Acton Memorial Library Databases

Scroll down for databases listed by subject

Acton Memorial Library Home Page Minuteman Library Network Catalog	Register online for a BPL eCard to access more databases via the Boston Public Library

Database Quick Links

(scroll down for Databases Listed by Subject)

* = License restricted to In-Library access
** = Home access limited to Acton residents

These links are for in-library use and home use for Acton residents.
Non-Acton home users, please use the database access links provided here:
http://www.mln.lib.ma.us/electronic/

Academic Onefile		New England Ancestors see American Ancestors*
Access NewspaperArchive	Electronic Journals Finder	New York Times (text only)
Acton Memorial Library Newspaper Archive*	Gale databases	New York Times Image Edition** Nov. 7, 2008 - March 28, 2011 only.
Acton Memorial Library Online Historical Collections	Gale Virtual Reference Library	Newsbank databases + Special Reports
American Ancestors*	General BusinessFile ASAP	NoveList
APS Journals (American Physical Society)*	General Onefile	Opposing Viewpoints in Context
Ancestry Library Edition*	General Reference Center Gold	Overdrive audiobooks and eBooks
Auto Repair Reference Center**	Global Issues in Context	Powersearch (Gale databases)
New! AskArt*	Health and Wellness Resource Center	RDS Business Suite
Barron's**	Health Reference Center Academic	ReferenceUSA**
The Beacon (community newspaper)**	Hoovers** (There is a new access URL as of Feb. 1, 2012--If you have trouble accessing, please clear your browser's cache and try again.)	Science in Context
Biography in Context	Junior Edition (Infotrac)	Social Law Library* (see a Reference Librarian for access)
Books & Authors	KidsInfoBits	Student Edition (Infotrac)
Boston Globe (text only)	Literature Resources From Gale (Contemporary Literary Criticism Select, LitFinder, Literature Resource Center)	Student Resources in Context
Boston Globe Image Edition** May 15, 2008 – March 20, 2011 only. Click on Search, Preferences, Back Issues to access the Boston Globe.	Mango Languages**	New! Testing and Education Reference Center
Business and Company Resource Center	Massachusetts History Online	U.S. History in Context
ConsumerReports.org with Cars Best Deals Plus**	Massachusetts Newsstand	Value Line Research Center **
New! ConsumerReportsHealth.org **	Massachusetts Virtual Catalog	World History in Context
Consumers' CHECKBOOK (Boston edition)*	Minuteman Community Information and Referral Database	WorldCat*
Educator's Reference Complete	Morningstar Investment Research Center**	World Book Web

Databases Listed by Subject

Art

New! AskArt. Library access | No home access.
A comprehensive website on both historical and contemporary American artists. AskART covers more than 96,000 American artists from all periods and all regions of the country, including lesser known regional and local artists. AskArt serves as a central clearinghouse for all kinds of information about American art -- biographical information on artists, historical information on art movements, art auction records, and directories of museums, galleries, dealers, professional organizations and appraisers.

Audiobooks

Overdrive. Home access only. Digital versions of audiobooks and eBooks that are available to Minuteman Library Network patrons for download to their own computers or portable devices.

Automobiles

Auto Repair Reference Center (Ebsco) Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. Automotive repair information for domestic and import vehicles, 1945 to present.

ConsumerReports.org with Cars Best Deals Plus Library and home access. Home access is limited to Acton residents.
The "Cars Best Deals Plus" upgrade to ConsumerReports.org adds unlimited bottom-line price reports, detailed reliability information, Test Track Reports, enhanced side-by side model comparisons, and the Consumer Reports Build and Buy car-buying service with guaranteed haggle-free dealer price quotes.

Biography

Biography In Context Library and home access
Biographical information from 300 periodical and reference titles, including Contemporary Authors, The Writer’s Directory, and the Marquis Who’s Who.

