Free Online Databases

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Academic OneFile (Gale)

Academic OneFile (Gale) contains 8,000 academic journals, the majority in full-text, available in HTML and PDF formats. In addition it contains hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC, as well as full-text New York Times content from 1985.

Agriculture Collection (Gale OneFile)

Agriculture Collection (Gale OneFile) - Articles on farming, horticulture, and agriculture-related fields

American Ancestors

American Ancestors - In library use only. The website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) provides access to more than 1.4 billion records spanning twenty-two countries covering the United States, the British Isles, continental Europe, and beyond, including one of the most extensive online collections of early American genealogical records, the largest searchable collection of published genealogical research journals and magazines, and the largest collection of U.S Catholic records online. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

Ancestry

Ancestry Library - In library use only. Thousands of family history databases, including vital records, census records, ship passenger lists, military records and lots more! Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

ArchiveGrid

ArchiveGrid - ArchiveGrid includes over 7 million records describing archival materials, bringing together information about historical documents, personal papers, family histories, and more. With over 1,400 archival institutions represented, ArchiveGrid helps researchers looking for primary source materials held in archives, libraries, museums and historical societies.

Booklist Reader

Booklist Reader - Booklist Reader is a magazine that features diverse readers' advisory recommendations for readers and listeners of all ages!

boston globe icon

Bostonglobe.com - The Minuteman Library Network provides free unlimited access to bostonglobe.com to resident cardholders of all member libraries through a 72-hour access pass, for up to 500 users at a time. Enter your Minuteman library card number, then follow-up the steps to create or login with a BostonGlobe.com account. If successful, that account will receive a welcome email and have 72-hours access to all subscriber content.

Boston Public Library

Boston Public Library - Find more e-resources at the Boston Public Library using your free BPL e-card. Apply for one today!

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Brittanica Library  - The go-to Reference Resource for all ages!  Select from three research levels: Children, Young adult and Reference Center.

Brittanica School Edition

Brittanica School Edition - Elementary, Middle and High School levels, plus read-aloud al all levels and translation for over 50 languages. Britannica Online School Edition gives teachers and students instant access to four complete encyclopedias and other resources that ensure consistency with classroom topics and age-appropriate language. This unique reference and learning suite also offers high-quality online learning materials that have been developed by teachers and curriculum experts. Designed for all levels of learning from elementary school through high school, Britannica Online School Edition offers students an easy-to-use gateway to the vast resources of Encyclopædia Britannica.

Spanish Reference Center

Spanish Reference Center delivers two products in one-a reference collection for ages 6 to 12 and another for the high school and college ages. Separate home pages for each level allow schools and libraries to tailor the product to their users' needs, making it the only online Spanish-language database that offers age-appropriate content for everyone.

Business (Gale)

Business (Gale) - Articles on accounting, marketing and management, and related fields.

Central Register and Goods and Services Bulletin

Central Register and Goods and Services Bulletin - In library use only (see Reference Librarian for password)

The Central Register is the weekly source for information about state, county and municipal contracts being put out to bid for the design, construction and reconstruction of public facilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

The Goods and Services Bulletin is a weekly publication containing solicitations for the procurement of commodities and services (which, generally, are unrelated to construction of public facilities).

Commonwealth Catalog

Commonwealth Catalog - Search Commonwealth Catalog for books, DVDs and more statewide.

Communications and Mass Media (Gale OneFile)

Communications and Mass Media (Gale OneFile) - Articles on advertising and public relations, linguistics, and related fields.

Consumer Lab

ConsumerLab.com - Click here for home access.  Provides comprehensive information about vitamin, herbal and other supplements, and nutritional products. Includes ConsumerLab.com's independent product evaluations, test results for ConsumerLab.com selected products and Approved Products from ConsumerLab.com's Quality Certification Program, product recalls, and safety warnings. A science-based encyclopedia of natural products is also provided, including a drug-interaction database

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union (CU), an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization. Since 1936, CU's mission has been to test products, inform the public and protect consumers. It is a comprehensive source for unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

Creativebug

Creativebug - Franklin Public Library and Creativebug present Creativebug online video classes! Creativebug.com has more than 1,000 award-winning art and craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

Criminal Justice (Gale OneFile)

Criminal Justice (Gale OneFile) - The Criminal Justice Collection database focuses on all aspects of the criminal justice field. Publications include: American Criminal Law Review; Corrections Today; Criminal Justice; Criminal Justice Ethics; Forensic Examiner; Psychology Today; and more.

Culinary Arts (Gale OneFile)

Culinary Arts (Gale OneFile) - The Culinary Arts Collection includes 150 of the major cooking and nutrition magazines from 1980 to present. Coverage includes thousands of searchable recipes, restaurant reviews, and industry information.

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Digital Commonwealth

Digital Commonwealth - Explore historical collections from libraries, museums, and archives across Massachusetts.

Diversity Studies (Gale OneFile)

Diversity Studies (Gale OneFile) - Articles that explore cultural differences, influences in society, and more.

