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Search the BC3 Library catalog for print books, ebooks, DVDs and other resources in the BC3 Library’s digital and physical collections. Read more

Reference databases are

A great place to start your research
Provide definitions, introductory information, facts, vocabulary/keywords, names
Preferred over Wikipedia by your instructors
Include citations for your bibliography!
Collection of encyclopedias, reference databases, issue topic databases

Reference Databases

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Credo Reference provides Topic Pages, which offer background information on a particular topic that can give you an easy starting point and pathways for further research; Access to hundreds of in-depth subject encyclopedias and handbooks covering every major subject from Accounting to Art History and Shakespeare to Einstein; and Mind Maps that visually show relationships between topics and keywords.
Salem Press This link opens in a new window
Provides full-text online access to a range of reference works published by Salem Press in the areas of health, history, literature, and science
Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
This is currently a collection of four online reference resources: Gale Encyclopedia of Fitness, Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health, Posthumanism: The Future of Homo Sapiens, and the St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture.

Issue Topic Databases

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
CQ Researcher provides award winning in-depth coverage of the most important issues of the day. The reports are written by experienced journalists, footnoted and professionally fact-checked. Full-length articles include an overview, historical background, chronology, pro/con feature, plus resources for additional research. Graphics, photos and short "sidebar" features round out the reports. Shorter "Hot Topics" articles provide a solid introduction to subjects most in demand by students.
Issues and Controversies This link opens in a new window
Explore current issues and events with in-depth articles made to inspire thought-provoking debates. Topic pages feature the latest related news coverage from Reuters® as well as a variety of helpful background information, from the key pro/con arguments to chronologies of related events to primary documents. Updated weekly.

ProCon.org - web source that focuses on the pros and cons of controversial issues.

Find articles in EBSCOhost's General Databases (Academic Premier and MasterFile Premier).

Or search the library's Subject Databases

Business Source Premier This link opens in a new window
GreenFILE This link opens in a new window
Health Source - Consumer Edition This link opens in a new window
Health Source - Nursing/Academic Edition This link opens in a new window
Literary Reference Center Plus This link opens in a new window
Collection of literary criticism and primary literary sources.
Military & Government Collection This link opens in a new window
Newsbank This link opens in a new window
Full text articles from over 800 U.S. newspapers including local newspapers like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Butler Eagle.
OVID Nursing Collection This link opens in a new window
Professional Development Collection This link opens in a new window
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection This link opens in a new window
PubMed This link opens in a new window
Database of medical journals.
Religion and Philosophy Collection This link opens in a new window
Vocational and Career Collection This link opens in a new window
EBSCOhost's Vocational & Career Collection is designed for vocational and technical libraries servicing high schools, community colleges, trade institutions and the general public. This collection provides full text coverage for nearly 340 trade and industry-related periodicals.
Westlaw This link opens in a new window
Database of legal journals and primary sources that include statutes (laws) and court cases.

Google Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes scholarly literature across an array of disciplines including peer-reviewed academic journals and books, conference papers, theses and dissertations. Some of the resources are freely available full-text, others you will need to request using the library's Article or Book Request Forms.

All Campus Book Read

The Fall 2023 all-campus book read is The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. The BC3 Library has a few copies available to borrow; we will be meeting to talk about the book on November 2, 2023. Join us! Read more....

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Friday 8:00am-4:00pm

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