The South Colonie School District subscribes to numerous Internet accessible information databases at all age levels. They are available to all district residents. The databases, however, are password protected. To access the databases you must complete two steps. First you will need an entry password that you can get by contacting the school library. Once you have that entry password, simply click on this PASSWORD LIST (pdf) and when prompted, enter the entry password given to you by the school librarian. Once you have access to the PASSWORD LIST, click on one of the database icons below and use the user names and passwords listed on the PASSWORD LIST to surf the specific databases.

How are these databases different from an Internet search engine such as Google?

While their contents vary, online databases provide access to literally thousands of full text biographies, primary source documents, essays, encyclopedias, almanacs, reference books, pamphlets, newspapers, transcripts, photos, maps, and other sources that just would not be available otherwise. Search engines generally do not have access to these sources because companies make money by selling the rights to their publications. South Colonie and the New York State Library pay for subscriptions to these online databases to provide our students with access to these resources.

GROLIER ONLINE PASSPORT

GROLIER ONLINE PASSPORT is the most comprehensive source of notification content for grades 3 and up - Vast, Vetted  and  Varied ... This data base - the Multimedia Encyclopedia - includes the New Book of Knowledge.

EBSCO

EBSCO is a worldwide leader in providing information access and management solutions through print and electronic journal subscription services, research database development and production, online access to more than 150 databases and thousands of e-journals.

EBSCO includes the following databases: EBSO Animals, General Science Collection, and TopicSearch. EBSCO also includes NoveList K-8, a powerful search engine that helps students locate fiction books through topic searches. NoveList K–8 provides full-text reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal.

GALE

Gale is a world leader in educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. Best known for its accurate and authoritative reference content as well as its intelligent organization of full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

Gale includes the following databases: Junior Edition K–12 (a periodical database designed for middle school students), Health reference Center Academic (a periodical database designed for students in grades 9 - college.)

World Book

World Book provides access to World Book Encyclopedia, an atlas, a dictionary and much more.

Teen Health and Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers

The new Teen Health & Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers award-winning online resource provides middle school and high school students with nonjudgmental, straightforward, standards-aligned, curricular and self-help support. Topics include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, green living, financial literacy, and more.

Career Cruising

Career Cruising is an industry-leading online career guidance and planning system. People of all ages use our tools to find the right career, explore education and training options, and build their own portfolio.

Novellist K-8

Designed especially for elementary and middle school students, NoveList K-8 is an online database with fiction titles chosen specifically to support the school curriculum as well as the pleasure reading needs of students. Students can search by author, title and/or series.

Teaching Books.net

TeachingBooks.net an easy-to-use website that adds a multimedia dimension to the reading experiences of children's books. This online database includes thousands of resources about fiction and nonfiction books used in the K–12 environment, to encourage the integration of multimedia author and book materials into reading and library activities.

Chronicle Guidance Publications

Chronicle Guidance Publications researches and writes up-to-date career information to help students and adults make informed career choices. Chronicle Occupational Briefs present information on more than 2,000 occupational titles.