Search Databases

Your library card number allows remote access to the Santa Barbara Public Library System’s online information sources. Please click on the name of the online information database and type in your 14 digit library card number when prompted.

Automotive | Biography | Business | Census
Encyclopedia | Genealogy | Health | Literature | Newspapers, Magazines & Journals | Telephone Directory | Reference

Automotive

• ChiltonLibrary - The ChiltonLibrary allows you to browse through a robust list of vehicles in order to obtain specific information including: Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins; Specific Vehicle Maintenance; Vehicle Repair information.

Biography

• Biography Resource Center – Biographical sketches and magazine articles.

Business

• Reference USA – Information on more than 14 million U.S. businesses, organizations, and agencies. Great for job hunting, marketing research, etc.
  

Census

• U.S. Census – Using American Fact Finder, information on census numbers for the U.S., states, counties, places, census tracts and block groups is available, along with economic census records for industry updated every five years. Additional local census information can be obtained by clicking on Santa Barbara County Association of Governments.

Health

• Health and Wellness Resource Center – Provides a wide range of articles from magazines, newspapers, dictionaries and directories on topics such as fitness, pregnancy, medicine, nutrition, diseases, public health, occupational health and safety, alcohol and drug abuse and prescription drugs, with links to additional sources relating to health and medicine.
   
• MedlinePlus – MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 650 diseases and conditions. There are also lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials.

Encyclopedia

• Encyclopedia Britannica Online – Find encyclopedic entries on a wide range of subjects, as well an updated world atlas, thousands of images and videos, an online dictionary and thesaurus, and articles from over 400 respected magazines and journals. (In-library use click here)
   
• Britannica KIDS – a great resource for students in grades 4-9. (In-library use click here)
  

Genealogy Resources

• Ancestry Library Edition
  To connect from computers inside the library
  This vendor does not allow access from computers outside the library. Ancestry Library Edition contains searchable databases of historical books, photos, maps and census records, primarily from the United States, England and Canada. This database includes over 4 billion names and 500,000 family trees. It provides extensive coverage of the U.S., including census data, birth, marriage, and death records, World War I draft registration cards, Social Security death records, and immigration lists. Visit your local library for access to this database.
   
• HeritageQuest Online (ProQuest)
  To connect from computers inside the library
  To connect from computers outside the library
  
HeritageQuest Online combines digital, searchable images of U.S. federal census records with the digitized version of the popular UMI Genealogy & Local History collection and other valuable content. In addition to U.S. federal census data (1790-1930), HeritageQuest Online includes over 20,000 family and local history books and over 250 primary-source documents such as tax lists, city directories, and probate records. HeritageQuest Online can be used at home as well as in the library.

Literature

• Literature Resource Center – Your most current, comprehensive, and reliable online resource for research on literary topics, authors, and their works. Its coverage includes all genres and disciplines, all time periods, and all regions of the world.
• NoveList Reader's Advisory Guide to Fiction -- Looking for your next good read, questions for your book club discussion, award winners, author read-alikes, and more?

Newspapers, Magazines and Journals

• Info Trac/General Reference Center Gold – Find articles on current events, popular culture, business and industry, arts, sciences, sports and more from newspapers, books and periodicals, many with full-text and images.
   
• Info Trac/Jr. Edition –  A magazine and newspaper database designed for students in grades 6-9 giving information on current events, arts, sciences, popular culture, health, government, history, sports, and people in history and the news.
   
• Info Trac/Kids InfoBits – Designed to meet the information needs and interests of students in grades K-5, this database offers subject-based searching with full-text, age-appropriate, curriculum-related articles on current events, art, science, health, people, government, sports, history and more.
   
• Info Trac/Student Edition – This database is designed for high school students, with access to a variety of indexed and full-text magazines, newspapers and reference books for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more.
   
• New York Times – Available through Info Trac General Reference Center Gold.
   
• Social Studies Fact Cards (grades 4-8) – Fact Cards are a series of research resources designed for quick reference for students in grades 4 through 8. The topics covered by Fact Cards are those California, United States, and World topics included in the social studies curriculum in California.  While Fact Cards are written at the 4th-, 5th- and 6th grade reading levels, older students and adults will appreciate the quick access to basic facts and figures on these topics.

Telephone Directory

• Reference USA – Residential information compiled from more than 3,900 white pages telephone directories along with information from the latest U.S. Census, including median household income, median home value, and percentage of owner-occupied housing in each area.

Reference
 

• Foundation Directory Online Professional –The Santa Barbara Public Library is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center. The collection provides information on foundation and research funding, applications and guidelines. The print collection is located at the Central Library for use within the building. Aimed primarily at non-profit organizations, information includes current directories, information on specific grants and indexes by topic or organization, and is national in scope. Access to Foundation Directory Online Professional is available only at the Central Library.
  


• Foundation Grants to Individuals Online – Developed by the Foundation Center, this is an online database of foundation and public charity programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grantseekers. Access to Foundation Grants to Individuals Online is available only at Central Library.
  

• E-mail the Central Library reference staff.