Business and investing

		Barron's (Newsbank Electronic Image Editions) Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. 09/08/2008 - present. Full image edition of Barron's, the weekly publication for investors from the publisher of the Wall Street Journal. September 8, 2008 - present.
		Business and Company Resource Center Library and home access Provides detailed company and industry news and information, including company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies and periodicals.
		General BusinessFile ASAP Library and home access Indexes over 4,500 periodicals and includes the full text of articles from 3,600+ of the indexed titles. It also includes directory information, investment reports, and indexing of three major newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal. Use the “Advanced search” option to access Company ProFiles and investment reports by ticker symbol.
		New! Hoovers Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. Comprehensive data on 65 million companies worldwide.
		Morningstar Investment Research Center Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents Comprehensive financial information on 7,000+ stocks, 23,000+ mutual funds and 600+ exchange-traded funds. The service includes up-to-date and historical financial data, analysts reports, stock and fund recommendations, a stock and fund screening tool, a portfolio analysis tool, industry information, PDFs of Morningstar's most popular newsletters, and various investor learning tools. New users can learn more by logging in and clicking on the "Help and Education" tab.
		RDS Business Suite Library and home access Full-text coverage of company and industry news, management practices, and market research information. RDS Business Suite features more than 1,400 leading worldwide business sources, plus "TableBase"--tens of thousands of tables with strategic data. Suite coverage is over 60% full text, and over 45% international.
		ReferenceUSA Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. A directory of nearly 14 million U.S. businesses, searchable by name, yellow page heading, SIC code, zip code, estimate sales volume, and more. Downloads/prints limited to 25 per search.
		Value Line Research Center Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. Includes Value Line Investment Survey Standard Edition, Value Line Investment Survey Plus Edition, The Value Line Investment Survey Small and Midcap Edition, The Value Line Mutual Fund Survey, The Value Line No-Load Fund Advisor, The Value Line Daily Options Survey, The Value Line Special Situations Survey, the Value Line Convertibles Survey, The Value Line Special Situations Service, as well as news alerts, daily updates, and stock and fund screening tools.

Children’s and teen resources

		Junior Edition Infotrac Library and home access 300 full-text magazines, newspapers and reference books for junior high and middle school students.
		KidsInfoBits Library and home access For students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Includes approx. 100 titles and features a developmentally appropriate, visually graphic interface.
		Student Edition Infotrac Library and home access Articles from 1,000+ periodicals and reference books for high school students.
		Student Resources in Context Library and home access Information on a broad range of topics, people, places, and events. Merges Gale's authoritative reference content with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal experience combined with new features such as "Search Assist" and quick fact boxes.
		Student Edition Infotrac Library and home access Articles from 1,000+ periodicals and reference books for high school students.
		World Book Web Library and home access ** Three resources for students: World Book Online for Kids; World Book Online Info Finder; World Book Online Reference Center.

Community groups

Minuteman Community Information and Referral Database Library and home access
A directory of community groups located in the Minuteman Library Network’s service area. Provides profiles of over 2,200 organizations.

Consumer information

ConsumerReports.org with Cars Best Deals Plus Library and home access. Home access is limited to Acton residents.
ConsumerReports.org is the sister product of the Consumer Reports print magazine--both are published by the independent nonprofit Consumers Union, one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services. ConsumerReports.org provides ratings and recommendations on all sorts of consumer prodcuts. The "Cars Best Deals Plus" upgrade adds unlimited bottom-line price reports, detailed reliability information, Test Track Reports, enhanced side-by side model comparisons, and the Consumer Reports Build and Buy car-buying service with guaranteed haggle-free dealer price quotes.

New! Consumer Reports Health.org Library and home access. Home access is limited to Acton residents.
Information on health conditions and treatments, ratings of health-related products, information on prescription drugs and natural therapies, and ratings of hospitals and health insurance plans.

Consumers' CHECKBOOK (Boston edition). Library access | No home access
Published by the Center for the Study of Services, an independent nonprofit consumer research and information organization. Evaluates the quality and prices of local service firms and stores in the Boston area, such as auto repair shops, plumbers, dentists, banks, and insurance companies.

E-books

		Gale Virtual Reference Library Library and home access Searchable database of 20+ reference book titles published by the Gale Group.
		Overdrive Home access only. Digital versions of audiobooks and eBooks that are available to Minuteman Library Network patrons for download to their own computers or portable devices.

Education

		Educator’s Reference Complete Library and home access A collection of 600 journals for the teacher and school administrator.
		Testing and Education Reference Center. Library and home access. Home access is limited to Acton residents. Over 300 practice tests and courses (including ACT, AP, CLEP, GED, GRE, SAT, career and employment exams...); Dozens of ebooks containing valuable study material and practice tests; Information on over 4,000 accredited schools; Scholarship search featuring $8 billion in available scholarships; Resume builder with over 1,000 brainstorming phrases to get you started; Career modules covering subjects from career change to salary negotiations

Employment resources (see also Business and Investing)

Testing and Education Reference Center. Library and home access. Home access is limited to Acton residents.
Over 300 practice tests and courses (including ACT, AP, CLEP, GED, GRE, SAT, career and employment exams...); Dozens of ebooks containing valuable study material and practice tests; Information on over 4,000 accredited schools; Scholarship search featuring $8 billion in available scholarships; Resume builder with over 1,000 brainstorming phrases to get you started; Career modules covering subjects from career change to salary negotiations.

