Meet our featured reference tools:
P4A Antiques

This database contains information drawn from a formal selection of leading regional auction houses in the United States. P4A Antiques may be used to estimate the value of your antiques for sale, purchase or insurance purposes. The information is used by appraisers, auctioneers collectors and the general public. P4A Antiques is updated daily with new information regarding thousands of items. P4A Antiques does not buy or sell antiques. All items on this database have been sold and this database keeps a history of the sales information.

Information in P4A Antiques is distinguished by a number of unique characteristics. Every record in the database is compiled by a human, giving a depth of data that can not be produced digitally. Every record has at least one picture enabling the user to know if they have found exactly what they are looking for. The records are all written in a standardized format for ease in searching and comparison.

Whether you are extremely knowledgeable or a novice regarding antiques, P4A is an easy to use database full of practical information about the antique market. Users can search the database by key word searches or may browse the site using the table of contents that is organized by category.

Price It! Antiques and Collectibles

Price It! Antiques and Collectibles is a comprehensive art, antiques and collectibles pricing database. This database gathers prices from a number of sources including online auctions “E-Bay” and “Go-Antiques.com”. Auction houses also submit data into the database.

This huge and constantly growing database delivers millions of realized prices on over 23million sales or trades a day. Users may search the database by keywords or browse by categories. With over 10 million images, users will be able to quickly identify their needs.

For those interested in the general antique information Price It! Antiques and Collectibles includes a section on current articles by experts in the field. You may find articles on a variety of subjects including restoration, pricing, and trends. Other articles cover subjects as diverse as “furniture periods” and “how to preserve your child’s art.”

Every level of user will have an easy time navigating this database. Price It! Antiques and Collectibles is organized well and offers a little something whether you are new to the world of antiques or you are a professional.

Business and Company Resource Center

The Business and Company Resource Center contains business, company, and industry information.  Sources include: periodical articles, domestic and international company financials, earning estimates, investment reports, corporate chronologies and company histories.  There is also brand and product information, industry and company rankings, market share data, and industry overviews. 

The Business and Company Resource center utilizes the latest information from business sources such as the American Wholesalers and Distributors Directory, Brands and Their Companies, Ward’s Business directory, and World Market Share Reporter.  It also derives information from the local, regional, national and international versions of the Encyclopedia of Associations. 

The database can be searched by company, industry, or by articles.  When “Company Search” is selected the database searches for all companies.  Almost all domestic companies with at least 50 employees and 1 million dollars in revenue are included.  International public businesses with at least 16 million dollars in revenue are included as well as private companies with at least 6 million dollars in revenue. 

When “Industry Search” is selected the database searches industry descriptions and retrieves industry information.  The search options available within the search form are “search by industry code”, “search by industry description”, and “browse industries”. 

When “Articles Search” is selected, the database returns results from Gale’s business periodical content.  The articles can be searched by subject and keyword and can be limited to peer-reviewed, full text and by specific magazine or journal.  

The Business and Company Resource center is a comprehensive business research source and is free @ your library!

Do you have a paper to write?  Do you know the subject but are not sure what angle to take? Maybe SIRS Discoverer can help.  SIRS Discoverer is a general reference source for students in grades one through nine.  This electronic resource contains full-text articles and images from a large number of newspapers as well as magazines, government documents and on-line sources.  Among the references sources included in SIRS Discoverer are The World Almanac for Kids and the Encyclopedia Britannica.

SIRS Discoverer is designed so that you can search a specific topic using keywords or you can also browse using subject headings or a “tree browse” if you are not sure what you want to research.  If you are still stumped for topics, check out the “Suggested Research Topics” which are updated biweekly. 

As a general reference source, this electronic resource contains a wide range of research topics including biographies, fiction, country facts, and even science projects – just to name a few.  It also contains a dictionary, a thesaurus, maps, web links and citation information.

This easy to use database contains almost everything you will need to complete your project and it is free @ your library!

- Submitted by: Anita Pintado, Senior Librarian, Youth Services, East County Regional Library

LitFinder

LitFinder is the ideal resource for finding the full text of poems, short stories, essays, plays and speeches for class assignments or personal interest. The database includes over 125,000 poems from antiquity to the present; over 5,000 classic and contemporary short stories; thousands of twentieth-century essays; over 1,000 complete plays; and the best-known speeches of the past 2,500 years. Also available in this database is international literature from ancient to modern times and explanations of literary works and author biographies.

Access to LitFinder is only available if you are located in a Lee County Library System location. This electronic resource cannot be used from home.