Driving Tests

Driving-test.org - Access free Massachusetts RMV car, motorcycle, and commercial driver's license practice tests and handbooks. Includes the Massachusetts Driver's Handbook (in English and Spanish).

Economics and Theory Collection (Gale OneFile)

Economics and Theory Collection (Gale OneFile) - Articles on economics, interviews with CEOs, and more.

Gale environmental studies icon

Environmental Studies and Policy (Gale OneFile) - Connect student researchers with hundreds of topic pages featuring articles, case studies, statistics, and images from national and global publications. Contextual content enables students to critically analyze and understand topics across environmental studies and the humanities with an informed perspective.

FamilySearch

FamilySearch • Free Family Trees and Genealogy Archives - FamilySearch.org is one of the most popular genealogical resources in the world. The site is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is free and available to the public. Search billions of digital images and indexes of records from all over the world. These records include government and church records for births, marriages, and deaths; censuses; probate records, land records, draft cards; etc. Millions of new records are published on a weekly basis. Franklin Public Library is a Familysearch.org Affiliate Library. When using Familtysearch.org from the library's computers, you will have access to 400,000,000 additional images, not available to you when using Familysearch.org at home.

Fine Arts and Music (Gale OneFile)

Fine Arts and Music (Gale OneFile) - Articles on art history, music, drama, filmmaking and related fields.

Fold3

Fold3 Library Edition by Ancestry provides convenient access to a growing collection of U.S. military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. It contains millions of records from world-class archives, many of which are exclusively available on Fold3. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

Franklin Sentinel

Franklin Sentinel - Digitized directly from our microfilm collection. The collection is searchable, but some of the images are very faded. If the search feature does not find your query, and if you know the approximate date of the event, it may be worth while to look through the pages. This link will also allow you to search the Franklin Vital Records (1778 to 2014) and the Franklin Register (1873 to 1877).

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Gardening and Horticulture (Gale OneFile)

Gardening and Horticulture (Gale OneFile) - A collection of more than 80 journals focused on key issues in gardening, landscaping, and other areas of horticulture, with the addition of over 20 subject specific reference sources from Delmar, this collection provides information for gardening enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Gender Studies (Gale OneFile)

Gender Studies (Gale OneFile) - Articles on gender studies, family/marital issues, health, and more.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar - Google Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines.

Health and Medicine (Gale OneFile)

Health and Medicine (Gale OneFile) - Use this database to find articles on: Fitness, Pregnancy, Medicine, Nutrition, Diseases, Public Health, Occupational Health and Safety, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, HMOs, Prescription Drugs, etc. The material contained in this database is intended for informational purposes only.

High School Edition (Gale OneFile)

High School Edition (Gale OneFile) - Periodicals and reference book content supporting high school student research.

Home Improvement Collection (Gale OneFile)

Home Improvement Collection (Gale OneFile) - Articles on architectural techniques, zoning requirements, tools, and more.

hoopla

hoopla - Borrow thousands of movies, television, music, and audiobook titles for free with your library card. Always available, no waiting lists. Enjoy on your PC, tablet, or phone. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

Hospitality and Tourism (Gale OneFile)

Hospitality and Tourism (Gale OneFile) - With current and relevant content from over 500 industry journals, this collection provides well-rounded coverage of both the historical and current state of affairs in the hospitality and tourism field, while also allowing for focused study of specialized aspects of the industry - including cultural aspects of travel, leisure activities, economic aspects of tourism, and more.

Information Science (Gale OneFile)

Information Science (Gale OneFile) - Articles on the information and library science profession and related topics.

Insurance and Liability (Gale OneFile)

Insurance and Liability (Gale OneFile) - Articles on mortgages, labor relations, legal issues, and more.

Internet Archive

Internet Archive - The Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.

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Kanopy

Kanopy is an on-demand movie streaming video service with access to thousands of documentary, foreign, silent, and independent films. Stream over 30,000 films from hundreds of popular producers such as The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, and PBS, as well as thousands of independent filmmakers. Stream Kanopy on your computer or download the app on your phone, tablet or Roku device. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy - Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Tackling math, science, computing, history, art history, economics, and more, including K-14 and test preparation (SAT, Praxis, LSAT) content. Focusing on skill mastery to help learners establish strong foundations, so there's no limit to what they can learn next!

Libby

Libby see: Overdrive

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Massachusetts State Library

Massachusetts State Library - The State Library supports the research and information needs of government, libraries, and the public through innovative services and access to a comprehensive repository of state documents and other historical items.

Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries

Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries - All 15 Massachusetts Trial Court Libraries are free and open to the public. Library materials may be borrowed with a Trial Court Library Card, free access to Westlaw and Lexis legal databases is available at all locations.

Military and Intelligence (Gale OneFile)

Military and Intelligence (Gale OneFile) - Articles on governmental policies, socioeconomic effects of war, and more.

Morningstar

Morningstar Investment Research Center - Comprehensive and up-to-date financial information on stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Use the "Help & Education" tab to access the User's Guide and investor education resources. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents. Home access is available.

