Electronic Resources

Electronic Resources Overview

We have subscriptions through our consortium to various electronic research resources. The subjects and materials range from online databases of business and science articles, to ebooks and audiobooks for use on your computer screen, tablet, or handheld device.

Most of the databases are available for use both in the library and from any internet connection with your library card. There are. however. databases which, because of licence issues, are only available for use within the library. They are noted below. If you have any questions about how to use the databases please contact us on our Ask a Librarian page and a member of the Reference Department will be happy to help guide your research.

For those who are residents of Massachusetts, you are eligible to receive a free e-Card from the Boston Public Library. With that e-card, you can access their databases, which include various Boston papers and more. To apply for an e-Card go to https://www.bpl.org/ecard/.    BPL databases can be accessed at https://www.bpl.org/online-resources/ for those that have a card or would like to see what’s available.

Digital Access and Downloads (ebooks and Audiobooks)

  • Comics Plus, by LibraryPass
    Comics Plus, powered by LibraryPass, is a digital platform offering thousands of digital comics, graphic novels and manga to readers through school, public, and academic libraries.  You can access titles using a smartphone, tablet, or web browser, and can be downloaded to multiple devices. There is never a wait to read, all titles are unlimited access simultaneous use.
  • hoopla
    Tap into Discovery. Instantly Read, Listen, and Watch with Your Library card. hoopla is the leading all-in-one digital library app, with more than 1,000,000 titles—from best-selling novels and blockbuster movies to niche, hard-to find content, hoopla has something for everyone. Read, listen, and watch without ads, for free with your Library card.
  • Overdrive Digital Downloads (ebooks, audiobooks)
    Overdrive™ is a digital resource brought to you by the Pollard Library and the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. Overdrive provides digital audiobooks that you can download to your computer at your convenience. You can listen to the book on your computer, burn it to a CD, or transfer it to an MP3 player. They also offer ebooks for reading on your computer or handheld device. More info is available on Overdrive’s FAQ page. (in-library and home use).  You may also want to download the “Libby” app from Overdrive to be able to access this material on your mobile device.
  • LearningExpress Library
    Large online selection of academic and career-related resources. LearningExpress helps with skill building in reading, writing, math, science, job search and career advancement, college admissions test preparation, professional licensing and certification test preparation, high school equivalency test prep, and much more. There are tutorials, practice tests and ebooks available for use.Click here for a full list of tests covered.(in-library and home use) – Want to see the listing of all test and quick links to access these materials? Access the Learning Express Library links here.

General Research

        • Coronavirus Research Database powered by ProQuest – ProQuest built this database in response to the rapidly growing need for authoritative content related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The company is working together with institutions all over the world to offer support as they navigate through the coronavirus pandemic. When prompted to enter an institution, type Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. 
        • EBSCO Host Databases
          A wealth of various databases for those looking for everything from literary criticism, book suggestions, and professional journal articles. EBSCO is a large collection of many databases. In addition to the ones listed below, our subscription includes EBSCO Host Research Databases(in-library and home use)

          • Novelist
            Novelist provides online reading advisory services including: reading recommendations, read-a-like suggestions, book lists, book discussion questions, and customizable content.(in-library and home use)
          • Teacher Reference Center
            Teacher Reference Center provides indexing and abstracts for 280 of the most popular teacher and administrator journals and magazines to assist professional educators.(in-library and home use)
          • Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
            Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) indexes more than 560 core journals, nearly 50 priority journals, and nearly 125 selective journals; plus books, research reports and proceedings. Subject coverage includes librarianship, classification, cataloging, bibliometrics, online information retrieval, information management and more. Coverage in the database extends back as far as the mid-1960s. (in-library and home use)
          • GreenFILE
            GreenFILE offers well-researched information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. Its collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. The database provides indexing and abstracts for more than 384,000 records, as well as Open Access full text for more than 4,700 records.(in-library and home use)
        • Encyclopedia Britannica Public Library Edition
          PLUS read-aloud at all levels and translation for over 50 languages. (in-library and home use)
        • Gale Group Databases – Gale Group, Inc.
          Provides access to popular magazines, scholarly journals, encyclopedias, newspapers, newswire services, business directories, investment reports, health pamphlets, prescription drug information, and literature reviews. PowerSearch makes it possible to find subjects from A-Z in one or several of the Thomson Gale’s periodical databases in a single search. Various databases—full list available upon log-in. (in-library and home use)
        • Opposing Viewpoints – Gale in Context
          Opposing Viewpoints is the premier online resource covering today’s hottest social issues, from capital punishment to immigration to drug use. This cross-curricular research database supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. (in-library and home use)
        • ProQuest: Science Database
          This database is a definitive resource for students studying both the applied and general sciences. With coverage dating back to 1986, ProQuest Science Journals features over 1030 titles, with more than 760 available in full text. Search over 2.7M records, dating back to the mid 1980s.

Newspapers

        • The Lowell Sun Obituaries and Death Notices: (10/14/2001-current) (Newsbank)
          Comprehensive collection of obituaries and death notices electronically available. Accessible in an easy-to-use interface with searching by name, date range, or text such as institutional name, social affiliation(s), geographic location(s), philanthropic activities, etc. (in library and home use)
        • The Lowell Sun (10/14/2001-current) (Newsbank)
          Find full-text articles on local news, issues, events, people and much more from current and archived issues of The Lowell Sun. Updated daily, it includes obituaries from 2001-2003, editorials, announcements, sports, real estate and other sections. Newsbank database. (in-library and home use)
        • The Lowell Sun (c1879-c1977) (Access Newspaper Archives) (in-library and home use with Library credentials)  We were notified September 21, 2020 that Newspaper Archive no longer carries the copyright for issues dated 1978-2010 – if you need items from the time period of 1978-2010, please email the reference staff at adultref@lowelllibrary.org and we’ll try to find what you need on microfilm. We apologize for the inconvenience. 
        • Boston Globe (1980 – current) Full text. (in-library and home use)
        • The New York Times (1985-current). Full text. (in-library and home use)
        • InfoTrac Newsstand – This innovative full-text newspaper resource allows users to search articles instantly by title, headline, date, author, newspaper section or other fields, eliminating random searching through newspaper archives. InfoTrac Newsstand provides access to more than 1,100 major U.S. regional, national and local newspapers as well as leading titles from around the world. It also includes thousands of images, radio and TV broadcasts and transcripts. (in-library and home use)