To access this resource, begin at the Lee County Library System web site: http://www.lee-county.com/library. Select “Research & Homework Tools,” then “Databases A-Z.” Scroll to select “LitFinder.”

You can browse LitFinder by title or author, or search by genre or subject. All major literary movements are included. LitFinder also features a Kids’ Korner with topics of interest for children.

To read and learn all about the world’s great literature, check out LitFinder @ your library!

- Submitted by: Kathy Chumley, Reference Librarian, Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library

Facts on File Issues and Controversies

This database provides access to in-depth investigations of today’s top issues including 600 specific research subjects that students may be asked to report on.

From the library’s homepage simply hover over “Research and Homework Tools” until you see “Databases A-Z.” Clicking here will bring up an alphabetical, annotated list of the Lee County Library System’s databases. Scroll down the list until you see “Facts on File Issues and Controversies.” This can be accessed from home or within the library.

There are great resource centers for both students and teachers. Students can find out how to avoid the very real problem of plagiarizing from Internet sources, how to write and deliver an effective speech, and how to analyze and cite sources for a research paper.

Teachers can research controversial topics and then find discussion questions and answers, access town hall meetings on various issues and learn how to properly assess student speeches.

Having trouble coming up with a discussion topic? Check out “Issues Currently in the News.” The latest “ripped from the headlines” issues will be linked in red.

 Want to clarify something you’ve read? Look at the “Special Features” which links students directly to the websites of the various organizations that would be considered sources of expert advice. Also featured are editorial cartoons from newspapers all over the country, along with a subject search for a cartoon that might reflect a topic you’ve decided to report on.

This amazing database is practically a one-stop-shopping location for students looking for an A+ term paper and it’s all free @ your library!

- Submitted by: Sally Bissell, Reference Librarian, South County Regional Library

Thomson Gale Legal Forms

Are you or someone you know going through a divorce?  Filing for bankruptcy?  Are you a landlord with a problem tenant?  A tenant with a problem landlord?  Are you trying to buy or sell a farm tractor?  If you can answer yes to any of the above questions, or if you are in a similar situation and find yourself in need of the correct legal forms to file with the court or to make sure that your business dealings are on the up and up, then Thomson Gale Legal Forms is the resource for you!

Thomson Gale Legal Forms is the most extensive free forms site available to library patrons, with thousands of legal forms available and additional items being added every day.  The website offers official, state specific, federal, business, personal, real estate, and general forms encompassing hundreds of legal subjects and issues.   

Thomson Gale Legal Forms is only a click away and available for free to all Lee County Library System users.  Start by visiting the library’s website at www.lee-county.com/library. 

• From the homepage, hold your mouse over the “Research and Homework Tools” link to the left of the page
   

• Select “Databases A-Z” from the menu that appears.
   

• Find Galenet in the alphabetical list of databases provided.  
   

• Finally, select Thomson Gale Legal Forms.

Once you’ve accessed the website, there are a few ways to get started.  The Thomson Gale Legal Forms homepage features an extensive alphabetical list of the most downloaded forms available on their website.  If you are looking for one of these commonly used forms you can select it directly from the home page. If your needs are more specialized, you can begin either by performing a keyword search, or by clicking on a letter from A-Z and viewing all of the different form categories that Thomson provides.  The form categories are in alphabetical order, and each category has anywhere from one to literally dozens of different legal forms.

When you ultimately choose a form for viewing, you’ll note that Thomson provides a general description of the form you’re about to download and even offers completed samples to guide you.  Your selected form can be downloaded in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, or Rich Text format. 

- Submitted by: Tim Bishop, Library Reference Associate, Fort Myers – Lee County Public Library

ReferenceUSA

ReferenceUSA is a leading business and consumer database providing detailed information on more than 13 million U.S. businesses, 120 million U.S. households, and 683,000 U.S. health care providers.  Some Canadian businesses and households are also included.  The information provided is gathered from yellow and white page telephone directories, annual reports, 10-K’s and other SEC information, and federal, state and municipal government data.  Information on businesses and health care providers is verified by ReferenceUSA.  Simple and custom searching is available.   Users may create lists and print or download them in accordance with the "Fair Use" Provisions of the U.S. Copyright Act for personal, non-commercial, and/or educational purposes.  Marketing services for custom data lists may be purchased through ReferenceUSA.

To access this database, start at our library website, http://www.lee-county.com/library. Select “Research and Homework Tools,” then select “Databases A-Z” and scroll to select “ReferenceUSA”.

