford Art Online - Access to art reference that includes Grove Dictionary of Art, Oxford Companion to Western Art, Encyclopedia of Aesthetics and Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms on all aspects of the visual arts.
- Oxford Music Online - Access to music reference that includes Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Dictionary of Jazz, Dictionary of Opera, Oxford Companion to Music and Dictionary of Music on musicians, composers, instruments, genres, terms, acoustics, and more.
- Oxford Reference Premium - English language and bilingual dictionaries, atlases, quotations, and reference books covering the arts and more can be searched individually or across this basic reference collection. The International Encyclopedia of Dance (6 volumes, 1998) is here as well.
Audiobooks & eBooks
- Overdrive Digital Media - Download and listen or read on your PC, Mac®, Kindle or Smartphone today. See the “Help” link on Overdrive for information about how to use the service with your device. Not available at library catalog machines.
- Safari Tech Books Online - Search, browse and read technical books online. Subject areas include operating systems, programming languages, database technologies and more. Limited amount of users, if you can't login at first, retry in a few minutes.
Automotive
- Chilton Automotive Repair - Access to repair instructions, service bulletins and recalls and wiring diagrams for domestic and foreign cars, trucks and vans, beginning with the 1940 Buick. Content provided by Chilton's.
Biography
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Biography in Context - Articles about historic and contemporary people active in many fields.
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African American Studies Center - Full text access to the Encyclopedia of African American History 1619-1895, Black Women in America (2nd ed), and Africana, a 5-volume history of the African and African American experience. Additional content details African American biography, art and architecture, and African American literature.
- Granger's Poetry Online - Find poems, poets' biographies,authoritative commentaries on poems and poets, and a glossary of poetic terms at this source from Columbia University.
- Oxford Art Online - Access to art reference that includes Grove Dictionary of Art, Oxford Companion to Western Art, Encyclopedia of Aesthetics and Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms on all aspects of the visual arts.
- Oxford Music Online - Access to music reference that includes Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Dictionary of Jazz, Dictionary of Opera, Oxford Companion to Music and Dictionary of Music on musicians, composers, instruments, genres, terms, acoustics, and more.
Books & Literature
- Literature Resource Center-LRC - Biographies of authors and critical analyses of books from every age and genre.
- Literature Criticism Online - Full text pdf access to Nineteenth Century Literature Criticism, Twentieth Century Literature Criticism, and Contemporary Literary Criticism, including all photos and other images, volumes published through May 2009.
- Granger's Poetry Online - Find poems, poets' biographies,authoritative commentaries on poems and poets, and a glossary of poetic terms at this source from Columbia University.
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Salem Literature - Search reference sets from Salem Press including Magill’s Critical Survey of Long Fiction and Annual Indexes.
- WorldCat - Search for authoritative information on titles, authors and locations of materials in California and beyond.
- Oxford Reference Premium - English language and bilingual dictionaries, atlases, quotations, and reference books covering literature and more can be searched individually or across this basic reference collection. The complete Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature (4 volumes, 2006) is included here.
- Reading suggestions:
- Books and Authors - Explore books, authors, genres and topics. Find reading recommendations
- Booklist Online - Full text access to reviews, columns, and read-alike lists.
- NextReads - Sign up to receive reading suggestions on a variety of topics in regularly e-mailed newsletters.
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Novelist Plus - Find new books to enjoy based on favorite authors, titles, series or subjects. (Learn More! NovelList Handout )
- NoveList K-8 Plus - Search for good books, according to various appeal categories, for young readers in kindergarten through middle school.
- Dear Reader - Join any of nine online book clubs and receive daily e-mails with books changing each week.
Business & Careers
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Reference USA Company Listings - Detailed information on more than 12 million U.S. businesses. The most complete company directory available on the web. Easy to sort search results by industry and location. (Learn More! Reference USA Handout )
- Berkeley Information Network - Berkeley Public Library's own directory of organizations serving local people.
