Prairie High School Library

Online Resources

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Online Resources
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Search the PHS Library Catalog

Your Teacher-Librarian:  The Ultimate Search Engine!

Subscription Databases
Login required.  User names and passwords are available from any library staff member.

Magazine & Newspaper Databases
EBSCO: Full-text periodical articles, newspaper, reference materials and images.
Primary and Secondary sources articles highlighting key events, movements, people, and places in 20-Century America.
SIRS Knowledge Source: Articles exploring social, scientific, health, historic, business, economic, political and global issues.
Multimedia Sources
Downloadable photographs, graphics, and audio clips.
Video, video clips, images, and audio
A collection of royalty-free photos, clipart, fonts, animations and sounds
Video, video clips, images and audio
Includes art images and related multimedia gathered from the collections of museums around the world.
An educational search tool that connects students and educators to over 300,000 educator-approved digital resources.
Royalty free music that can be used in educational productions ensuring copyright safety. Includes a wide variety of music.
Specialized Reference Sources
AccuWeather.com:  Detailed weather information including forecasts, radar, and a climatological database
CQ Researcher:  In-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, current events, education, the environment, and technology
Offers global perspectives on issues of international importance and current world events and topics in the news.
Covers all sides of controversial issues and topics.
Includes topics such as diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, fitness, mental health, diversity, family life, and more
An electronic encyclopedia with videos, animation, sounds, and simulated historical web sites
Technology Tutorials
Atomic Learning:  An electronic help desk and training system for hundreds of computer applications commonly used in schools

Web Search Tools
 
Subject Directories are especially useful when browsing for a general subject.
 
Search Engines are useful when searching
for specific information. 

Free Online Resources
The following sites are available free to users.
No login is required.

Citation Tools
Citation Machine:  An interactive web tool designed to assist students (and others) in creating properly formatted MLA citations
Easy Bib:  An automatic bibliography composer that formats, alphabetizes, and prepares your MLA works cited
College and Career
Occupational Outlook Handbook:  A source of career information, designed to provide valuable information to people making decisions about their future careers
Dictionary
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:  A free online dictionary and thesaurus with audio pronunciations, Word of the Day, and word games
General Reference
Information Please:  The world's largest free reference site with an almanac, atlas, encyclopedia, dictionary, thesaurus, and other special features
Maps/Geography
Google Earth:  Offers maps and satellite images for complex or pinpointed regional searches
MapQuest:  A digital directory resource for finding anything in the physical world.  Provides both maps and driving directions.
National Geographic Map Machine:  Satellite, street maps and more in an online atlas
Rand McNally Online Maps:  Online maps, driving directions, and mileage calculators

Newspapers

CR Gazette Online:  Electronic Edition of the local Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper
The New York Times:  Online edition

USA Today:  Online edition

Free Online Images
A copyright-friendly image library for teachers and students

Copyright and Fair Use

Copyright Basics (PDF)

Circular from the US Copyright Office

Taking the Mystery out of Copyright

From the US Copyright Office
From the US Copyright Office.  Defines Fair Use

Don't See What You're Looking For?

Be sure to check out the Class Links section.  There are links to free online government resources as well as other reliable web sites.

Prairie High School Library, College Community School District, 401 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone (319) 848-5340 ext. 8

Copyright 2007, Deanne Thiede.  All Rights Reserved.



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2006