Genealogy

		Acton Memorial Library Civil War Archives. Library and home access. Service records and genealogical information on hundreds of men who served in the Civil War. Includes men who were born in Acton, resided in Acton, were credited to Acton, settled in Acton after the war, were members of Acton's GAR Post, or who were buried in the Acton cemeteries.
		American Ancestors (NEHGS) Library access \| No home access Dozens of genealogical databases from the New England Historic Genealogical Society, including full text of the New England Historical and Genealogical Record, The Search for Missing Friends, and Massachusetts Vital Records 1841-1910.
		Ancestry Library Edition Library access \| No home access Thousands of family history databases, including vital records, census records, ship passenger lists, military records and lots more!

General reference

		Academic Onefile Library and home access Includes indexing from over 10,000+ scholarly periodicals, 4000+ full-text.
		Gale Virtual Reference Library Library and home access Searchable database of 20+ reference book titles published by the Gale Group.
		General Onefile Library and home access Indexing of 11,400+ periodicals, with full text from 6,700+ of the indexed titles.
		General Reference Center Gold Library and home access Provides indexing of 4,900+ general interest and academic periodicals, and full text from 3600+ of the indexed titles. Also included is full text from 15 reference books.
		Global Issues in Context Library and home access Offers international viewpoints on a broad spectrum of global issues, topics, and current events.
		Powersearch Library and home access Search multiple Thomson Gale Infotrac databases simultaneously.
		Opposing Viewpoints in Context Library and home access Information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues. Drawing on the acclaimed Greenhaven Press series, the service features continuously updated viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazines and journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites
		Student Resources in Context Library and home access Information on a broad range of topics, people, places, and events. Merges Gale's authoritative reference content with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal experience combined with new features such as "Search Assist" and quick fact boxes.

Health and medicine

		Consumer Reports Health.org Library and home access. Home access is limited to Acton residents. Information on health conditions and treatments, ratings of health-related products, information on prescription drugs and natural therapies, and ratings of hospitals and health insurance plans.
		Health and Wellness Resource Center Library and home access Provides access to medical information, including content from reference books, nearly 400 health/medical journals, over 700 health videos from partner Healthology, Inc., hundreds of pamphlets, and health-related articles from 2,200 general interest publications.
		Health Reference Center Academic Library and home access Indexes 1,100+ medical and health journals and provides full text from over 880 of those titles. Also included is the full text of 700 medical pamphlets and six medical reference books.

History

		Acton Memorial Library Online Historical Collections. Library and home access. Two collections are available: Acton's Early Town Records (1735-1764); and The Acton Memorial Library Civil War Archives.
		Massachusetts History Online Library and home access Indexing and full-text articles from approx. 50 sources that directly relate to Massachusetts history.
		U.S. History in Context Library and home access Information on hundreds of the most significant people, events and topics in U.S. History. Reference book content, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal.
		World History in Context Library and home access Information on hundreds of the most significant people, events and topics in World History. Content from reference books, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal.

Languages

Mango Languages. Library and home access. Home access is limited to Acton residents. Learn a language online! Foreign language courses include Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, German, Pashto, Urdu, Hebrew, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Irish, Italian, Greek, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Korean, Thai, Hindi, and Dari; English language courses include English for speakers of speakers of Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Greek and Vietnamese).

Law

Social Law Library. Library use only. Please see a Reference Librarian for access. Includes a number of legal research resources including Massachusetts court decisions, Massachusetts General Laws, Code of Massachusetts Regulations, FastCase, Legal Trac from Gale Group, LexisNexis Congressional, HeinOnline, ALIABA, Nolo EBook Collection, iSinoLaw, and more. Subscription includes databases categorized on the web site under "SLL Substantive Databases" and "Other Research Tools" -- (does NOT include "SSL Administrative Databases").

Library catalogs

		Minuteman Library Network Catalog The catalog of the Acton Memorial Library and 43 other libraries in the Metrowest area.
		Massachusetts Virtual Catalog Simultaneously search multiple Massachusetts library catalogs and request items not available in the Minuteman Catalog.
		Massachusetts library networks A map of the nine Massachusetts public library networks and links to the catalogs.
		WorldCat (OCLC FirstSearch) Library access \| No home access For home access try the free version at http://www.worldcat.org A catalog of library holdings worldwide.

