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Online Resources & Databases (by Subject)
Below are the reference databases and online resources available to Shrewsbury residents with a library card. You may have to disable your pop-up blocker, and most will ask you to enter your library card number to gain access.
For database help, contact the Reference Desk by calling 508-841-8609, x2, or by emailing staff at reference@cwmars.org. Not sure where to start? View our databases by Gale, which cover a wide variety of subjects.
Below are the reference databases and online resources available to Shrewsbury residents with a library card.
You may have to disable your pop-up blocker, and most will ask you to enter your library card number to gain access.
For database help, contact the Reference Staff by calling 508-841-8609, x2, or by emailing staff at reference@cwmars.org. Not sure where to start? View our databases by Gale, which cover a wide variety of subjects.
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources, and best practices for professionals.
AtoZ Food America from World Trade Press includes resources from regional cookbooks (and from all 50 states) to an exploration of ethnic culinary influences, from fun collections of historic cookbooks and television commercials to “how to” food preparation videos.
AtoZ Maps Online from World Trade Press includes approximately 145,000 maps, including world, continent, country, state, and historical maps. This combination of proprietary maps and maps from other reputable sources provides a “one-stop shop” for content that can be downloaded and used without any copyright restrictions.
AtoZ World Food from World Trade Press is a food culture and traditional recipe database covering 174 countries. It includes over 1,700 articles on food culture, over 7,000 recipes, over 500 ingredient articles, and six food glossaries.
AtoZ World Travel from World Trade Press consists of 202 city travel guides, featuring in-depth information on attractions, neighborhoods, excursions, dining tips, language, insider tips, transportation, and much more. AtoZ World Travel functions as a “web-based” app on smartphones and tablets, meaning it can be can accessed on any device at Wi-Fi hotspots around the world.
Ancestry Library Edition is an enhanced version of the popular consumer genealogy database, Ancestry.com. Ancestry Library Edition is only available when using a computer inside the Shrewsbury Public Library (NOTE: It is not compatible with Google Chrome). Ancestry Library Edition resources include:
New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957
Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
Birth, marriage, and death records for the United States, Canada, the British Isles, and elsewhere
Scholastic BookFlix is a new online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction e-books to build a love of reading and learning.
Get free homework help from Brainfuse's online tutoring service, HelpNow. It also includes a variety of other services like test prep, language learning, writing review, and an online meeting place for students to collaborate on group projects.
CaseLaw provides links to Massachusetts General Laws, the state constitution, the state administrative code, state and federal judicial opinions, and other legal resources.
Driving-Tests.org is a new service that includes free tests based on the state DMV materials, and is the only site of its kind to include accessibility tools that allow users to:
Download audiobook selections as MP3s or hear selections read aloud
Magnify text
Translate practice test pages into other languages (Russian or Spanish)
Encyclopedia Britannica Online contains Britannica Reference Center, Britannica Kids, Enciclopedia Moderna (Spanish-language resource/recurso en español), and the Britannica encyclopedia, along with several other services.
Fantastic Fiction includes information on fiction authors, books, and series. You can track books you've read, create a wish list of books you'd like to read, see which book is next in your favorite series, and view which books are popular or coming soon.
Download up to five songs per week, Digital Rights Management free, and legally keep them forever! Also includes selections from the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann Music Group (Sony BMG) catalog.
GCF Global offers free, online, self-paced tutorials, quizzes, and courses on the skills essential to life in the 21st century. Their content includes more than 300 topics, 6,000 lessons, and 2,000 videos. View one video or complete a course on topics ranging from technology to reading and math.
Glassdoor can assist in the job search process by providing information on jobs, companies, and expected salaries, as well as providing banks of sample interview questions from various industries.
The Hassanamisco Indian Museum is the principal repository of Nipmuc history and culture. Its artifacts, documents, and research library communicate the culture of the Eastern Woodland Indian and the interactions between Nipmucs and the dominant culture of Central Massachusetts.
