Overview
Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) Research Databases and Digital Content are provided by BCPL to BCPS students through the SAIL (Students Achieve in Libraries) partnership. Students need to use their Student Accounts to access BCPL databases and content.
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Content Connections: BCPL Research Databases and Digital Content support learning in all content areas.
Research databases for students are outlined below. Databases with an asterisk * are also accessible through BCPS Digital Content access.
Elementary Databases (Grades K-5)
National Geographic for Kids: Students can explore science, animals, technology, cultures, and history from full-text magazines, books, videos and images.
Novelist K-8 Plus: Find fiction and nonfiction recommendations for picture books, children's chapter books, young adult titles and more categorized by age and genre. Includes book reviews, book lists and teaching guides for Common Core and curriculum connections.
Primary Search: Search tool for students in grades K to 5 to find full-text articles from popular magazines and facts from reference books for research papers or homework.
Secondary Databases (Grades 6-12)
Biography in Context: Biographical information about contemporary and historical people from magazine and journal articles, primary sources, videos, audio podcasts and images.
Literature Resource Center: Full-text biographies of American, English and world authors and literary criticism of their works through scholarly journals, literary magazines, critical essays and other resources. Searchable by author, title, time period, literary movement and literary themes.
Novelist K-8 Plus (MIDDLE SCHOOL): Find fiction and nonfiction recommendations for picture books, children's chapter books, young adult titles and more categorized by age and genre. Includes book reviews, book lists and teaching guides for Common Core and curriculum connections.
Science Reference Center: Full-text science-oriented content for student research. Content is available from science encyclopedias, reference books, magazines and journals, and more. Topics include biology, chemistry, earth-space science, environmental science, health and medicine, history of science and more.
Scribner's Writers Online: Provides original, comprehensive, scholar-signed critical essays on the lives and works of more than 1,400 authors. Includes biographical information that places the author's work in personal and historical context.
Twayne's Authors Online: Features in-depth introductions to the lives of writers and critiques of their works, the history and influence of literary movements and the development of literary genres. Ideal starting point for research papers on literary works and figures.
Other digital content is provided by BCPL for BCPS students as well.
eBooks are provided to students through Overdrive Kids (Elementary and Middle) and Overdrive or Cloud Library (Teens)
Brainfuse: Chat online with a tutor 2 p.m. to midnight seven days a week. Or submit a question and a tutor will answer within 24 hours. Kindergarten through college students can get help in math, science, English, social studies and more. Adults can access resources for GED and U.S. citizenship test prep, Microsoft Office skills and writing resumes and cover letters.
Mango Languages: Online language-learning system that teaches conversation skills for over 71 different languages as well as English as a Second Language for speakers of 19 languages
New York Times (HIGH SCHOOL): Read the online version of The New York Times, including the magazine and the book review. Unlimited access inside the library. Outside the library, you can use an access code for 72 hours of free access at a time.
Learning How
Learning Supports & Navigation
Each digital content provider and database has their own navigation, learning supports and tools. Please use the links on the names of the databases and digital content providers to find support resources and tutorials for use.
Educator Resources
BCPL also has databases and resources for teachers to help support students in school. These resources include:
Explora Educator's Edition (through Primary or Middle Search)
Gale Educator's Reference Complete: * Full-text and cited references to education-oriented journals, lesson plans, support materials, a Common Core curriculum standards module, state-specific curriculum standards and other professional development resources.
BCPL Teacher Loan Card: Get a Teacher Loan Card to expand your borrowing privileges and meet your class’s needs.
BCPL Teacher Collections: With a valid Teacher Loan Card, you can request a collection of up to 30 items to support your classwork. Tell us the topic, the type of material you need and the branch where you would like to pick it up. We’ll gather the materials and have the collection waiting for you in two weeks.
Directions for BCPL Databases can be found using help features in each database.
3. Knowledge Constructor- Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.