Literature and books

		Books & Authors Library and home access Offers new ways to explore the endless possibilities and combinations of books, authors, genres and topics. Combining over 140,000 titles, 50,000 authors, and thousands of read-alike, award winner and librarian's favorites lists, Books & Authors helps bring readers and literature together.
		Contemporary Literary Criticism Select use Literature Resources from Gale
		Academic Onefile Library and home access Includes indexing from over 10,000+ scholarly periodicals in all subject areas, including literary criticism. 4000+ titles are full-text.
		Literature Resources from Gale Library and home access Combines all of the content from following Gale literary databases: Contemporary Literary Criticism Select, LitFinder, and Literature Resource Center. Includes full text of stories and poems, criticism and reviews, author biographies, news and multimedia.
		LitFinder use Literature Resources from Gale
		Literature Resource Center use Literature Resources from Gale
		NoveList Library and home access This database assists fiction readers in identifying new books to read. It includes best books lists, author read-alikes, feature articles, book reviews, author profiles, book discussion guides, and more.

Magazine and journal articles

	Electronic Journals, Magazines and Newspapers Finder Library and home access Locate full text journals by title in our subscription databases
		Academic Onefile Library and home access Includes indexing from over 10,000+ scholarly periodicals, 4000+ full-text.
		APS Journals. Journals of the American Physical Society. Library access. No home access.
		General BusinessFile ASAP Library and home access Indexes over 4500 periodicals and includes the full text of articles from 3600+ of the indexed titles. It also includes directory information, investment reports, and indexing of three major newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal. Use the “Advanced search” option to access Company ProFiles and investment reports.
		General Onefile Library and home access Indexing of 11,400+ periodicals, with full text from 6,700+ of the indexed titles.
		General Reference Center Gold Library and home access Provides indexing of 4900+ general interest and academic periodicals, and full text from 3600+ of the indexed titles. Also included is full text from 15 reference books.
		Health Reference Center Academic Library and home access Indexes 1100+ medical and health journals and provides full text from over 880 of those titles. Also included is the full text of 700 medical pamphlets and six medical reference books.
		Powersearch Library and home access Search multiple Gale Infotrac databases simultaneously.

Newspapers

		Access NewspaperArchive. Library and home access. Home access limited to Acton residents. Search and view millions of historical newspaper pages from around the country.
		Acton Memorial Library Newspaper Archive. Library access only. Full image editions of The Acton Enterprise (1915-1921, 1931-1937) and Acton Beacon (Jan 2, 1945-Jan. 15, 1946; 1950-1953 scattered issues; 1957-1959; 1963-1975).
		Barron's (Newsbank Electronic Image Editions) Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. 09/08/2008 - present. Full image edition of Barron's, the weekly publication for investors from the publisher of the Wall Street Journal. September 8, 2008 - present.
		The Beacon (community newspaper), via Newsbank. Library and Home Access. Full text of the paper and web editions of The Beacon, Aug. 2005- present.
		Boston Globe, May 15, 2008 – March 20, 2011 (Newsbank Electronic Image Editions) Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. Full page images from the Boston Globe, for May 15, 2008 – March 20, 2011 only. *Click on Search, Preferences, Back Issues* to access the Boston Globe.**
		Massachusetts Newsstand (Proquest) Library and home access Includes Boston Globe (1980-Current), Boston Herald (1991-Current), Berkshire Eagle (2005-Current), BusinessWest (Chicopee) (1992-Current), North Adams Transcript (2005-Current), Patriot Ledger (Quincy) (1991-Current), Plymouth County Business Review (1991-Current), Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg) (2005-Current), The Sun (Lowell) (2004-Current), Telegram & Gazette (Worcester) (1989-Current), Gazette (Haverhill (12/31/92 - 8/9/97), Standard Times (New Bedford (1/4/92 - 8/19/97)
		New York Times, 1851-1922. Articles from 1851 to 1922 are free on the Web through the New York Times Archives.
		New York Times, 1985 - present (Gale) Library access and Home access Text-only (no images) access to the New York Times, 1985-.
		New York Times Image Edition, Nov. 7, 2008 - March 28, 2011 only (Newsbank) Library and home access Home access is limited to Acton residents. Full page images from the New York Times,
		Newsbank Special Reports Library access and Home access NewsBank's Special Reports provides news and background information on topics of current interest, including people, politics, economics, health and science.

Science

	Science in Context Library and home access Provides topic overviews, experiments, biographies, pictures and illustrations, as well as articles from over 200 magazines and academic journals and links to quality web sites. The database covers curriculum-related science topics, and offers teachers an easy-to-use tool to identify content directly correlated to state and national standards.
	APS Journals. Journals of the American Physical Society. Library access. No home access.

Test preparation

Funding for online databases is provided by: The Acton Memorial Library; Acton Memorial Library Foundation, Inc.; The Minuteman Library Network; the Massachusetts Library System; and the Boston Public Library with funds provided through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Problems logging in? Please call the Reference Department at 978/929-6543, or email us at: actref@minlib.net. When e-mailing, please provide your Minuteman library card number.