Online Reference Material

This resource is only available inside FCLS locations. This resource gives online access to special collections, including selections from Auburn Avenue Research Library (AARL).

Frequently updated and spanning our nation’s history from prehistory to the present day, this resource was developed and is curated by leading editors and scholars in the study of American history. With a variety of learning assets, including articles, images, primary source documents, timelines, videos, and slideshows, everything you need for your essay, report, or presentation on American History can be found here.

Looking for something more specific? Try the Infobase American Indian or African American specific history portals. All Infobase platforms include citation builders and timeline tools.

Frequently updated, this resource offers the most direct access to more than 15,000 years of culture and history, covering more than 600 Native American groups, through tablet/mobile-friendly videos and slideshows, images, biographies of key people, event and topic entries, primary sources, maps and graphs, and timelines. Get an interactive, multifaceted look at the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Looking for more information on specific events in American History adjacent to those mentioned in the American Indian History articles? Try searching across all Infobase platforms for more information.

This resource provides thorough coverage of world history from prehistory through the mid-1500s, with special Topic Centers on key civilizations and regions, including the ancient Near East, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient and medieval Africa, ancient and medieval Asia, the Americas, medieval Europe, and the Islamic World. Each civilization’s history is brought to life through articles, videos and slideshows, primary sources, and more.

Looking for even more history resources? You can search across all Infobase resources as well!

This comprehensive resource for the study of literature was originally edited and curated by Yale University professor Harold Bloom. Bloom's Literature includes thousands of critical essays and discussion questions, plus author biographies and character analyses, full-length poems, the full text of hundreds of reference books, full-length videos of classic plays and films, and more.

Search articles from Consumer Reports Magazine from 1991 to last month! This magazine content is available through GALILEO, where patrons can find hundreds of academic journals, magazines, and more. 

Looking for other product ratings and reviews? Give the New York Times Wirecutter section a try. Wirecutter is a special section of the NYT devoted to consumer electronics, and publishes more frequently than Consumer Reports.

Do you need a seasonal craft idea? Learn how to paint, knit, crochet, sew, screen print, and more with Creative Bug! Make gifts for your friends and family, or pick up a new skill for yourself.

Patrons must click through a library webpage like this one to access Creative Bug content for free. All Creative Bug resources are free of charge to FCLS library patrons and CLASS PASS participants.

These step-by-step videos with printable instructions and clear, easy-to-understand directions and supply lists are a great addition to any lesson plan.

Click here to see the list of Top Ten Creativebug Classes of 2023.

This research database helpful for Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) small businesses, and social organizations for marketing, canvassing, and planning. Containing massive databases of business, consumer, and donor information, Data Axle lets you search against geographic areas for specific information.

Data Axle Reference Solutions offers free webinars to help you learn about our premier research and reference product for libraries, marketing solutions for business owners and college/university marketing departments, job seeker information, and more.

You'll be amazed at what you can learn and accomplish with Data Axle!

Having trouble with this resource? Before contacting support, please try the following:

1. Make sure you're accessing the resource from this library page!
2. Be sure to clear your browser's cache and cookies before logging in.
3. Remember that you can only download 250 results at a time - when you have a list longer, you'll need to select 250 results at a time for the download to work.

If you are still stumped, visit the Data Axle help page for more information. If your home equipment can not allow for downloads or access to Data Axle, you may need to use this resource at a Fulton County Library location.

Tools for public military records, valuable for genealogy research with no fees for users.

Patrons interested in Fold3 may also be interested in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) provided by Newsbank.

The full version of the database Foundation Directory Online Professional is available to all on a walk-in basis at Central Library during its hours of operation, opens a new window. If you don't have a library card you can get a guest pass on the 3rd floor of Central Library. A librarian must log users on to this resource. See a list of other Funding Information Network locations offering Foundation Directory Online, or check other grant resources at the Government Information Grants page. Discover how smaller nonprofits can obtain a year of free access to the remote product Foundation Directory Online Essential by visiting Candid's Go For The Gold, opens a new window program. Please contact Kathy Piselli at kathy.piselli@fultoncountyga.gov for more information.

These fill-in legal forms are helpful for a wide range of tasks, including Wills, Divorce, Power of Attorney, and more.

Log in to GALILEO to access GALE Legal Forms outside the library. This link works as an automatic redirect inside the library. Access to GALE Legal Forms is provided to all Georgia libraries by GPLS.

GALILEO is a research and learning platform offered by the University of Georgia and available to all students in our state. GALILEO hosts many online research and study databases and collections of digital materials helpful in many different areas. Knowing how to use GALILEO to retrieve information for assignments is considered a core skill for college and university students, as so High School students are encouraged to use this resource as much as possible to prepare themselves higher education class work.

