During the research component of our biography work, you will need to find
resources and information in both PRINT and ONLINE formats. Use the links
below to guide your work. There are THREE main sections to this links page:
CATALOG links - These will help to find books and print resources. You could
also just GO to the library and talk to a librarian... but this is a nice way
to do some browsing ahead of time.
DATABASE links - These are online sites that are SUBSCRIPTION based... we PAY
for them. The nice thing about these sites is that you can TRUST the
information that you gather. Someone was paid to write the article for you!
INTERNET links - These are search engines and other links to help you on your
way. BE CAREFUL!! Be sure to ask yourself some questions when using these
links. WHO wrote the article? Did they CITE (tell) where they got their
information? WHEN was the article written? CAN THEY BE TRUSTED??? If you
can't answer these questions easily, DON'T USE THE INFORMATION!!
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Links
CATALOG -- Bates Library
Click on the link below to access the Bates library catalog. Use your person's
name as keywords when you type in your search. Also, try JUST their last name.
Bates Library
CATALOG -- Wellesley Free Library
For students close to the Wellesley Free Library, clicking on the link below
will get you to their catalog. Unless you want to drive to another town, BE
SURE to check ONLY the Wellesley library, as this catalog CAN check for books
in all of the public libraries around us.
Wellesley/Minuteman Library Network Catalog
CATALOG -- Boston Public Library
For students closer to Boston, clicking on the link below will access the
Boston Public Library's catalog. Be sure see WHERE the book you are looking
for is located. This catalog includes ALL of the Boston Public Libraries'
branches throughout the city. There are 27 neighborhood branch libraries!
BPL Catalog
DATABASE -- World Book Online
Remember, the link below is a PAID subscription site... so you can TRUST it's
information. Be sure to SEE YOUR BLUE FOLDER for the username and password.
World Book Online
DATABASE -- Grolier Encyclopedias
Remember, the link below is a PAID subscription site... so you can TRUST it's
information. This site also has TWO encyclopedias in it... the "New Book of
Knowledge" and "Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia". Use both! Be sure to SEE
YOUR BLUE FOLDER for the username and password.
Grolier Encyclopedias
DATABASE -- Kids InfoBits
You need your library card number to access this site. Once you are in, find
the link that says "Kids InfoBits". From there, there's a whole section on
"people", with GREAT articles that are written for kids.
Kids InfoBits... HAVE YOUR LIBRARY CARD READY
DATABASE -- Biography Resource Center
If you are brave, try Biography Resource Center. You ALSO need your library
card for this one... it's a similar login to Kids InfoBits. This site is
written more for older students, but there's TONS of people and information!
Biography Resource Center... HAVE YOUR LIBRARY CARD READY
INTERNET -- Google
Google is where most kids START... because it's SO EASY to use! But, is it?
By typing in your person's name in the search box, you will probably get
MILLIONS of possible websites! Try these tricks to help:
1. Be sure to type your person's name in quotation marks. So, if your person
is Abraham Lincoln, type "Abraham Lincoln" in the search box. This searches
the PHRASE (the two words together) instead of them separately.
2. LOOK AT THE WEBSITE ADDRESS. BE CRITICAL! Who is writing this
information? Is it a company / .com? If so, you may not want to use the
info. Is it a school / .edu? If so, it may be info. you can trust, but can
you read it?? It may have been written for college students. Does the website
CITE (tell) you where they got the information? If not, DON'T immediately
trust it! Double check the info. to be SURE it's accurate!
3. You will probably get a hit/link for a WIKIPEDIA page. BE CAREFUL!! This
site is written and maintained by ANYONE AND EVERYONE. Look at your Wikipedia
pages CAREFULLY. Are there WARNING messages at the top of the page? Does the
author CITE (tell) where they got their information from? Many times on
Wikipedia, they do not. Because of this, we DON'T recommend that you use
Wikipedia for your research (but I won't stop you!).
Google
INTERNET -- InfoPlease
InfoPlease, though it is on the internet and FREE is trustable. Unlike
Wikipedia (which anyone can write in), InfoPlease is owned by Pearson
Education, who writes all kinds of stuff for schools. It's FREE because there
are ADVERTISEMENTS on the pages. IGNORE 'EM!
InfoPlease - People
INTERNET -- FactMonster
FactMonster is another site owned by Pearson Education, so you can trust the
information here. Click the link below to search.
Fact Monster