- Learn A Test/Learning Express Library - Online practice tests for students, college applicants, career explorers, and those learning English. Includes resume writing help,study courses in business English, computer skills tutorials for Microsoft office programs, and related topics. Although registration asks for your name, you may input any words in this field. Please keep track of your user name and password for later access.
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Business and Company Resource Center - Company profiles and histories, brand information, rankings, investment reports, chronologies, and full text magazine articles.
- Berkeley Office of Economic Development - The Office of Economic Development provides a variety of business services for a community- based approach to entrepreneurial success.
- Career Cruising - Provides career guidance and planning to find the right career, explore education and training options, and build a portfolio.
- CareerOneStop - Learn about different careers, plan for your education, get salary and benefit information, search for jobs, improve your resume and get interview tips all on this site from the US Department of Labor. Also provides links to local career centers.
- Encyclopedia of Associations - Up to date listings for national, regional and international organizations with detailed descriptions of causes, financial data and membership from Gale Directory Library
Computers & Technology
- Safari Tech Books Online - Search, browse and read technical books online. Subject areas include operating systems, programming languages, database technologies and more. Limited amount of users, if you can't login at first, retry in a few minutes.
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Learn A Test/Learning Express Library - You can access tutorials for the following Microsoft Office products: Microsoft Access, Excel, Word and PowerPoint, as well as for Microsoft Vista and Internet Explorer. Although registration asks for your name, you may input any words in this field. Please keep track of your user name and password for later access.
Education
- Academic OneFile - The premier source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Extensive coverage of the sciences, technology, medicine, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects - authoritative and comprehensive.
- Berkeley Schools Libraries - Berkeley school libraries are bustling centers of learning, cultivating an appreciation for literature and fostering development of research skills and information literacy.
- Calisphere - Provides primary source material, including both photographic and illustrated images for elementary and secondary school research in California history or multicultural heritage.
- Expanded Academic ASAP - Scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers - many with full text and images.
- General Reference Center Gold - General interest articles from magazines, newspapers, and parts of reference books. Many with full text and images.
- U.S. History in Contex - Primary source documents, articles from reference books, and full-text journal articles about themes, events, individuals and periods in U.S. history from pre-Colonial times to the present.
- World History in Context- Reference book and full-text articles from scholarly publications, primary sources, and images, maps and charts for the study of world history from ancient Europe to Latin America and from the Far East to the Renaissance.
- InfoTrac OneFile - Magazine and newspaper articles on a wide range of general interest topics. Millions of full text articles, many with images. A good place to start if you don't know which database to select.
- Kid's Edition K-12 - Designed for elementary school students, with easy access to full text magazines, newspapers, and reference books.
- Learn A Test/Learning Express Library - Online practice tests for students, college applicants, career explorers, and those learning English. Includes resume writing help,study courses in business English, computer skills tutorials for Microsoft office programs, and related topics. Although registration asks for your name, you may input any words in this field. Please keep track of your user name and password for later access.
- NoveList K-8 Plus - Search for good books, according to various appeal categories, for young readers in kindergarten through middle school.
- Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center - Full text access to several complete series offering expert opinion on a range of controversial subjects in the social sciences.
- Social Studies Fact Cards Online - Basic facts about California geography, history, and Indians, as well as facts about US states and Presidents, world cultures, and religions.
- Student Resource Center - Gold - Access to articles from magazines, reference books, and other materials on topics often assigned to middle and high school students.
Español
- Informe! - Revistas en Español - Una colección de revistas hispanicas con textos completos. Abarca negocios, salud, tecnologia, cultura, temas de actualidad y otras materiales.
- Gobierno USA - Informacion oficial del gobierno en español.
- Learning Express Library- Recursos para Hispanohablantes - Desde mejorar su lectura, escritura y habilidades matemáticas hasta la preparación del examen GED, los recursos que encontrará aquí lo ayudarán a lograr sus metas.
- Preparación para Examen de Ciudadanía Americana
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Información para Ciudadaniá de los Estados Unidos
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Cursos de Inglés para Hispanohablantes
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Genealogy
- Ancestry - The world’s largest family history community shares its research, photos, stories and notes with you in these databases. (This database only available from inside library locations.)