Use your library card number and pin to access GALILEO. Forgot your card PIN/Password? It's CHANGEME unless you changed it - check with Ask A Librarian for more help!

Hundreds of individual online reference resources are searchable within GALILEO. Some digital platforms in GALILEO popular with Fulton County Library System patrons include:

eBooks: Novelist K-8, Novelist Plus, eBook Central, and EBooks from EBSCO.

Consumer Reports magazine

Genealogy research: Accessible Archives, HeritageQuest, and Ancestry Library Edition.

Legal forms: GALE legal forms. Your password for GALE Legal Forms will be your Fulco library password/pin.

State History: The Digital Library of Georgia

This resource includes comprehensive, in-depth coverage of body systems, current health issues, major diseases and conditions, treatments, and procedures, as well as health and nutrition information specific to men, women, children, teens, and seniors. The up-to-date information comes from hundreds of authoritative sources, plus users can find thousands of videos, illustrations, journal articles from PubMed Central, and reference articles from MedlinePlus.

Infobase multimedia products work easily with Google Classroom and many other learning management systems (LMS) and online classroom platforms. All Infobase products include bibliography and citation building tools, timelines ready to share, and are fully supported by Google translate for ESL learners.

You may search Infobase products across all platforms at this link, or click on the links below to search individual subjects.

Individual Infobase subject platforms include:

Issues & Controversies in History

This resource helps students and researchers understand today’s crucial issues by exploring hundreds of hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture. Presented in a balanced, pro/con format, each article presents the key facts, arguments, history, and current context. Issues and controversies is an ideal resource for research papers, debate preparation, and persuasive writing assignments.

Looking for an issue that is less than current? Try Issues and Controversies in History.

Looking for more information to back up your side of the debate? Try searching across all Infobase platforms.

This resource delivers dynamic, concise, and balanced coverage that provides the background, outcome, and contemporary points of view for every major debate and conflict in history. Presented in a pro/con format that clearly explains both sides of the historical dispute, each article is supported by a timeline and a wealth of primary sources.

Looking for more contemporary debate resources? Try Issues and Controversies or search across all Infobase platforms for more information.

This database for academic articles and research is core to success in higher education. If you want primary sources on just about any subject, JSTOR is where you want to start.

Nearly the entire contents of the electronic resource known as ARTSTOR are now accessible inside JSTOR.

Previous to 2020, this database was only available inside our libraries. 

The Learning Express platform contains many learning tools for all ages! With practice tests and study materials at every level, this GALILEO provided resource is highly rated by educators at all levels. You can also find the Job and Career Accelerator here.

Five most popular Learning Express resources with Fulton County Library System Patrons:

This free-of-charge language learning platform is one of the most popular electronic resources used by Fulton County Library System patrons! Enjoy the games, quizzes and helpful lessons for dozens of languages with Mango.

English as a Second Language (ESL) offered for a variety of speakers of other languages.

Ten most popular languages studied on Mango by our library patrons:

1. Spanish (Latin American and Castilian)
2. French
3. Japanese
4. Chinese (Mandarin)
5. Russian
6. German
7. Portuguese (Brazil)
8. Italian
9. Korean
10. ESL Chinese (Mandarin)

This resource offers a look at world history from the mid-15th century to the present. Thousands of subject entries, biographies, images, videos and slideshows, maps and graphs, primary sources, and timelines combine to provide a detailed and comparative view of the people, places, events, and ideas that have defined modern world history.

Looking for more historical reference? Try searching across all Infobase platforms!

This financial planning database can help you understand investing. When presented with investment options, the terms and allocations can be confusing! Find comprehensive financial information on thousands of mutual funds - Morningstar has a rating system that helps those new to the stock market understand their odds of risk and rewards.

Contains easy-to-use portfolio tools, retirement calculator and college savings calculator to determine what your asset mix should be, how your investments might work together, and more.

To access inside the library, click here.

This premier online source provides students and serious researchers with thousands of articles by top scholars in the field. This resource is available both inside and outside our libraries and is best suited to learners in high school or advanced studies. For younger learners, try African American History Online.  For in-depth research or help with this subject matter, any FCLS patron can contact Auburn Avenue Research Library.

Free 24/7 Tutoring Available Through Paper  / Tutoría Gratuita las 24 Horas del Día, los 7 Días de la Semana, Disponible a través de Paper

Fulton County Library System offers students at all levels with unlimited, on-demand access to free academic support through Paper.

Need someone to talk through a particularly tough math problem? A Paper Tutor will be there to assist students within seconds. Need someone to read an essay and make suggestions on how you can improve it before submitting? A Paper Tutor will be there to assist students.

No matter what a student's academic needs are, Paper’s expert learning assistants are available to help 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Just log in to Paper and get started!

If you do not attend an Atlanta Public School, choose Fulton County Library System as your school when prompted. All students who live in Fulton County or the City of Atlanta are welcome to use Paper.co with their library card number.

