Electronic Resources

Help children build a strong foundation for future academic success using interactive books, educational games, puzzles, learning activities, and more.  ABCmouse.com is accessible on the library's public computers and on your personal device while visiting the Troy or Pleasant Hill libraries.

Everything you want to know about books & authors. It is THE place to find read-alikes, author biographies, plot summaries, specific settings, specific genres, book publishing and purchasing, series information, book reviews, and more!

Full text for scholarly and academic magazines and periodicals - covering nearly every area of academic study including computer sciences, engineering, physics, chemistry, language and linguistics, arts and literature, medical sciences, ethnic studies, and many more – from EBSCOhost. Conduct research for your next term paper. Discover in-depth articles on hundreds of subjects.

Search records, books, serials, and other historical records specific to African Americans to trace your genealogy or to do research.  

Alt HealthWatch is a full-text alternative health research database focused on complementary, holistic and integrated approaches to health care and wellness. It offers the latest information about the evolving practice of holistic medicine and therapies. 

Search by name, by where a person lived or browse by region or states. The Map Center contains maps from across the United States. Data is compiled from the Social Security Death Index, U.S. Federal Census, UK Census Collection, immigration and military records, court, land and probate records and more. More than 4,000 databases include census data, passenger lists, birth, marriage, and death records.

Access biographical information on more than 335,000 people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines. 

Full text business articles, research, and news updated daily from EBSCOhost. Read articles from popular and scholarly business periodicals. Research industries. Evaluate companies and their markets.  

CareerOneStop is your source for employment information and inspiration. The place to manage your career. Your pathway to career success. Tools to help job seekers, students, businesses and career professionals.  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.  

Chilton Library provides access to repair, maintenance and service information on the most popular cars, trucks, vans and SUVs on the road today, as well as, many new vehicles. 

Computer Source covers information and current trends in technology, with topics such as computer science, programming, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, information systems, robotics, and software. It also provides indexing and abstracts.

Full text journals, magazines, and reference books from EBSCOhost dealing with health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition – coverage includes a focus on the complementary, holistic and integrated approaches to health and wellness. Browse medical, health-related and drug reference books. Read articles on health and fitness. Find sources for alternative health information.

The Crime Victims Rights Toolkit serves as a self-help resource for crime victims. The Toolkit is designed to help victims of Ohio and federal crimes understand and exercise their rights. If a crime victim is having difficulty exercising his or her rights, he or she may contact the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center immediately to request assistance.

CultureGrams is the source for concise, reliable, and up-to-date cultural information on countries of the world. Beyond the facts and figures, find an insider's perspective on the history, daily life, and customs. Also covers US states and Canadian provinces.

All EBSCOhost Databases. Complete range of citation and full-text reference content available from the EBSCO publishing company. Individual database services are also listed separately. Select a single database for searching. Search multiple EBSCOhost resources at once. See what’s available from EBSCO.

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is an authoritative database of indexed and full-text education literature and resources. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, it is essential too for education researchers of all kinds. It includes records for a variety of source types, including journal articles, books, conference papers, curriculum guides, dissertations and policy papers.

Designed with students and educators in grades 6 - 8 in mind, Explora Middle Schools provides a far better alternative to websites and search engines for students to look up articles and facts for research papers or homework.

Get help with your schoolwork using Explora. You will discover reliable information on topics covering a wide range of subjects including art and music, literature, language arts, geography, history, social studies, world cultures and languages, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health and sports.

Provides easy-to-use features and reliable content from the world's leading magazines and reference books, grouped into easy-to-browse categories. Explora provides research collections on thousands of topics to help them find the information they need quickly and easily. You can search hundreds of professional journals, popular magazines, reference books, images, primary sources, and more by keyword or by topic.

Using Explora, you will discover reliable information on thousands of topics covering a wide range of subjects including art and music, literature, language arts, geography, history, social studies, world cultures and languages, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health and sports.

Fold3 Library Edition (ProQuest) is the premier collection of historical military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served from the Revolutionary War through recent conflicts.

The HeritageQuest Online collection can help people find their ancestors and discover a place’s past, while also providing a comprehensive treasury of genealogical sources rich in unique records, local and family histories, and finding-aids.

Got a hobby you’d like to nurture? Looking for a new activity to pass the time? Our library provides free access to Hobbies & Crafts Source, a database from EBSCO containing thousands of articles from top hobby and craft magazines and books as well as recipes, “how-to” videos and hobby profiles.

Looking to install a new door, fix a leaky faucet, or spruce up your garden? You’ve come to the right place! Our library provides free access to Home Improvement Source, a database from EBSCO containing thousands of articles from leading home improvement magazines and reference books, plus a collection of home repair images not found anywhere else online.

Read, listen, and enjoy. One app, thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines from your local library. Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and more from your local public library - anywhere, anytime. All you need is a library card.

Contains plot summaries, literary criticism, author biographies and interviews, and the full text of thousands of poems and short stories. Research an author, novel, or poem for school or personal interest. Learn more about a literary movement for book discussions. Powered by EBSCOhost​.

Mango is an online language learning system that teaches practical conversation skills for a variety of popular languages. Mango is a fast, easy, and effective way to learn to speak a foreign language.

