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!
ABOUT DATA AXLE
Reference Solutions (also known as ReferenceUSA) database is a national residential and business directory, perfect for finding new customers or researching an industry. The business listings are comprised of more than 65 million US business records, 297 million US Historical business records, and 4 million New Business records (a total of more than 356 million US business records). Also included are more than 2.5 million job postings, 297 million consumer records in Consumer Lifestyle, 1.8 million Canadian Business records, 1.2 million Healthcare records, and 15 million New Movers/Homeowners records. The detailed company information includes company name, address, phone, executive contact name and title, employee size, sales volume, SIC codes, NAICS codes, credit ratings, business type, location type, news information, 10-K’s, and more. With 45 customized search options and downloading and printing capabilities, users can create lists for marketing, building a business plan, researching career opportunities, and much more. Users have the ability to download and print the lists.
More Great Resources
African-American History (Infobase): Watch video on YouTube
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) offers a variety of educational resources that are available online and can be accessed 24/7 from home. In this tutorial, learn how to access the African-American History research database, with a Fort Bend County library card, through FBCL’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us).
Covering more than 500 years of the African-American experience, this authoritative resource enables library patrons to explore the full spectrum of African-American history and culture.
Students can delve deeply into a variety of topics, examine different perspectives, and access historical tablet/mobile-friendly videos that bring history to life. This resource includes a substantial collection of primary sources, images, biographies of key people, original maps and charts, and much more.
The biographies listed under “Featured People” include collections of articles on civil rights activists, trailblazing military and political figures, abolition leaders, Harlem Renaissance intellectuals and activists, major musicians and artists, leading scientists, accomplished athletes, and influential writers.
Full citations are available throughout the resource, and users can print, copy, and save to a folder all content for personal use.
The Curriculum Tools section includes writing and research tips for students and educators, including advice on analyzing and understanding primary sources, editorial cartoons, and online resources. Guides for presenting research include instruction on citing sources, avoiding plagiarism, completing a primary-source worksheet, summarizing articles, and writing research papers.
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.
Hoopla: Watch video on YouTube
The hoopla digital streaming collection gives FBCL patrons free access to more than 100,000 e-books, 50,000 e-audiobooks, 11,000 movies, 2,000 television series containing more than 10,000 episodes, and 26,000 music albums, and more titles are being added daily. The selections include a wide variety of choices, from Hollywood blockbusters, bestselling artists, and authors to niche and hard-to-find titles.
These movies, music albums, and audiobooks can be streamed on mobile devices -- such as Androids, smartphones, and tablets -- by downloading the free “hoopla digital” mobile app from the App Store on the device. The items can also be accessed for instant streaming on PCs by clicking on the “hoopla” link in the eLibrary tab on the FBCL website.
Since the hoopla digital collection is available online, there is nothing to return to the library. At the end of the lending period, the item will automatically expire and disappear, so there are never any overdue fees for late returns. There is no waiting to borrow titles on hoopla digital since on-demand content can be enjoyed by multiple patrons simultaneously.
To begin using the hoopla digital-streaming resource, patrons will need to set up an online account. This can be done on their computer by clicking on the “hoopla” link on the FBCL website, or by downloading the app to their mobile device and completing the registration. The patron will be prompted to enter their library card number and pin, email address, and password to create a hoopla digital account. The library card account must be in good standing, with no overdue items or late fees.
Most movie and TV content is available for a lending period of 3 days. Music albums are available for 7 days, and audiobooks are available for 21 days. At the end of the lending period, the item will automatically expire and disappear, so there are never any overdue fees for late returns.
How to Get the Libby by OverDrive App: Watch video on YouTube
Exploring the Libby by OverDrive App: Watch video on YouTube
OverDrive is a service offered by Fort Bend County Libraries that gives cardholders a selection of eBooks and eAudiobooks to borrow at no cost. Digital items return automatically and there are never any late fees. In this video tutorial, learn how to find and download the Libby by OverDrive app to your mobile device.
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.
Morningstar Investment Research Center: Watch video on YouTube
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. This resource is available on FBCL's website; a library card is required if accessing this resource outside the library.
NEWSBANK: HOUSTON CHRONICLE: 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 home. In this episode, learn how to access the "Houston Chronicle" through "NewsBank World Access" with an FBCL library card.
This video tutorial will introduce FBCL's online resource “NewsBank World Access,” which 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.
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.
NEW YORK TIMES ONLINE: Watch Video on YouTube
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) offers free and unlimited access to "The New York Times" digital content to FBCL cardholders. The online version of the newspaper can be accessed from the FBCL website at any time of the day or night.
The online version of the newspaper can be found on FBCL’s main web page under the “Today’s Newspaper” icon. Library patrons can also find it under the “Research” tab by clicking “Digital Resources & Databases” and selecting “Magazines & Newspapers.”
NoveList Plus (EBSCO): Watch video on YouTube
Fort Bend County Libraries offers a variety of readers-advisory 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 the NoveList Plus online resource to get reading recommendations.
NoveList Plus is a comprehensive readers' search tool for fiction and nonfiction. Find read-alikes by author or series, or even search by appeal terms or reading level. With handy links to the FBCL catalog, NoveList Plus answers the question: What should I read next?
This resource is available on FBCL's website; a library card is required if accessing this resource outside the library.
How to use NovelList to find your next read: https://youtu.be/szG_pYkEZso
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.
Value Line: Watch video on YouTube
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 introductory video tutorial -- the first in a 5-part series -- FBCL staff provide an overview of how to obtain reliable, unbiased business information in the
Value Line database. Value Line provides accurate and insightful investment research on companies, industries, markets, and economies. From the latest data, sophisticated tools, and proven ranks to expert analysis and guidance, Value Line enables the user to evaluate investments with confidence and make smarter, more profitable decisions. The database includes publications covering information on stocks, mutual funds, options, and convertible securities, as well as special-situation stocks.
Links to the complete series:
Value Line Part 1: Introduction -- https://youtu.be/zBtxcv3np1E
Value Line Part 2: How to Get Started Investing -- https://youtu.be/ysqD4K1a6b4
Value Line Part 3: How to Get Commentaries -- https://youtu.be/pAX6gDLXWew
Value Line Part 4: How to Find Stock to Diversify -- https://youtu.be/4RKGaHKxCzY
Value Line Part 5: How to Find a Specific Stock -- https://youtu.be/jsD0JMyR85A
Worldbook (Part 1): Watch video on YouTube
Worldbook (Part 2): Watch video on YouTube
Fort Bend County Libraries offers a variety of 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 the World Book Advanced online resource. This video is part 1 of a 2-part series. For Part 2 of the series, click here: https://youtu.be/L5V-EH-6OE8
World Book Encyclopedia offers articles, interactive maps, periodical articles, and much more. World Book Advanced includes expanded topics and world resources for additional understanding for adults and students in grades 9 and up.