Rhode Island ’s Statewide Reference Resource Center Featuring expanded Ask a Librarian live chat & email services

World Book Online Reference Center

The Statewide Reference Resource Center at the Providence Public Library has purchased a subscription to World Book Online Reference Center for all public libraries in Rhode Island. Patrons of Ocean State Libraries (OSL) can access this resource at their local public library or from their web-enabled computer at home, with a library card issued at any OSL library.

Go to http://www.askri.org for complete access instructions.

World Book Online Reference Center includes over 45 excellent databases.

1. World Book Reference Encyclopedia
2. Spanish Online Encyclopedia
3. Dictionary (updated regularly, the best online dictionary, is interactive or can be used as an independent reference to)*
4. Historical Encyclopedia (World Book Yearbook articles from 1922 forward)*
5. Online Atlas (From World Book’s own cartographers, update regularly)*
6. Special Reports (From World Book’s archives, from experts in their fields)*
7. State Resource Guides (For each U.S. state and Puerto Rico, updated regularly)*
8. Canadian Province Guides (For each Canadian Province, updated regularly)*
9. Current Events (Easy to understand with links to other databases)*
10. Curriculum Resources (Feature of the Month, archived, updated, and expanding)*
11. 360 Degree Views of important locations around the world*
12. Online Movies (Videos delivered via streaming for faster access)
13. Web Site Recommendations by search results (Selected by World Book editors)*
14. Magazine Articles (Linked to World Book articles, filtered by EBSCO)
15. Teacher Resources (Lesson plans, activities and professional development links)*
16. Parent Resources (Curriculum guides and aides to help youngsters by subject and grade level)*
17. Student Resources (Designed to help students in different academic areas)*
18. Surf the Ages (A fascinating tool to help bring history to life)*
19. Today in History (A look at each date in history with links to World Book articles)*
20. Online Picture Resource (Pictures presented in thumbnail groups for easy access)
21. Sound Clips (Delivered via streaming)
22. What’s Happening This Month (Each day of the month is linked to celebrations, commemorations and events from around the world)*
23. Tables and Charts (Created to assist in better understanding all areas of research and updated regularly)
24. Collections of Quizzes, Puzzles and Activities (Developed to meet the interest and needs of all ages of learners)*
25. Cyber Camp (An online camp that students can visit from school, public library or from home)*
26. Eyewitness Accounts from United States History (Primary Source Documents)
27. 100 Milestone Documents from United States History (Primary Source Documents selected by the National Archives)
28. Learning Aids (A combination of Primary Source Documents and ideas on how to use them in the classroom, “Teaching with Documents”)
29. The Dictionary of American History
30. Study Guides (Ideas for teaching United States history)
31. Classic U.S. History Essays (A collection of essays on important events in U.S. history categorized by subject and date and written by major historians).
32. The 22 Essential Documents from U.S. History (as selected by the National Archives).
33. Presidential Papers (Primary Source Documents that are updated on a regular basis).
34. United States Supreme Court Decision (Complete decisions, dissenting opinions, concurring opinions, and citations that can be easily searched).
35. Biographical Directory for the United States Congress.
36. National Political Party Platforms (Primary Source documents for both major and secondary political parties).
37. Inaugural Addresses for United States Presidents (Primary Source documents).
38. World Constitutions (Primary Source documents for many countries around the world including prior as well as current constitutions).
39. United States Codes
40. Congressional References (Primary Source documents concerning the creation and adoption of the United States Constitution, including the complete Federalist Papers).
41. Constitutional Debates (Primary Source documents of the arguments made on all sides of the issues that eventually became the United States Constitution).
42. Founding Fathers (Primary Source documents written by the men who created the United States of America).
43. Constitutional Law and Classic Works of Law (Primary Source documents).
44. The United States Senate (Includes the Almanac, Directory, Glossary, “In Session” documents and history of the United States Senate).
45. Political Theory (Primary Source documents from writers all over the world on theories of government).
46. Comparative Government (Primary Source documents on various types of governments).
47. Political Behavior (Analysis of the actions of major political figures).

*Indicates a World Book Exclusive