Read articles from popular magazines. Find out about another country or culture. Search for solutions to that question you can’t quite answer. Full text for a wide variety of periodicals covering general reference, business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues; and an image collection of photos, maps, flags, and much more – updated daily from EBSCOhost.

Use MedlinePlus to learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition.

Find information on medical topics, symptoms, drugs, procedures, news and more, written in everyday language.

A comprehensive online database of resources available in the community, including financial assistance, legal services, substance abuse, and senior resources, among many others. To visit this online database, click on the "Online Database" link at the top of the Miami 2-1-1 home page, or call 2-1-1 to speak to an operator and get connected to Human Services in Miami County. 

A directory of food, clothing, shelter, daycare, and emergency services available for Miami County residents.

Read articles from newspapers around the country, access industry-specific newspapers, and search TV and radio news transcripts. Includes full text articles from national (U.S.) and international newspapers and selected full text from almost more than 400 regional (U.S.) newspapers. An EBSCOhost resource.

Search historic Troy newspapers by name, subject or dates to find old articles of interest which were published in Troy as early as 1828. These digital copies of Troy newspapers will expedite your historical and genealogical research. The Troy Times, The Buckeye, The Miami Union, Troy Daily News and others were papers published in Troy for the city and county-wide news. Whether you are looking for national, state or local news, you now have access at your fingertips.

Improve your digital skills with computers, software, and technology with Northstar Digital Literacy assessments. The online, self-guided modules assess the ability of an individual to perform tasks based on the skills in three main areas:

• Essential Computer Skills - Basic Computer Skills, Internet Basics, Using Email, Windows OS, Mac OS
• Essential Software Skills – Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs
• Using Technology in Daily Life - Social Media, Information Literacy, Career Search Skills, Supporting K-12 Distance Learning, Your Digital Footprint.

You can have your assessment proctored to obtain a Northstar Digital Literacy Certificate when passing assessments. Certificates provide an important credential for employment, as even entry-level jobs increasingly require basic computer skills. Visit the Information Desk for assessment proctoring or call us at 937-339-0502 extension 112. 

Find book recommendations and reading lists. Read about your favorite author. Discover book discussion guides and awards lists.

Database containing death certificates of persons that died in Ohio from 1913-1944, 1954-1963. Use the index information to help in obtaining a copy of particular death certificates.

An evolving, online encyclopedia from the Ohio Historical Society. Find information, images, timelines, maps, and documents about Ohio’s history, geography, geology, animals, and American Indian populations.

Search thousands of jobs and plan your career. Build & post your resume and have it rated. Learn how to build a budget, manage money, and more. Find workforce skills programs. 

Project to bring together digital versions of historical collections from more than 330 archives, historical societies, libraries, and museums. Search or browse more than 26,000 primary sources dating from prehistory to the present. Take the Ohio Memory Challenge. Read essays about Ohio topics. Create your own scrapbook.

The official government website of the State of Ohio. Find government services and information for residents, businesses, visitors, and state employees. Reach the website of any Ohio government agency.

Ohioline is an information resource produced by Ohio State University Extension. Through Ohioline, you have access to hundreds of OSU Extension fact sheets covering a wide array of subjects such as agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community development, and 4-H youth development.

The Oxford Research Encyclopedias offer long-form overview articles written, peer-reviewed, and edited by leading scholars. Each encyclopedia covers both foundational and cutting-edge topics in order to develop, over time, an anchoring knowledge base for major areas of research across the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

Points of View Reference Center is a comprehensive full-text database that provides a series of essays that present multiple sides of today’s most controversial scientific, social, economic, and political issues. Easily search leading political magazines from both sides of the aisle, newspapers, radio and TV news transcripts, primary source documents, and reference books for more information.

Reference Solutions offers instant access to comprehensive business and consumer listings. A detailed business listing contains a list of executives, financial information, public filings and even news articles. Great for small-business owners, job hunters, and marketing or investment researchers. Access is free with your valid library card.

Full text for articles from over 75 business journals, newspapers, and newswires, covering all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States, from EBSCOhost. Research regional business conditions around the country.

Large scale street plans – including building outlines, property boundaries, and building use - produced by the Sanborn Fire Insurance Company from 1867 to 1970. Locate buildings and neighborhoods. See a neighborhood "as it was". Study the growth of towns and cities. Identify the impact of new developments.

Topics include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science, health and medicine, history of science, life science, physics, science and society, science as inquiry, scientists, technology, and wildlife. Science Reference Center contains full text for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, and other sources.

This database provides the everyday user with the necessary tools and detailed topics, including:“how-to” instructions to independently address a wide range of small business topics, including: • Starting, selling and growing your business • Managing employees • Writing a business plan • Understanding legal information • Marketing a business • And much more...

In this digital resource, hundreds of titles can be searched at once, opening up new pathways across subjects. Students can use Very Short Introductions to consider study options, embark on a new module, topic, or essay, or revise a particular subject. Teachers and other educators can assign chapters or whole books to students. Adult learners can also gain new insights through an introduction to a topic.

Resources include encyclopedic content, e-books, multimedia, a vast collection of primary source documents, and a wealth of research tools that allow students to customize and save their work. Tailored for the needs and skills of older students, World Book Advanced integrates primary and secondary source databases in a single search.