BJHS Research Databases
Why search Google when you can find more information about your topic in a fast, easy-to-use format? Only 10% of information found in a Google search is accurate and appropriate for school research. These databases search newspapers, magazines, journals, books, almanacs, and websites for the most accurate information. Citing your source of information is also much easier with these databases, as they do this for you. These online resources are available at school and anywhere there is an Internet connection.
 

Facts For Learning
Click on Subscribers Login for Facts for Learning.
If a user name and password is requested, it is:
username: start  password: facts
How to Use Facts For Learning

Search magazines, almanacs, reference books, nonfiction books, timelines, historic calendars, encyclopedias. This also has an extensive list of controversial topics which are helpful starters for research papers.

World Book Online
username: academics    password: shuttle

 Not just an online encyclopedia; this also searches websites, journals, newspapers, and other print media.
This is a trial subscription.

Grolier Online Encyclopedia
username: illinois    password: scholastic

 Not just an online encyclopedia; this also searches websites, journals, newspapers, and other print media.
This is a trial subscription.

SIRS Discoverer
user name: bjhs     password: knights
How To Use SIRS Discoverer

 Search educational websites, newspapers, magazines, timelines, maps of the world, biographies, country facts, and more all from one page.

ProQuest eLibrary & eLibrary CE
password: welcome
Click on either eLibrary or eLibrary Curriculum Edition

 Find answers you need from more than 2,000 full-text magazines, newspapers, books, and transcripts--plus thousands of maps, pictures, educator-approved websites from Homework Central®, and audio/video files.

NetTrekker
username:   trial3170974
password:  linnvwqag

 Award-winning website search portal for education.
After logging in, click the Middle tab at the top for Middle School resources, or click the High tab for High School resources.

Issues and Controversies in American History
You may or may not need a password to access this research database.
If a user name and password is requested, it is:
username: start  password: facts
How to Use Issues and Controversies

 Research American History Issues and Controversies or find ideas for research projects and papers. Biographies, timelines, background articles, photographs, and maps supplement the articles.
 
 Facts for Learning
Fill in your search terms in the box on the left and click Go. You can search by Relevance (articles that most closely match your search terms) or by story date (the most recent stories are listed first). Here is a screen shot of a search for the history of baseball:
Each blue box represents a category and the column beneath lists hyperlinks to articles. Click on the link to read the article.
To Site Your Source: Citing your source with Facts for Learning is easy. Just click the link at the top of each article: Click for Citation
You can also view links to related articles on the right side of the page.

 
How to Use SIRS Discoverer
If you know your search terms, just type them in the box at the top and click the Search button. You can also browse topics by clicking the box for the subject area or the link for the type of information you're looking for. For example, a search of the history of baseball results in this:

This search results in 608 articles. The tabs at the top break down the results by category. The yellow tab lists all results, while the other tabs show how many of each type have been found. The results are listed below in number order. In this example, only 2 of the 608 articles about the history of baseball are shown. Click on the title of the article to read the full article Usually you can read a summary of the article, as in #2 above, which is only a small part of the total magazine article. This helps you determine if the article will help you with your research.
To Site Your Source: Click on the colored box between the number and the title to get the source information which will help if you need to cite your source for your research paper. Websites, however will not give the source information; you need to include the date that you found the website if you site the source.
How to Use Issues and Controversies in American History
This database is easy to use. If you know your topic, just type in one or two key words in the box on the left side and click Go. A list of issues and topics are in the results, along with links to timelines and other articles about this topic. A bibliography is at the bottom of each article to use when citing sources.

Click on "Need a Research Topic?" in the upper right corner for a huge list of American History controversial issues.