Libraries are more than just books! Did you know we have online resources that will help you fix small engines? Write a business plan? Learn a language?
Each month, we’ll highlight resources that you might not know about! If you have questions about a particular resource, let us know!
Fort Bend County Libraries offers a variety of business-reference tools and resources that are available online and can be accessed 24/7 from home. In this video tutorial, FBCL staff demonstrate how to use this online resource to get comprehensive financial information on stocks, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds from one of the leading independent sources of financial data and analysis.
A library card is not required to access the databases while inside the library, but users will need an FBCL card to access the databases when not in the library.
To see more in FBCL's "Educational Resources" series, click here.
More Great Resources
Transparent Language: Watch video on YouTube
Are you planning to visit a foreign country? Would you like to make yourself more marketable to an employer by being bilingual? Do you want to have an advantage on an international business trip by speaking the language of the country? Learning another language can have many benefits, and Fort Bend County Libraries’ (FBCL) “Transparent Language® Online” resource makes learning a new language easier than ever – and it’s free!
In this video, FBCL’s Adult Services staff member presents “Transparent Language® Online: Learning a Language Beyond Chapter 1." Learning a new language can be challenging, but retaining and using it in a conversational setting can be even more so.
Learn about the “placement test” feature that enables the user to jump past initial lessons to reach the section that is appropriate for their stage of learning. Discover two other features of this resource that can help the student retain and use the language skills they have learned.
About Transparent Language® Online
The Transparent Languages resource offers online courses for people who would like to learn a new language. The database includes more than 80 languages – from Afrikaans to Zulu – as well as ESL (English as a Second Language) classes for non-English speaking people who would like to learn English.
The English-language-assistance courses are available for people who speak Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Farsi, Hindi, Czech, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Romanian, Swahili, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, Russian, German, French, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Greek, Arabic, or Italian.
By using the libraries’ subscription to the service, library patrons are able to have free access to a resource for which they would otherwise have to pay.
Gale eBooks & Credo Reference: Watch video on YouTube
Fort Bend County Libraries offers a variety of homework-assistance tools and educational resources that are available online and can be accessed 24/7 from the comfort and safety of home. In this episode, learn about "Gale eBooks Virtual Reference Library" and "Credo Reference."
"Gale eBooks Virtual Reference Library" is a database of authoritative nonfiction eBooks. It offers encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research that are all full-text and always available. You can access Gale eBooks anytime from FBCL's website -- click on "Research" and select "Digital Resources & Databases." If you are not in an FBCL building, you will need to enter your library-card number for access.
"Credo Reference" promotes knowledge-building, problem-solving and critical thinking to give people the information skills necessary for success throughout their academic, professional, and personal lives. Use this simple tool to confidently search 3,629,050 full-text articles in 1,222 titles from 122 publishers. You can access this online resource anytime from FBCL's website -- click on "Research" and select "Digital Resources & Databases." If you are not in an FBCL building, you will need to enter your library card number for access.
NewsBank Spanish Language & World Access: Watch video on YouTube
Fort Bend County Libraries offers a variety of homework-assistance tools and educational resources that are available online and can be accessed 24/7 from the comfort and safety of home. In this episode of FBCL's "Exploring Databases" series, learn about "NewsBank World Access" and "Acceda Noticias."
This video tutorial will introduce two online resources offered by FBCL. “NewsBank World Access” provides a comprehensive collection of reliable news sources covering a wide array of topics and issues from around the world. Resources also include the Houston Chronicle and collected Special Reports on current events. “Acceda Noticias” from NewsBank provides full-text access to Spanish-language newspapers, magazines, and newswires from the U.S. and around the world including Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Peru, and Spain.
A library card is not required to access the databases while inside the library, but users will need an FBCL card to access the databases when not in the library.
Medline Plus: Watch video on YouTube
MedlinePlus is the National Library of Medicine's site for consumer-health information. In this database, you can find information on common diseases and conditions, dictionaries, and directories for finding healthcare professionals. A library card is not required to access the databases while inside the library, but users will need an FBCL card to access the databases when not in the library.