General Reference
- Britannica Online - full text access to the current editions of Encyclopaedia Britannica and its student and elementary editions, with links to images, video clips, and electronic texts of classics.
- Encyclopedia of Associations - Up to date listings for national, regional and international organizations with detailed descriptions of causes, financial data and membership from Gale Directory Library
- Gale Virtual Reference Books - Fully searchable reference books provide online access to titles we have in our print Reference collection. Included here are International Dictionary of Film and Filmmakers (4 volumes, 4th edition), VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (2007 edition), Encyclopedia of Management (5th edition), Encyclopedia of Small Business (2 volumes, 2nd edition), College Blue Book (6 volumes, 34th edition), Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia (17 volumes, 2nd edition), American Decades (10 volumes), New Dictionary of History of Ideas (6 volumes), The People's Chronology (3rd edition), Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America (3 volumes), Encyclopedia Judaica, and Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices (3 volumes).
- General OneFile - News and periodical articles, millions full text, NPR audio, Fodor's travel guides and other reference books. Includes General Reference Center Gold and Infotrac content. Updated daily.
- General Reference Center Gold - General interest articles from magazines, newspapers, and reference books. Many with full text and images.
- How To Do It Index - Indexes repair, craft, and other instructional articles published in a wide range of popular magazines. This database is available only from within the Library building, not remotely.
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Library Information Science & Technology Abstracts - Indexes core journals, books, research reports and proceedings, includes all aspects of librarianship. Coverage extends back to mid-1960s. Index only.
- Oxford Reference Premium - English language and bilingual dictionaries, atlases, quotations, and reference books covering history, several sciences, the arts, literature, computing, food, and more can be searched individually or across this basic reference collection. You can search the full contents of The Dictionary of American Family Names, The Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States, The International Encyclopedia of Dance and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America at this site as well.
Grants & Scholarships
- Foundation Grants to Individuals Online - Provides access to foundations and public charities that fund students, artists, researchers and other individual grantseekers. (Available at the Central Library only)
- Foundation Directory Online - Provides access to information on thousands of grantmakers and their giving interests.(Available at the Central Library only)
- Foundation Guide to Proposal Writing - Audiobook from the Foundation Center, includes detailed instructions on preparing grant proposals and insights into what makes for a winning proposal.
- Tuition Funding Sources - Provides scholarship and other financial aid sources as well as admission information, career tests and school possibilities. Scholarship database updated daily. Users need to register to set up a personal password to access the resources.
Health
- Academic OneFile - The premier source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Extensive coverage of the sciences, technology, medicine, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects - authoritative and comprehensive.
- Berkeley Information Network - Berkeley Public Library's own directory of organizations serving local people.
- Health and Wellness Resource Center - Informational journal and reference book articles, definitions, directories, and internet links on a wide range of health and alternative health issues. Access to MEDLINE in English and Spanish.
- Salem Health - Search the e-book version of Magill’s Medical Guide published by Salem.
History
- US History in Context - Primary source documents, articles from reference books, and full-text journal articles about themes, events, individuals and periods in U.S. history from pre-Colonial times to the present.
- World History in Context - Reference book and full-text articles from scholarly publications, primary sources, and images, maps and charts for the study of world history from ancient Europe to Latin America and from the Far East to the Renaissance.
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Oxford Reference Premium - English language and bilingual dictionaries, atlases, quotations, and reference books covering history, and more can be searched individually or across this basic reference collection. You can search the full contents of The Dictionary of American Family Names , The Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States , The International Encyclopedia of Dance and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America at this site as well.
- African American Studies Center - Full text access to the Encyclopedia of African American History 1619-1895, Black Women in America (2nd ed), and Africana, a 5-volume history of the African and African American experience. Additional content details African American biography, art and architecture, and African American literature.
