Choose from a category below:
The following links are premier databases and resources purchased by the Library or available to you through the Ohio Public Library Information Network. Please note that some premier databases require a library card to access from home.
African-American History Online
This Facts on File database provides in-depth information on the people, events, and topics important to the study of African-American history. Included are biographies, primary sources, timelines, images, videos, maps, and charts.
American History Online
This database from Facts on File spans more than 500 years of political, military, social, and cultural history, highlighting the important people and events of the American experience.
American Indian History Online
This database offers thorough access to more than 15,000 years of Native American culture, history, and heritage. Included are biographies, events, primary sources, timelines, images, videos, maps and charts.
Ancestry Library 
The ultimate of genealogy resources, offering access to all available U.S. census images and indexes, over 1,000 historical maps the American Genealogical Biographical Index , DAR Lineage books, Social Security Death Index, WWI Draft Registration Cards, a strong Civil War collection and more. Click here to view Ancestry's Learning Center resources.
Ancient and Medieval History Online
This database explores the pre-modern world with in-depth focus on Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. As with all Facts on File databases, there are biographies, events, primary sources, timelines, images, videos, maps and charts.
CultureGrams (ProQuest)
CultureGrams provides reliable, up-to-date facts, figures, and information about daily life and culture, including the history, customs, and even recipes for each of the 182 countries included in the database.
click here for Home-Remote Access
Daily Life Through History
Explore everyday life throughout the past and present to discover what people ate, wore and used in this authoritative database organized by time period, region and topic. It combines information from numerous reference sources and primary documents geared for students from middle school through college. Teacher resources are also available. Click here for Home-Remote Access.
DemographicsNow
Provides access to demographic data for all states that can generate maps and reports including information on consumer expenditures, population, income, race, housing, employment, and Mosaic cluster groups by various geographic breakdowns. The Business & People module provides a comprehensive business and residential reference and research tool for information on over 23 million businesses and over 206 million people and 35 million households.
ExploreOhio
The place to go to learn just about anything about the Buckeye State. State symbols? How to get a drivers license? Population information? Fun places to visit? ExploreOhio has all of that and more! Find links to information about Ohio arts, business, education, history, government, travel, attractions, jobs, science, sports, and much more at this site.
Facts on File
Find facts and background information in the individual databases: Ancient History & Culture, African-American History & Culture, American History Online, American Indian History & Culture, and World History Online or use the History Database Center link to search all 5 databases at once. The World Atlas is a separate database that provides a wealth of information in the form of maps, statistical data and more.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
This is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. Because each library system creates its own eBook collection, the content you see may vary if you use the database at different library systems. Titles of especial note in YPL's eBook colection are Business Plans Handbook and Contemporary Authors.
Global Issues in Context
This database offers users a balanced assortment of articles, reference materials, original documents, video, audio, maps, images, statistics and more to support their quest for current, authoritative and reliable information on the nations and peoples of the world.
Know It Now
For those burning questions requiring an immediate response, log on to KnowItNow.org, the statewide virtual reference service, and chat your question to a librarian.
Ohio Geological Survey
The Geological Survey of Ohio has been mandated since 1837. This great resource for Ohio geology, including Ohio maps and earthquake information, is produced by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Ohio History Central Encyclopedia
An evolving, dynamic online encyclopedia that includes information about Ohio's natural history, prehistory and history. Contains written information, maps, timelines, and images.
Oxford Reference Online
This database brings together 100 Oxford language and subject dictionaries and reference works - containing well over 60,000 pages - into a single cross-searchable resource.
ReferenceUSABusiness, Health Care, Residential, Consumers/Lifestyles. This powerful source can quickly identify potential customers and contacts for over 12 million businesses. Search by specific geographic area, business type, sales volume or employee size. Click here for a ReferenceUSA tutorial.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Provides a searchable interface for locating historical maps of communities in Ohio from 1882 through the late l950 that show detailed information about building construction and structural details, lot lines, street widths, water pipes, hydrants and cisterns, and fire-fighting facilities.
World Book Online
World Book Online contains all the articles from the 22-volume encyclopedia plus an atlas, dictionary, World Book Kids, a special Ohio section, and a Spanish language encyclopedia.
World News Digest
A fully-searchable online archive to the Facts On File World News Digest, covering all major political, social, and economic events since November 1940--both domestic and international.