Searching is available by name of business, type of business, SIC code, size of business and other useful criteria.  There is a wealth of information all in one source.

- Submitted by: Nancy Skabar, Head of Reference Librarian, Cape Coral-Lee County Regional Library

    
NoveList: Your Guide to Fiction

Have you read everything by your current favorite author? Are you looking for mysteries set in a particular city? The Lee County Library System has a database that can find author read-alikes and allows you to search by title, author, series and plot. Novelist provides help in finding that next book to read for adults, children and teens.

To start:

Start from the library’s website, www.lee-county.com/library.

Select Research and Homework Tools.

Select Databases A-Z.

Scroll to Novelist.

Choose either Novelist (for adults) or Novelist K-8 (for kids).

The database opens to an age appropriate information and search page. It will contain timely and current information on books and events. For example, February is Black History Month, so African American authors and the Civil Rights Movement will be featured.  There is a quick search option on this front page, search by author, title, series or key word.  If you want a more in depth search select the tab Search Our Database. You’ll still be able to perform a title, author and series search. Added to the options are Describe a Plot, Boolean Search, and Article and List Search. Under the Describe a Plot search option, you can look for:

• Who the story is about.
• What happens in the story.
• When the story takes place.
• Where the story takes place.

This is excellent when you remember partial details about books that you’ve enjoyed. The Boolean Search allows you to customize your search to include several details about the types of books you enjoy. Boolean searching just means that you are combining or limiting your search terms with “and,”  “or,” and “not.” The Article and List Search allows you to access the wealth of information contained in Novelist’s articles.  If you type Nora Roberts in the find box, and search for all types of articles and lists, you will get 26 different articles and lists. These include an author read-alike list that will help you find similar authors and titles to Nora Roberts’ writing style and an annotated book list called “Beach Reads.”

While you are searching in Novelist, you’ll find links to the author’s website, author read-alikes, other books by the author, reviews, the first chapter of the book, awards that the book has won and book discussion guides. The discussion guides provide author background, a summary of the book, questions provoked by the book (with answers) and similar titles for further reading. If you love to read, you’ll love Novelist.

- Submitted by: Carrie MacDonald, Reference Librarian, Lakes Regional Library
 

InfoTrac OneFile

InfoTrac OneFile is a “one-stop shopping” online database used for just about any search inquiry. From short newspaper to peer-reviewed articles InfoTrac OneFile is a good place to start.  This database provides access to over 54 million newspaper and periodical titles from numerous sources and is updated daily.

Let’s Get Started

To access this database, start at our library website, http://www.lee-county.com/library. Select “Research and Homework Tools,” then select “Databases A-Z” and scroll to select “InfoTrac OneFile.”

OneFile is a user friendly and intuitive database. Users can input as much or as little information to fit their specific search needs. There are four ways to search the database, “Basic Search,” “Subject Search,” “Publication Search,” and “Advanced Search.” For subject, publication, and advanced search features, users can limit their searches by date, peer reviewed articles, or documents with pictures. Also with the advanced search, users can use Boolean terms to guide their results.

Using the “Change Databases” function allows users to search any of the sources included in OneFile separately. “Preferences” allows the user to alter many variables including language options (English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese) or to retrieve only articles available in full text. Options for printing, emailing, or downloading documents are also available.

- Submitted by: Jenny Seftas, Reference Librarian, East County Regional Library

Electric Library (click to try)

Looking for a comprehensive database with a user-friendly interface that makes research easy for everyone?  Look no further than Electric Library available through the Lee County Library System’s website.  More than a journal index, Electric Library offers access to 2500+ full-text magazines, newspapers, transcripts (television & radio), reference books, audios, and videos.  Whether you are a parent, educator, or student, Electric Library is your access to information through a variety of media types.

Let’s Get Started

Electric Library is searchable using natural language as well as Boolean operators.  Researchers can type in questions, phrases, or keywords.  Additionally, you can browse by topic.  Results can be sorted by relevance, date, file size, Lexile/reading level, publication, or source.  Researchers are able to create and save lists of up to 25 results to review, print, or email.  Results of queries may be limited to peer reviewed, Spanish, or by reading level (elementary – High School +).  Homeschoolers, take note, you may also search by curriculum standards by state.  Students, parents, and teachers may choose multiple search strategies and limit the results to match needs and skills. 

Stop by the Reference Desk and let us show you all that Electric Library can offer.