- Gale Virtual Reference Books - Fully searchable reference books provide online access to titles we have in our print Reference collection. Included here are International Dictionary of Film and Filmmakers (4 volumes, 4th edition), VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (2007 edition), Encyclopaedia Judaica (2006 edition), Encyclopedia of Management (5th edition), Encyclopedia of Small Business (2 volumes, 2nd edition), College Blue Book (6 volumes, 34th edition), Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia (17 volumes, 2nd edition), American Decades (10 volumes), New Dictionary of History of Ideas (6 volumes), The People's Chronology (3rd edition), Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America (3 volumes), Encyclopedia Judaica , and Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices (3 volumes).
- Biography in Context- Articles about historic and contemporary people active in many fields.
- Calisphere - Provides primary source material, including both photographic and illustrated images for elementary and secondary school research in California history or multicultural heritage.
- Social Studies Fact Cards Online - Basic facts about California geography, history, and Indians, as well as facts about US states and Presidents, world cultures, and religions.
- Berkeley History Online - Digitized images from the Library's collection of historic photos, maps, postcards, and other documents.
- Salem History - Search reference books from Salem Press: 30's to 80's in America , great events from history (ancient world and middle ages), great lives from history (middle ages and twentieth century) and milestone documents in African American and world history.
Kids
- Berkeley Schools Libraries - Each Berkeley Unified School District school has a library with people there to help you. BUSD students have access to online resources that can be searched from school or home. These include the following databases: Teen Health and Wellness, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, ProQuest New York Times, and World Book Encyclopedia online, in English and in Spanish.
- Biography In Context - More than 525,000 people from the past and present can be researched in this database. Images, audio files, excerpts from primary sources such as newpapers and speeches, links to websites, and other resources can be found here. The stories of the lives and times of famous people in all walks of life are taken from nearly 200 respected encyclopedias and reference works; citations are included. Print, download, email, or even translate the information!
- BookFlix - Early literacy resource that combines storybooks with video. For pre-kindergartners to third graders. NOTE: If using inside the library, Bookflix requires an internet access computer: will not work on the “catalog only” computers. Also, in order to successfully access this product, your browser must be able to accept a ‘per session’ cookie.
- Britannica Online (Elementary Edition) - Provides full text access to the current editions of Encyclopaedia Britannica and its student and elementary editions, with links to images, video clips, and electronic texts of classics.
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Calisphere - Provides primary source material, including both photographic and illustrated images for elementary and secondary school research in California history or multicultural
- Kids Infobits - Articles from children's magazines and reference titles for kids in Kindergarten through Grade 5.
- NoveList K-8 Plus - Search for good books, according to various appeal categories, for young readers in kindergarten through middle school.
- Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center - Full text access to several complete series offering expert opinion on a range of controversial subjects in the social sciences.
- Social Studies Fact Cards Online - Basic facts about California geography, history, and Indians, as well as facts about US states and Presidents, world cultures, and religions.
- Student Resources in Context - Access to articles from magazines, reference books, and other materials on topics often assigned to middle and high school students.
- VerbaLearn - Study vocabulary for the SAT, ACT, GRE, ESL, and 7th through 12th grade.
Language Learning
- Learn A Test/Learning Express Library - Online practice tests for students, college applicants, career explorers, and those learning English. Includes resume writing help,study courses in business English, computer skills tutorials for Microsoft office programs, and related topics. Although registration asks for your name, you may input any words in this field. Please keep track of your user name and password for later access.
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Mango Languages - Language learning system that teaches actual conversation skills for 34 different languages and 15 different ESL courses. Mango uses real-life situations and actual conversations to more effectively teach a new language. Free registration for Mango account is not required but will allow you to keep track of your progress and use other tools. (Learn More! Mango Language Handout )
- Oxford Reference Premium - English language and bilingual dictionaries, atlases, quotations, and more can be searched individually or across this basic reference collection.
- VerbaLearn - Study vocabulary for the SAT, ACT, GRE, ESL, and 7th through 12th grade. Free, but you need to set up an account to use.
