Information & Research butterfly

Ask Us!!Pacific Grove Public Library reference librarians are here to answer your questions!

Contact us by filling out our online Contact Form, emailing referencedesk@cityofpacificgrove.org, visiting the Library or calling 831-648-5762.




Recommended Information SourcesThe resources listed here have been purchased or recommended by library staff to answer common questions, provide online learning opportunities and help with research on a wide variety of topics. Recommended resources for homework help are also available on the Kids and Teens pages. Resources about Pacific Grove and the local area are available on the Community page.

The links on these pages are to sites selected as particularly useful by the staff of the Pacific Grove Public Library. The City of Pacific Grove and the Library are not responsible for the content of sites maintained by other organizations. The content of those sites does not reflect the opinions, standards, policy or endorsement by the City of Pacific Grove, its officials or its staff.

We have partnered with the California State Library to offer free CAreer Pathways resources. They include: Coursera, GetSetUp, LearningExpress® Library / Job & Career Accelerator,  Northstar and VetNow.
These can be found below under "Business and Job Searching" and "Online Learning and Tutoring". 


Niche Academy How-To Videos
PGPL has partnered with Niche Academy to provide useful tutorial videos to guide patrons through general technology, the Library's eResources, and more. Online learning made easy!
How-To Videos
General Reference
AtoZ Databases
  • AtoZdatabases is a directory and marketing database that includes 30 million businesses and 220 million residents, it is ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, job searches and finding friends and relatives. You can email, print or download results.
 Click to view helpful how to videos.
Biography Reference Center More information
Containing many of the top-ranked biographical reference collections and magazines, this database offers a comprehensive collection of full-text biographies, as well as thousands of unique narrative biographies. This resource provides superior coverage for several of the most popular and heavily-researched biographies and genres, including those contained within Biography Today and Biography.
Britannica School Edition
Britannica School is the go-to site for learning more about any subject—for all grades and all reading abilities—offering thousands of up-to-date, curated, and curriculum-relevant articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, research tools, recommended Web sites, and three separate databases—Elementary, Middle, or High.
History Reference Center
Designed for secondary schools, public libraries, junior/community colleges and undergraduate research, this database features full text for more than 1,990 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books from leading history publishers, such as Branden Publishing, Compass Point Books, Houghton Mifflin, Lerner Publishing Group, Mason Crest Publishers, Morgan Reynolds Inc., Oliver Press, Oxford University Press, Rourke Publishing LLC., Salem Press, Stackpole Books, Toucan Valley Publications and more.
World Book Online
Using the same expert information found in The World Book Encyclopedia, these easy-to-navigate websites include World Book Kids, World Book Info Finder for elementary and middle shcool homework and research needs, World Book Reference Center for advanced researchers and information seekers, Timelines, and Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos.
Internet Movie Database Search
Tax Forms and Information: California
Tax Forms and Information: Federal
The Time Now
Britannica Escolar
Escolar is the leading knowledge-building resource that is universally trusted for accurate and age-appropriate content in Spanish.
EBSCOhost MasterFILE
MasterFILE Complete offers the largest collection of the most popular full-text magazines, journals, and other highly-regarded sources from the world's leading publishers, covering virtually every subject area of general interest.
Explora
Full-text magazines, journals, and other highly-regarded sources from the world's leading publishers with a simple search that quickly delivers relevant results and easy-to-browse categories organized by popular topics.
Points of View Reference Center
Containing resources that present multiple sides of an issue, this database provides the basis from which students can realize and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills.
Foundation Center Online | Candid
Unit Conversions
Books
TeachingBooks for Libraries

Book Connections
Use TeachingBooks for Libraries to search titles, authors and illustrators, and find resources to engage in the world of books. The resource collection includes short movies, audio book readings, author interviews, book discussion guides, and so much more.