Genealogy

          • Ancestry Library  Please note that in-home access to Ancestry Library ended December 31, 2021. After this time, patrons must visit the Library in order to use Ancestry Library.
            Access to U.S. Census Collection; U.S. Data Collection; U.K. and Ireland Collection; Birth, Marriage, and Death Records; Immigration Collection; Military Collection; Family and Local History Records; Court, Land, and Probate Records; and more. (in-library use only) Database funded by the Pollard Memorial Library
          • American Ancestors
            Births, marriages and deaths from 1841 – 1910 Provided through the New England Historical and Genealogical Society. Includes Massachusetts Vital Records (in-library use only)
            Database funded by the Pollard Memorial Library
          • HeritageQuest
            HeritageQuest® Online is a comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources—rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, convenient research guides, interactive census maps, and more. (in-library and home use)
          • Registers of Work Permits Issued by the Lowell School Department (1920s & 1930s)
            Work permits issued by the Lowell School Department for enrolled students. Information about employer, birthdate, country of origin, and residence. Compiled by local researchers Walter Hickey, Karen Hickey and Diane Laferrierre.

Business Research

          • Small Business Resource Center – Gale Group, Inc.
            Covers all major areas of starting and operating a business: financing, management, marketing, human resources, franchising, accounting, taxes and more. Startups, established businesses, and business students alike can find answers from its mobile responsive experience.
          • Business Economics and Theory Collection – Gale Group, Inc.
            A comprehensive collection of periodicals supporting economics, business, and related fields.
          • Gale Presents: Peterson’s Career Prep – Gale Group, Inc.
            Learn about careers, receive personalized career recommendations, create resumes and cover letters, search for jobs, explore schools and training programs, and get advice to help find a job or advance your career.

Youth Oriented Study

          • Muzzy – Language Courses for Children
            Award winning language program is a comprehensive, interactive, and fun way to learn a second language. Featuring: British English, American English, Spanish, Latin-American Spanish, Chinese (Pinyin), Korean (RR), French, German and Italian. (in-library and home use)
          • Pebble Go
            PebbleGo is a curricular content hub specifically designed for K-2 students. Packed with informational articles, ready-made activities, and literacy supports for students of all abilities, it boosts engagement and fosters independent learning in core subject areas.
          • Middle School – Gale in Context
            Now with over 330 titles, cross searchable with E-Books, this periodical database is designed for students in high school with access to a variety of indexed and full-text magazines, newspapers and reference books for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more. (in-library and home use)
          • Kids Info Bits – Gale Group, Inc.
            Kids InfoBits is a database developed especially for beginning researchers in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Featuring a developmentally appropriate, visually graphic interface, the most popular search method is moving from a broad subject to a narrower topic using the subject-based topic tree. The curriculum-related, age appropriate, full-text content is from the best elementary reference sources and magazines. This database covers geography, current events, the arts, science, health, people, government, history, sports and more. (in-library and home use)
          • Encyclopedia Britannica Online Public Library Edition Suite

Lowell Resources

            • City of Lowell Library – Online resource to find exactly what you are looking to obtain.
            • Lowell High School Yearbooks – A limited number of LHS yearbooks have been digitized by UMass Lowell Special Collections.
            • Splinters – Rogers Hall School for Girls – A limited number of this local literary magazine have been digitized by UMass Lowell Special Collections.
            • 1879 City Atlas of Lowell – PDF | JPGs. – published by G.M. Hopkins, 1879. Digitized by The State Library of Massachusetts
            • 1906 City Atlas of Lowell – PDF | JPGs.- – published by L.J. Richards & Co., 1906. Digitized by The State Library of Massachusets

Other Research Databases

        • OCLC® World Cat
          The OCLC Online Union Catalog – Offers more than 46 million bibliographic records and holdings information vital for collection development, cataloging, authority control, and retrospective conversion services.
          (in-library and home use)
        • Massachusetts Libraries Board of Commissioners Special Collections Directory
          The Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections Directory is a guide and locator of collections residing in Massachusetts libraries, archives, historical societies and town clerk’s offices. This directory provides access in one location to the holdings in more than 650 repositories in the Commonwealth. Often such holdings are not fully cataloged or known outside the library yet are of great potential research value. The holdings are available by town/location, institution, repository, collection description, special collection and through name and/or subject searches. In addition, the directory provides information about the institution, contacts, services available and volume of material, as well as directions to the repository. (in-library and home use)
        • Transparent Language Online
          Research-based and experience-driven, Transparent Language Online is a language-learning program for libraries and their patrons that provides an effective, fun, and engaging experience for language learners of all levels. Over 80 languages covered. (in-library and home use – follow link and then sign up)
        • Encyclopedia Britannica Spanish Reference Center
        • Driving Tests – Free Driving Education and practice tests to help you prepare for the DMV knowledge exam. Car, motorcycle, and CDL licenses plus electronic Handbooks and FAQ in multiple languages.
        • Fuel Economy Guide 2022 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) produce the Fuel Economy Guide to help car buyers choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets their needs.
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