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References & Resources

Lafayette Public Library has access to multiple databases for your next research project. Stay current with the latest news with the New York Times, or search through news archives with Newsbank or US Newsstream.

CINAHL – Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature
The authoritative resource for nursing and allied health professionals, students, educators, and researchers. This database provides indexing for more than 3,000 journals from the fields of nursing and allied health. The database contains more than 2.3 million records dating back to 1981.

Consumer Health Complete
A comprehensive health and wellness database powered by EBSCOhost. Search through evidence-based reports, encyclopedias, fact sheets, images, diagrams, videos, and even articles from popular magazines such as American Fitness and Popular Science for medical and health resources. A “quick find” section allows you to search alphabetically for a disease, condition, injury, or procedure; or use the “search by topic” section to find information on alternative treatments, children’s health, medications, mental health, pregnancy, substance abuse, and much more.

CREDO Reference
Unsure where to begin your research for a paper or project? Look no further! Credo Reference is an extensive online research collection containing almost 900 online dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, and other reference tools. Credo Reference provides tips on how to select and narrow down your research topic, how to avoid bias in your searches, and how to find relevant sources. Students looking up current events and controversial topics will benefit from the powerful search engine which provides frequently-updated, credible background information on issues unfolding in the headlines. With more than 700 searchable, full-text titles from over 100 publishers, Credo Reference covers every major subject. Popular subjects covered include art, biography, history, literature, music, religion, and science and technology. There are also helpful “quick tips” videos that will teach the user to develop lifelong skills to find, evaluate, and use information effectively when researching.

EBSCOhost
A database of databases—Use EBSCOhost to find the right site for your search. The home page offers a list of all available databases including eBook Collection, Audiobook Collection, Academic Search Complete, Book Index with Reviews, Health Source (consumer edition and nursing/academic edition), Literary Reference Center, Regional Business News, Science Reference Center, BIR Entertainment (information on music and DVD/video titles), and more. Simply click the link and start searching. Available in English, Spanish, and French.

Exceptional Lives
This site is a game-changer for parents or caregivers of children with special needs! Exceptional Lives provides easy-to-read guides, a resource directory, and expert help through the helpline (call or text), email, or online chat. Videos and blogs will help guide you through questions you may have or situations you may encounter in caring for a child with special needs. There is also a page dedicated to Louisiana topics and guides including health insurance, Medicaid Waivers, and help with applying for SSI benefits.

Explora (EBSCO)
Reliable content from the world’s leading magazines and reference books found within the EBSCO databases. Explora allows the user to browse categories organized by popular topics or search for a specific topic. There are also specialized research centers for students and teachers. Explora provides relevant results for research including primary source documents, news articles, and Associated Press videos.

GALE – Cengage Learning
A database that houses Scribner Writer Series, Twayne’s Author Series, Chilton Library, and Legal Forms Library all in one place. Additionally, Gale Virtual Reference Library is home to a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference source materials that can normally only be found in the library. Gale Literature is also available and brings together all of Gale’s literary databases into one cross-searchable research and study environment. Here, you can find full text of literary works, journal articles, reviews, and more.

Scribner Writer & Twayne’s Author Series - Browse collections of literature or view a list of literary titles. Scribner Writer Series provides an easy search for topics within the publication as well as a list of illustrations and the option to cite for research.

Chilton Library -  Detailed information on vehicle maintenance and repairs. Choose the year, make, and model of your vehicle and Chilton Library will provide you with step-by-step service and repair procedures, a labor estimating tool, diagrams to simplify troubleshooting, close-up photographs and illustrations for visual support, a list of recalls and bulletins, and more for your specific vehicle.

LegalForms Library -  Unless you’re a lawyer, legal forms and jargon can be a confusing hassle. LegalForms Library is here to help! This site offers an easy-to-use, step-by-step approach to addressing complex legal matters, so no special skills or extensive knowledge of the law is required. Legal Forms Library makes it simple to browse categories by alphabet, by main categories, or by popular topics including divorce, wills, real estate, bankruptcy, landlord tenant, name change, incorporation, paternity, and more.

Global Road Warrior
Large-scale database that provides information about culture, history, language, travel information, and education systems of 175 countries. Select a country for a complete overview including current time and weather conditions in the capital. Learn basic facts and demographic information as well as helpful looks into business culture, what immunizations are needed to travel, what foods are common, what music is popular, and so much more! If the site is being used for a school project or paper, proper citation formatting is provided.

Newsbank
Newsbank provides access to local news sources which are found under “Louisiana News Sources” or separated into The Times-Picayune Collection, the Acadiana Advocate collection, and the Baton Rouge Advocate collection. These collections offer full text of papers as well as access to now-defunct publications and blogs. Digital text versions of the newspaper are available on the same day as publication, and articles, puzzles, and comics can be printed simply by clicking the printer icon at the top of the page. Please note that the New Orleans Advocate and the Acadiana Advocate are available as image editions as well.

The New York Times
In order to access the site from outside the library, simply visit nytimes.com/register to set up a free, basic account. Then visit lafayettepubliclibrary.org, click the Free Stuff for Our Patrons tab or search the library’s catalog for New York Times Online, and follow the link for a 72-hour pass (patrons can use an unlimited number of passes throughout the year). Alternatively, access The New York Times while using LPL’s public computers or WiFi and have unlimited access to articles. Once on the site, patrons have access to news and content from all of the various sections of the paper, and content is constantly updated. Patrons can search for articles from as far back as the 1800s! Please note: Some older crossword puzzles can be played on the site, but some other puzzles are a separate subscription for individuals and are not included in the library subscription.

State Library of Louisiana Historic Photograph Collection
The State Library of Louisiana has two collections in the Louisiana Digital Library. This is a fantastic resource for anyone looking into the history of the region for fun or for research purposes.

Louisiana Historical Photographs of the State Library – collection features black and white and some color photographs from the early 1900s to present. There are large collections of Department of Transportation, Tourism, Conservation, and Environmental Quality images.

Louisiana Works Progress Administration – collection covers the state and includes photographs, traditional songs, beliefs, customs, sayings, stories, recipes, legends, jokes, and accounts of local history.

US Newsstream (ProQuest)
Provides searchable, full-image access to Louisiana newspapers including Lafayette’s own Daily Advertiser (articles date back to 1914). A list of publications can be found on the site in the top menu; there, the user can search for a specific publication or see a list by subject, language, or publisher. An advanced search page is also available where the user can limit by one or more aspects such as publication, type of article, subject field (author, title, by line), and more. A link for educational materials for using the site better is provided on the site as well.

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