Book Index with Reviews
Book Index with Reviews™ is a comprehensive database that provides information on over 5 million books with almost 800,000 full-text searchable book reviews from the sources that you trust: Library Journal, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and others.
Novelist Plus
NoveList Plus is the premiere database of reading recommendations, providing a comprehensive source of information about books that includes expert recommendations, reviews, articles, lists and more.
Bookreporter
Mid-Continent Public Library Juvenile Series and Sequels
Literary Reference Center
This comprehensive, full-text database provides a broad spectrum of information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines and timeframes—to give students, professors, and researchers a foundation of literary reference works to meet their research needs.
Book Awards
EarlyWord
New York Times Best Sellers
Order of Books - Books in Series
Fantastic Fiction
Search and browse the complete works of over 50,000 bestselling fiction authors, with all the latest books and series listed in order.
Business and Job Searching
AtoZdatabases - job searching and marketing
  • AtoZdatabases - more than just a business tool. Find employment opportunities, friends and relatives, and much more.
This simple, user-friendly, web-based solution provides details on every business and every household within the U.S. Click to view helpful how to videos.
Brainfuse VetNow
Brainfuse VetNow features free live online assistance, resume lab help, and wide range of academic tools to help job seekers, veterans and their families reach their goals. This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library. View the user guide at: https://www.brainfuse.com/curriculumupload/.pdf 
Business Source Premier
Business Source Premier is the industry’s most used business research database, providing full text for more than 2,300 journals, including full text for more than 1,100 peer-reviewed titles. This database provides full text back to 1886, and searchable cited references back to 1998. Business Source Premier includes full text coverage in all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, MIS, POM, accounting, finance and economics updated daily.
California Business Portal
LearningExpress® Job & Career Accelerator
LearningExpress® Job & Career Accelerator by EBSCO gives you the powerful tools and expert guidance you need to explore careers, find open positions, apply for jobs and get hired.This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
JobStar California: Local Job Search Guide
Small Business Reference Center
This database offers a wide variety of information on small business and entrepreneurial subject areas, common business types, a help and advice section, and provides information on how to create business plans that lead to successful funding.
Central Coast Small Business Development Center
Small Business Administration
Consumer Information
AtoZ Databases
  • AtoZdatabases - more than just a business tool. Find businesses, friends and relatives, and much more.
This simple, user-friendly, web-based solution provides details on every business and every household within the U.S. Click to view helpful how to videos.
Consumer Reports through EBSCOhost
Consumer Reports magazine articles and ratings through EbscoHost.
ConsumerSearch Product Reviews
Motor Trend IntelliChoice
The Wirecutter
Consumer Information Center U.S. Government
Kelley Blue Book
NADA vehicle pricing and information
Genealogy
Monterey County Herald Obituary Index
The index includes obituaries from January 1, 1995 to June 30, 2014 and local news articles and features from January 1, 1995 to June 30, 2003. The Monterey County Herald index was created by staff and volunteers of Monterey Public Library and Pacific Grove Public Library.
RootsWeb
FamilySearch
Social Security Death Index
Health and Medicine
Consumer Health Complete
The single-most comprehensive resource for consumer-oriented health content. It is designed to support the information needs of patients, and to foster an overall understanding of health-related topics. CHC provides content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic and integrated medicine.
Mayo Clinic
Medline Plus Understanding Medical Words
Healthfinder - Consumer health information
Medline Plus
Languages
Learn a Language
Read It - ELL Reference Center, Open Culture Free Language Lessons & Defense Language Resources

This pilot program led by the State Library provides expert assistance and support for students who are learning a foreign language. Expert tutoring helps learners with assignments and learning objectives up to a 12th grade level complexity for any of the listed foreign languages. 