- Laura Cifelli, Reference Librarian, Fort Myers-Lee County Public Library

NetLibrary E-books

You waited until the last minute to go to the library again?  By the time you got to the library, all the books you needed were checked out by the overachievers in your class?  Why not access a book electronically on your computer from Lee County Library’s database, NetLibrary? NetLibrary offers Lee County Library cardholders access to electronic versions of 48,000 books. This collection includes legal, reference, medical, travel, computer, fiction and classic titles. They are available 24/7 and can be found on the library’s electronic resources page or by searching the online catalog and limiting results to “eBooks.” Each book may be checked out for up to 4 hours by creating a free NetLibrary account. You may browse the table of contents, search by keyword or read the entire book.

To start: 

• Start from the library website, www.lee-county.com/library.
• Click on Research and Homework Tools.
• Click on Databases A-Z.
• Scroll down the alphabetical list and click on NetLibrary E-books or if you are accessing NetLibrary from outside the library, select (Click here to search from outside a library.) 

The database opens to a Basic Search box where you may search by Keyword, Title, Author or Full Text. When you find your title, select “View This eBook.” This allows you 15 minutes to browse the book’s contents. If you need longer, you may choose to checkout the book by selecting “Check out for 4 hours.” If you “Check out for 4 hours,” you will need to create a free account by selecting “Create a Free Account Here” and choosing an id and a password.

On the left side, you will see the contents and chapters listed. At the bottom left, you will see a search box. You can search the full text of the book from here. When you bring a book page up, you proceed to the next page by selecting “Next” on the top right. At the top, there are tabs allowing you to take notes or search the Internet while you are browsing the book.

- Andrea Carter, Reference Librarian, South County Regional Library

 Gale’s Health & Wellness Resource Center
(click to try)

Do you need to learn more about macular degeneration? Thinking about taking St. John’s Wort or Echinacea for health benefits?  Do you need access to a directory of health organizations or a medical dictionary? Look no further than Gale’s Health and Wellness Resource Center.  Easy to use and intuitively designed, the Health and Wellness Resource Center database provides a wealth of health and wellness resources at your fingertips.   Explore links to medical encyclopedias, dictionaries and directories as well as links to health news and health assessment tools. View full-text articles as well as videos on a wealth of health-related topics from your library or the comfort of your own home. 

- Submitted by:  Jeanne Crider, Reference Librarian, Bonita Springs Public Library

ABC-CLIO  (click to try)
Do you have a history or government paper assignment but don’t know what to write on? The ABC-CLIO databases can help you decide what topic to pursue.  All the databases have a topic exploration tab on the right that provide links to information about a subject or time period. ABC-CLIO  is a collection of six databases including:

American History   (Click here to search from outside a library.)
An exploration of the ongoing development of the United States from its pre-colonial origins, social movements, internal conflicts and modern-day defining moments.

World History - Ancient and Medieval Eras   (Click here to search from outside a library.)
A worldwide perspective ranging from the dawn of prehistory through the great ancient empires to the beginning of the Renaissance.  This includes ancient Africa, the Muslim world and the Orient.
 

World History - The Modern Era    (Click here to search from outside a library.)
Encompasses the evolution of modern Europe since the Renaissance; concurrent developments in Asia, Africa and the Islamic world, the global impact of the Industrial Revolution; and the last hundred years of conflicts and international cooperation.

American Government     (Click here to search from outside a library.)
An exploration of the ongoing development of the United States government from its pre-colonial origins, westward expansion, social movements, internal conflicts and modern-day defining moments.
 

State Geography       (Click here to search from outside a library.)

A gateway into the land, people and history of all 50 states with a wealth of research resources, including recordings of gubernatorial speeches, archived news reports, election data, and topographical maps.
 

World Geography      (Click here to search from outside a library.)

A collection of over 20,000 primary and secondary sources relating to world geography.  This includes interactive maps, political and topographic country maps, cultural profiles for nations worldwide and information on holidays and cultural celebrations.
 

United States at War: Understanding Conflict and Society
(Click here to search from outside a library.)

Focuses on the conflict periods that have defined our nation from its earliest beginnings to today. Fourteen major conflicts are explored in depth covering the causes, courses and consequences of wars fought by the United States. This database contains over 10,000 primary and secondary sources with weekly news on current conflicts.

The history and American government databases allow you to browse broad topics.  Clicking on “advanced search” and then “subtopics” allows you to browse a variety of categories under particular subtopics such as events, biographies, essays, etc.

The state and world geography databases display an overview of the state or country selected with options at the top of the page to go to other links such as the flag, facts and figures, and history.  The advanced search allows you to combine searching by text and category along with the state or country selected.