Law & Taxes
- California Courts Legal Forms - Downloadable forms that you can complete online or copy to fill offline can be found here, some in multiple languages.
- California Laws & Legislation - The Legislative Counsel's website provides full text access to current California codes and information about all legislation considered by the California Legislature since 1993.
- Federal Forms - Printable forms from many Federal agencies, including passport applications, Veteran benefit forms, and Social Security forms.
- Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Locator - Search attorneys by name, location, and/or practice specialty. Includes education and full contact information.
- Tax Forms (Federal) - The Internal Revenue web site provides ready-to-print forms and instructions, as well as providing the portal to online tax filing.
- California Franchise Tax Board - California income tax forms and instructions are available here in ready-to-print, fill-out-and-print, and electronic filing options.
- Federation of Tax Administrators - Download tax forms for any state from this site.
Magazines and Newspapers
- General OneFile - News and periodical articles, millions full text, NPR audio, Fodor's travel guides and other reference books. Includes Infotrac, General Reference Center Gold and Student Resouce Center Gold content. Updated daily.
- Academic OneFile - The premier source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Extensive coverage of the sciences, technology, medicine, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects - authoritative and comprehensive.
- Newsbank: includes Berkeley Area Newspapers - Full text access to Oakland Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Berkeley Voice, San Jose Mercury News and West County Times, as well as hundreds of other newspapers throughout the United States, including the New York Times.
- Full Text Custom Newspapers - Christian Science Monitor, Denver Post, Financial Times (UK), Guardian (UK), Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Times (London) Daily and many more.Each newspaper's staff-written articles are the only ones featured here.
- General Reference Center Gold - General interest articles from magazines, newspapers, and parts of reference books. Many with full text and images.
- How To Do It Index - Indexes repair, craft, and other instructional articles published in a wide range of popular magazines. This database is available only from within the Library building, not remotely.
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InfoTrac One File - Magazine and newspaper articles on a wide range of general interest topics. Millions of full text articles, many with images. A good place to start if you don't know which database to select. Also known as General One File.
- Informe! - Revistas en Español - Una coleccion de revistas hispanicas con textos completes. Abarca negocios, salud, tecnologia, cultura, temas de actualidad y otras materias.
- New York Times current--use General OneFile.
- Student Resource Center - Gold - Full text articles from magazines, reference books, and other materials on topics often assigned to middle and high school students.
Organizations
- Berkeley Information Network - Berkeley Public Library's own directory of organizations serving local people.
- Encyclopedia of Associations - Up to date listings for national, regional and international organizations with detailed descriptions of causes, financial data and membership from Gale Directory Library.
Poetry
- Granger's Poetry Online - Find poems, poets' biographies, authoritative commentaries on poems and poets, and a glossary of poetic terms at this source from Columbia University.
Religion
- Gale Virtual Reference Books - Fully searchable reference books provide online access to titles we have in our print Reference collection. Included here are Encyclopaedia Judaica and Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices (3 volumes).
- Oxford Premium Reference: Religion and Philosophy - More than half a dozen concise guides to world religions, including dictionaries of Buddhism, Islam, Roman Popes, and more.
Science
- Expanded Academic ASAP - Scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers - many with full text and images.
- General Reference Center Gold - General interest articles from magazines, newspapers, and reference books. Many with full text and images.
- GreenFILE - GreenFILE covers all aspects of human impact to the environment in a multidisciplinary approach in magazine, journal and research articles, many full text, and lots more with indexing and abstracts.
- Health and Wellness Resource Center - Informational journal and reference book articles, definitions, directories, and internet links on a wide range of health and alternative health issues. Access to MEDLINE in English and Spanish..
- Oxford Reference Premium - English language and bilingual dictionaries, atlases, quotations, and reference books covering several sciences and more can be searched individually or across this basic reference collection.
- Science in Context - Topics including overviews, experiments, biographies, pictures and illustrations and the latest scientific developments are covered in articles from over 200 magazines and academic journals and links to quality web sites. Includes curriculum-related science topics.