Law and Government
Legal Information Reference Center (LIRC)
Providing exclusive online full text for many of the top consumer legal reference books, Legal Information Reference Center contains hundreds of full-text publications and thousands of legal forms, with more content being added on a regular basis.
California State Home Page
State & Local Government on the Net
Voting Records of Members of Congress
Benefits.gov: Your Path to Government Benefits
Government Printing Office
Voter's Edge California Ballot Lookup
Voter's Edge is an online ballot lookup tool that provides in-depth information about what's on your ballot in English and Spanish. Voters can enter their address to get a personalized list of candidates, including biographies, top priorities, who supports each candidate, and more. Voter’s Edge also includes an FAQ section that includes election dates and a wide range of common voter questions. With Voter’s Edge, you have all the election information you need at your fingertips.
Easy Voter Guide
This year, every registered California voter will receive a ballot in the mail Voters can choose to return the ballot by mail, drop it off, or instead vote in person. Voters can learn more about how to vote in the Primary Election by checking out the Easy Voter Guide.
Vote Smart
Libraries
Library Services for People with Print Disabilities
California’s Library Services for People with Print Disabilities, in association with the Library of Congress, provides free Braille and audio books, magazines and playback equipment to all eligible Californians unable to read standard print. Follow the link to find your local braille and talking book library and sign up for free library service.
Monterey Bay Area Libraries
California State Library
Maps and Geography
Best Places to Live, Work, Play, or Retire
How far is it?
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
News
New York Times
Newspaper Source Plus
Provides more than 1,400 full-text newspapers, with more than 55 million full-text article andcomprehensive full text for major newspapers. Newspaper Source Plus also brings critical news content with ongoing updates though out the day with its News View component.
California Digital Newspaper Collection
Carmel Pine Cone
Historical Monterey Newspapers
Californian (Salinas)
Monterey Herald
Online Learning and Tutoring
Brainfuse HelpNow Online Tutoring
Free online tutoring available 24/7 offering homework help in every K-12 subject; and skill-building resources for adult learners. There’s no age limit to who can use the service. Adult learners can also access writing assistance, citizenship resources and other tools.
Brainfuse VetNow
Brainfuse VetNow features free live online assistance, resume lab help, and wide range of academic tools to help job seekers, veterans and their families reach their goals. This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library. View the user guide at: https://www.brainfuse.com/curriculumupload/.pdf 
Coursera  Online Courses and Degrees
Global online learning platform that offers anyone, anywhere access to online courses and degrees from world-class universities and companies. Through our partnership, you will be able to provide access to world-class, job-relevant content and credentials from 200+ business, government, and university partners, including Yale, Johns Hopkins and Google. This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
LearningExpress® Library
LearningExpress® Library by EBSCO includes academic skill-building, test prep and career-related resources — all in one easy-to-use online platform. This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
GetSetUp Live Online Classes for 50+
A social learning platform for individuals 50+, taught by peers. The classes are live and consist of digital learning, physical health, mental health, social health, and vocational health. Classes are interactive, easy to join, offered day and night and free for our community. This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
Niche Academy Online Learning Platform
PGPL has partnered with Niche Academy to provide useful tutorial videos to guide patrons through general technology, the Library's eResources, and more. Online learning made easy!
Northstar Digital Literacy
Northstar Digital Literacy defines the basic skills needed to use a computer and the internet in daily life, employment, and higher education. This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library FAQs 
Science and Technology
Science Reference Center
A comprehensive research database that provides easy access to a multitude of full-text, science-oriented content. Designed to meet every student researcher's needs, Science Reference Center contains full text for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, and other sources.
K - 12 Gale Resources
Ages K-12 now have free access to National Geographic Kids, Gale Interactive: Science and Gale In Context: Environmental Studies through Gale Resources free from California's K-12 Online Content Project and the California State Library. 
U.S. Naval Observatory - Sun and Moon Data
National Weather Service
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
Statistics
Consumer Price Index - Pacific Cities
U.S. Census Bureau Home Page
National Center for Education Statistics
Telephone Directories
AtoZdatabases - job searching and marketing
  • AtoZdatabases - more than just a business tool. Find employment opportunities, friends and relatives, and much more.
This simple, user-friendly, web-based solution provides details on every business and every household within the U.S. Click to view helpful how to videos.
AnyWho
Travel
Welcome to Hostelling International
XE Currency Converter

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