HeritageHub allows you to explore your family history with a premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices dated from 1704–today. It helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information, and find potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid–1900s, and original obituary images. Access is available 24/7.
Hoopla Digital provides online and mobile access to thousands of movies, TV shows, videos, music, and audiobooks. With Hoopla Digital, patrons can borrow, instantly stream, and download free dynamic content with a valid library card.
This guide, compiled by the Boston Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides resources on public housing, homelessness assistance, eviction prevention, homeownership, homeowner assistance, and more, including specific resources for veterans and seniors.
The IMSLP provides access to downloadable sheet music and recordings of more than 200,000 works, including nearly 675,000 scores and more than 75,000 recordings.
Kanopy is a video streaming service that provides instant access to thousands of critically acclaimed movies, documentaries, and kids favorites. You can stream Kanopy on any of your favorite devices, including smartphones and tablets, via the app by visiting the App Store for Apple products or the Google Play store for Android products. You can also access Kanopy on your desktop and SmartTV apps like Roku, Apple TV, and Fire Stick.
LearnHowtoBecome.org provides job search and academic resources, including scholarship information and a quiz to help you find potential career options.
LearningExpress Library provides patrons online access to a comprehensive selection of academic- and career- related resources for skill building, test preparation, and workplace growth.
Libby, by Overdrive is a source for popular e-books and e-audiobooks for Kindle and other devices. Download the app to view content on your mobile device (e.g., smartphone or tablet).
The Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) connects individuals and families to the full range of treatment services for mental health and substance use offered in Massachusetts, including outpatient, urgent, and immediate crisis care. Call, text, or chat 24/7 for real-time support, initial clinical assessment, and connection to the right evaluation and treatment.
Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder provides contact information for legal aid offices, government agencies, and court programs, as well as links to legal information and self-help materials.
The Massachusetts Municipal Guide provides contact information for Massachusetts counties, federal programs, county and regional agencies, selected state offices, as well as representatives in the State House of Representations, State Senate, and U.S. Congress.
MedlinePlus® is a comprehensive health and wellness reference source administrated by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a free and open collection of material from thousands of MIT courses. Use OCW to guide your own life-long learning or to teach others (MIT does not offer credit or certification to users of OCW).
Network of Care includes a searchable directory (by keyword and zip code) of over 5,200 mental health, substance use, and social services in Massachusetts. Visit the website to find information on local community resources and take the first steps in accessing care.
Enjoy digital access to NYTimes.com News as well as the NYT Archive going back to 1851. For in-library use, click this on-site link and create an account or log in. For outside the library, click this off-site link and click "Redeem", then create an account or log in to add 24-hour access to your NYTimes account.
NewsBank includes U.S. news content from local, regional, and national sources, as well as obituaries and death notices from American newspapers via HeritageHub.
Opposing Viewpoints covers timely issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana. This cross-curricular resource supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical thinking skills and draw their own conclusions.
In Scholastic GO!, you can explore nonfiction texts, world newspapers, videos, and more with this easy-to-navigate digital resource designed to strengthen content knowledge, vocabulary, and core proficiency skills.
Maintained by Harvard, Skillbase is a directory of free career skills resources from across the web and includes content on technology and workplace English.
The Social Law Library allows users to search U.S. and Massachusetts laws, codes, and decisions, including cases and decisions from administrative offices (e.g., Civil Service Commission, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of the Attorney General). Please ask a staff member at the Reference Desk to log in for you if you would like to access this resource.
ValChoice's Car Insurance Calculator lets you calculate auto insurance costs customized to your age, location, driving record, vehicle, and other factors. Your personal information is only used to calculate insurance price.
ValChoice's Home Insurance Calculator lets you estimate home insurance costs based on home replacement value and location. Your personal information is only used to calculate insurance price.
Wex, a legal dictionary and encyclopedia built by Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute, contains definitions and entries about legal terms and concepts.
