Finding Research Articles

AMS Library Resources

Below you will find links to video tutorials covering some of the most commonly used resources in the Virtual Reference Collection.

<a href="https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=z6AffFGYVYM">ABC-CLIO American History</a> <a href="https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=hEnXnEEq2vQ">Biography Reference Center</a> <a href="https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=IubNMbz_Ddg">Britannica Academic</a> <a href="https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=9lWhgsAzNPc">Britannica School</a> <a href="https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=4ixazqqHC_A">FactCite Databases</a> <a href="https://support.gale.com/training/videos/aone">Gale Academic One-File</a> <a href="https://support.gale.com/training/videos/msic">Gale in Context - Middle School</a> <a href="https://support.gale.com/training/videos/suic">Gale in Context - High School</a> <a href="https://support.gale.com/training/videos/ovic">Gale in Context - Opposing Viewpoints</a> <a href="https://www.yout-ube.com/@proquesttraining/videos">ProQuest Databases</a> <a href="https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=lVfCR_s_cFM">World Book Online</a>

<a href="bookcreator://page/WKs0n_KOS1COCf3yc61t_Q">What is the Virtual Reference Collection?</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/k1MIOBlNTsiTcSVrV-R1Jg">How to access the Virtual Reference Collection</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/giRWtov5QnmRsYdcjbuYlw">Why use the Virtual Reference Collection</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/h03zne75TBKmOvB6zy0_-A">Finding sources in the Virtual Reference Collection</a> <a href="bookcreator://page/IlwWW-WrSQKHSAPcdHrYaQ">Video Tutorials</a>

To return to this page, click the Table of Contents icon at the top of each page.

What is the Virtual Reference Collection?

The Virtual Reference Collection (VRC) is a collection of databases on a variety of topics including biographies, business, careers, science, health, geography, history, language, literature, math, music, art and more.&nbsp; It also includes access to eBooks and audiobooks, journals, encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, websites, music, videos and much more.&nbsp; There is also a section of Teacher Resources with access to ERIC, Teaching Books and other great resources. The VRC helps students conduct independent research and helps to foster higher level thinking. Resources are considered accurate and reliable. Each resource includes citations which can easily be exported into Noodle Tools.

by Donna DeLuca Library Media Specialist Accompsett Middle School

Why use the Virtual Reference Collection?

I don’t think I can count how many times a day I use Google to do some sort of search on the Internet.&nbsp; For most of us, it’s the go to tool for finding information.&nbsp; But is it the right tool for conducting research?&nbsp; Not really.&nbsp; While it may seem quick and easy to conduct a search, which usually gets millions of hits, it’s not always easy to figure out which sources are the most reliable.&nbsp;&nbsp;

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/ZyHNo2RGTb2QC41EY3Cl_g.png?width=502&height=311

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/0wvrwALnQJqtLHkbqX0UHA.jpeg?width=641&height=367

Virtual Reference Collection

Here in Smithtown, we have another option.&nbsp; Our district subscribes to the Virtual Reference Collection, which contains dozens of databases in a variety of content areas.  These resources have been checked for accuracy and reliability and are great options for research and other school work.  They also save us time because we don't have to worry about evaluating each source to make sure the information is accurate, which is something we should be doing when using sources from Google.  

Finding sources in the Virtual Reference Collection

The VRC can be organized in a few different ways: ~ By topic ~ Alphabetically ~ By vendor You can also choose to see the description or not. In most cases you will want to search by topic, which is the default method. Depending on the topic of your research, you can choose from several different subjects and/or categories. Subjects include:

Biographies Business Careers/Jobs Health/Science History/Geography Languages Literature Mathematics Music/Art Religion Social Studies STEM

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/2udHkvLPQUeu6H2geNXppg.png?width=487&height=704

Ebooks/Audiobooks Educational Periodicals Encyclopedias Magazines/Newspapers News - Past/Present Pro/Con Reference Teacher Resources

How to access the Virtual Reference Collection

Each school has its own page for the Virtual Reference Collection.  Select your school name below.  Most of the databases require a user name and password.  See your library media specialist for this information.

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/GdxIS2B1Szir35dOipGw1Q.jpg?width=400&height=295

<a href="https://auth.orc.scoolaid.net/bin/listdb?sysCode=xaaa&amp;schoolId=2581">Accompsett Middle School</a>

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/rZGHxPLQRtuw2hrm7ELRrg.png?width=391&height=295

<a href="https://auth.orc.scoolaid.net/bin/listdb?sysCode=xaaa&amp;schoolId=2580">Great Hollow Middle School</a>

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/SEseMdHbSZ6gYmUk37gLOQ.png?width=326&height=328

<a href="https://auth.orc.scoolaid.net/bin/listdb?sysCode=xaaa&amp;schoolId=2579">Nesaquake Middle School</a>

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/rQjdQcN9QRuvehHtcN4uXA.webp?width=503&height=377

<a href="https://auth.orc.scoolaid.net/bin/listdb?sysCode=xaaa&amp;id=2286">Smithtown High School East</a>

https://api.bookcreator.com/users/v2/CvGHMUu7kSh5p8wbbR7oYmrvehB3/books/UNSce5V6Q2esuD0bq6JJng/assets/EXDoTOh9TyWAnScBosCg-w.jpg?width=504&height=378

<a href="https://auth.orc.scoolaid.net/bin/listdb?sysCode=xaaa&amp;id=2285">Smithtown High School West</a>

Name

Safari may block some audio or video from playing automatically and ‘read to me’ will skip these. You can configure this in Safari’s preferences.