Research Databases
Library Catalogs and Databases
JSTOR
JSTOR provides access to more than 12 million journal articles, books, images, and primary sources in 75 disciplines. JSTOR helps students explore a wide range of scholarly content through a powerful research and teaching platform. Learn more: https://www.jstor.org. If you need help with logging in, please contact your Library Media Tech.
California K-12 Digital Resources
Online content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, ProQuest research databases, and TeachingBooks are available — at school, at home, in libraries, on laptops, on phones — to all.
These three databases are provided for all California students from the California State Library.
Encyclopaedia Britannica (PreK-12)
A comprehensive interactive resource for research and learning for grades K-12. Includes correlations to California Content Standards and other valuable teacher resources. Post links directly to each school level, elementary, middle or high.
Need help from Britannica? See our support page. (800) 621-3900 x 7160 | edsupport@eb.com
TeachingBooks (PreK-12)
One-stop resources for books you are reading and teaching, including author and illustrator interviews, lesson plans, and other enrichment content.
Need help from TeachingBooks? See our support page. 510-239-7391 | accounts@TeachingBooks.net
ProQuest (Grades 3-12)
* The icons above and main links below work for accessing these resources on your school campus. Students and staff with the district/school's off-campus access name and access codes should use the "Off-Campus Access" links below when using from public libraries or other non-school locations.
- CultureGrams - Concise social, cultural, and political information on countries, U.S. states, and provinces around the world. (Grades 3-12)
CultureGrams Off-Campus Access - SIRS Discoverer - A general reference database providing safe, reliable, curriculum-aligned content and features for use by students and educators. (Grades 3-9)
SIRS Discoverer Off-Campus Access - SIRS Issues Researcher - Pros and cons on 360+ (and growing) complex social issues with relevant, credible information that tells the whole story on the major questions of the day. (Grades 6+)
SIRS Issues Researcher Off-Campus Access - eLibrary - Guided Research edition delivers one of the largest general reference collections of periodical and digital media content including more than 11,000 Research Topics (Grades 6+)
eLibrary Guided Research Off-Campus Access - eLibrary - Database Edition General reference aggregation of periodical and digital media content with editorial guidance for novice researchers. (Grades 6+)
eLibrary Database Edition Off-Campus Access - ProQuest Central Student - designed to bring instant results to users across thousands of journals, magazines, newspapers, videos, reports, and more. This resource brings together some of ProQuest's most used databases in education, humanities, psychology, science, social sciences, and news. (Grades 9+, IB, AP, College Prep)
Central Student Off-Campus Access - ProQuest Research Companion - a self-guided product that supports information literacy, writing, and research skills instruction.(Grades 8+)
Research Companion Off-Campus Access - Schools & Educators Complete - eBook subscription database of over 13,000 titles that supports English Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies, Health, Physical Education, Information Literacy and Technology. (Grades 9+, possibly some content for Middle School, also includes professional development content for faculty)
Need help from ProQuest? See our support page. 800-521-0600 | customerservice@proquest.com
Library Media Specialist
If you need help with logging in to any of the research databases listed here, email Preet Dutta at hdutta@smuhsd.org.
HHS Library Catalog
Visit the Hillsdale Library Catalog.
To find a book:
- Type your search in the "Find" bar.
- Click on the corresponding button below ("Keyword", "Title", etc.) for your book.
Peninsula Library System
Peninsula Library System
Includes a wide variety of digital databases. All students will have a public library card with a Library Number and PIN to use. Student Library Numbers and PINs can be accessed on Aeries by staff to provide to students.
Noodletools
SMUHSD subscribes to an online research management platform on which students can create citations according to MLA, APA or Chicago style standards. With this PRO version, not only can students create a properly formatted Works Cited (MLA), References (APA), or Bibliography (Chicago style), they can also take notes and outline topics in preparation for a research assignment and which they can share to a teacher inbox.
Visit NoodleTools.
Finding a Reliable Source
Articles on the Internet
Make sure the article passes the CRAAP test for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
Is Wikipedia Reliable?
You shouldn't completely rely on Wikipedia, but it helps in getting a general overview of your topic, and you can often find good sources in the bibliography of the page. For a more detailed explanation, watch this linked video.
Finding Public Domain and Creative Commons Media
This guide from the Harvard Law School Library will help you find and correctly attribute public domain and Creative Commons media for your project or presentation.