How do students log on?
-Students log in at paper.co using their library card number or Atlanta Public Schools ID as their username and pin/password
-When they log in, they'll be prompted to add an email address to their account
-After they add their email, they'll receive an email to verify their email address
-Students can then use the platform as much as they need!

More tips to login:
-Use chrome browser
-Choose Fulton County Library as your school if you are not an APS student
-Type your library card number or Atlanta Public Schools ID where it says Email or Username
-Type your library card PIN/password in all caps where it says password if you previously did lower case
-If you are having issues after trying these steps please Ask a Librarian for help

This platform offers help with everything from basic math skills to preparing for the LSAT. If you are looking for test prep for a High School AP class or CLEP exam, this is the resource for you! If prompted, the access code is galileo.

Once logged in to this resource, all the Peterson's Testing Guides are downloadable as eBooks. These test prep materials will be instantly familiar to patrons as trusted reference resources for decades. If downloading the eBooks is too much for your device, don't worry! You can read the books online, as well as take instantly scored practice tests and more.

The top five topics accessed using Peterson's Test Prep by Fulton County Library System Patrons:

#1 - Resume Builder

#2 - Arithmetic and Elementary Algebra

#3 - Master the GRE

#4 - ACT Prep

#5 - Countdown to the LSAT 

Read newspapers, scholarly journals, eBooks, and more with ProQuest!

Databases inside this platform include:

Corona Virus Research Database - A free health and medical research database for openly available content related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Global News Stream - Newspaper and magazines from 1980 to present from the United States and abroad. Includes AP Wire.

Publicly Available Content Database - select publicly available content from a number of different sources from around the world. Find information here like:

• Agricultural and Environmental Science Data
• Scholarly Computer Science Journals
• International Medical Research Journals

Science Online provides information to students of all ages, but is most recommended by librarians for grades four through ten. Find what you need to complete your essay or report, and easily retrieve graphics, build timelines, and retrieve citations for your bibliography. As part of the Infobase reference suite, full integration with Google Classroom and other learning management systems is provided.

Make your report, essay, or presentation stand out with Science Online, or click here to search across all Infobase platforms.

This resource is the ideal one-stop reference resource for intermediate-level students. Erasing the line between homework support and fun exploration, it contains excellent resources for student reports and research, including:

• Frequently updated articles
• Videos
• Interactive games
• Science projects
• Teacher Resources with lesson plans!

Kids can explore age-appropriate subjects while developing online research skills with a trusted source. Looking for more lesson plan or homework help not found in The World Almanac for Kids? Try searching across all Infobase platforms for more great content.

This resource bridges the gap between the science taught in class and real-world discoveries by leading scientists—giving comprehensive and in-depth explanations of some of the most important advances in biology, chemistry, environmental science, space, physics, and technology. Each article includes vivid images and groundbreaking videos that help make difficult concepts understandable.

Looking for more general science education? Try Science Online. Looking for debate materials on hot button Science topics? Try Issues & Controversies.

Need more information on something mentioned in Today's Science? Search across all Infobase platforms for more context.

Universal Class is our most popular platform for continuing education, with over 500 online self-paced continuing education classes for adults in a range of subjects. With topics on important life skills such as parenting, computer skills, entrepreneurship and more, Universal Class can help those who want to learn both with or without just reading a book.

All IACET courses are approved by the Atlanta Public School System and the Professional Standards Board. Get your continuing education credits, or explore classes that can help you get ahead on your job search or career change.

Click here to see the list Top Ten Universal Classes of 2023. 

This platform presents industry-leading research for an array of financial and investment professionals. With instructional videos available to new users, those looking to level up their investment knowledge, form an investment club, or just learn more about the world of finance can find a wealth of knowledge with ValueLine.

This updated version of the classic family encyclopedia has content scaled for different learning levels. Ideal for reports, essays, projects and presentations, World Book Online offers full integration with Google Classroom and other online learning software. Levels for youngest users include beginning reader books, while levels for older learners include citation and bibliography building tools.

CLASS PASS users can access World Book Online with the code WBCLASSPASS.

Note: Once a user chooses their learning level on World Book Online, all content will appear at that level until the user changes their profile settings. Articles change their length and language to match the learning level of the user.

Fully available in Spanish.

Educators, Librarians, and Parents can learn how to get the most out of World Book Online with these training resources

An app is available so that children may read the eBooks within World Book Online when not connected to the internet. You can read more about this app on the World Book site.

For more than 75 years, World News Digest has been a go-to resource for context and background on key issues of both historical events and breaking news. With more than 300,000 original articles and a vast archive covering every major event since its inception, this database offers concise summaries of current events and clearly written essays on the top issues of the day.

This resource is part of the Infobase suite of products offered by Fulton County Library System.