MyHeritage

MyHeritage - Library Edition - MyHeritage Library Edition is one of the largest, most internationally diverse genealogy databases of its kind, with access to billions of historical documents, millions of historical photos and other resources in thousands of databases that span the past five centuries.

The New York Times Article Archives

The New York Times Article Archives - This database includes full-text of the New York Times from January 1, 1985 to the present.

The New York Times

The New York Times Website - Enjoy free access to The New York Times. For both in-library and home access, create an account and log in using that account. Coverage includes 1981 to Current, plus historic coverage 1851 through 1922. Home Access includes NY Times App and 5 Premium Archive (1923 through 1980) articles per day. For more information see Minuteman's NY Times FAQ.

News (Gale OneFile)

News (Gale OneFile) - Regional, national, and world newspapers.

Newspapers.com

Newspapers.com - Northeast Edition is an extensive online database of 4,000+ historical newspapers from the early 1700s into the 2000s. Distributed by ProQuest into libraries, it contains a diverse blend of well-known regional and local newspapers in the U.S. Home Access

NoveList

NoveList is an electronic readers' advisory resource which assists fiction readers in finding new authors and titles. Through its attractive and easy-to-use interface, NoveList allows readers to use a favorite author or title as a template to locate other authors and titles of interest. Readers can also enter words that describe the contents of a book they would like to read, and NoveList retrieves titles that contain these words in the book's subject headings field. In addition, users can browse over 1,200 theme-oriented book lists, 150 award lists and 1,000 fiction related web-sites. NoveList contains materials for all ages including picture books, children's "chapter" books, young adult titles and books for adult readers. The product's database provides enhanced subject access to over 92,000 fiction titles. Updated quarterly, the NoveList database integrates information from a variety of sources.

Nursing and Allied Health (Gale OneFile)

Nursing and Allied Health (Gale OneFile) - Articles on direct patient care, healthcare administration and more.

Opposing Viewpoints

Opposing Viewpoints - Continuously updated information and opinions covering hot issues.

OverDrive

OverDrive - Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and streaming video from our libraries with OverDrive and the Libby App. Watch video tutorials for Libby.

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PebbleGo by Capstone

PebbleGo by Capstone - Animals and Biographies Modules - PebbleGo is a curricular content hub specifically designed for Kindergarten through 2nd grade students. Packed with informational articles, ready-made activities, and literacy supports for students of all abilities, it boosts engagement and fosters independent learning in core subject areas.

Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine (Gale OneFile)

Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine (Gale OneFile) - This collection includes over 100 titles covering the fields of physical therapy and sports medicine, providing researchers with access to topics discussed in the field, including proven treatment techniques, experimental research theses, and many more.

Popular Culture Studies (Gale OneFile)

Popular Culture Studies (Gale OneFile) - Articles on popular culture analysis and more.

Popular Magazines (Gale OneFile)

Popular Magazines (Gale OneFile) - The most popular and current magazines available from all of the Gale resources.

Psychology (Gale OneFile)

Psychology (Gale OneFile) - Articles on personality, the human mind, memory, and more.

PubMed

PubMed - PubMed comprises more than 34 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites. For articles linked to pay sites, please see the Franklin Library Reference Department to request a free copy of the article.

Religion and Philosophy (Gale OneFile)

Religion and Philosophy (Gale OneFile) - Articles on world religions, philosophies, and related fields.

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Salem History

Salem Press History Collection - Includes online access to: The Fifties in America; The Sixties in America; The Seventies in America; The Eighties in America; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Events; Great Events From History: the 19th and the 20th Century. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

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Science (Gale OneFile) - With the Gale OneFile: Science, researchers can remain current with the latest scientific developments in particle physics, advanced mathematics, nanotechnology, geology, and hundreds of other areas. More than 350 full-text, non-embargoed journals are covered; updated daily, this collection includes more than 1.6 million articles to satisfy almost every scientific inquiry. Key subjects covered include the biological sciences, computing, engineering, and technology.

Techboomers

Techboomers - Techboomers.com is a free educational website that teaches older adults and other inexperienced Internet users with basic computer skills about popular and trusted websites and Internet-based applications that can help improve their quality of life. Learn to use popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Gmail, Pinterest, YouTube, Reddit, ebay and many, many more!

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U.S. History (Gale OneFile) - Provides access to scholarly journals and magazines useful to both novice historians as well as advanced academic researchers. Updated daily, this library resource offers balanced coverage of events in U.S. history and scholarly work established in the field.

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Vocations and Careers (Gale OneFile)

Vocations and Careers (Gale OneFile) - Finding the right career can be a daunting and high stakes task: finding an appropriate institution of learning, job searching, and maintaining a career are all topics covered by this collection, providing current and applicable content for all vocational milestones. Offering content from nearly 400 journals, this collection provides content from general career guides to highly specialized industry journals.

War and Terrorism (Gale OneFile)

War and Terrorism (Gale OneFile) - Articles on war and its causes, current events, terrorism, and more.

Wolfram

Wolfram Alpha Computational Knowledge Engine - Answer questions, do math, instantly get facts, calculators, unit conversions, and real-time quantitative data and statistics; create plots and visualizations; and access vast scientific, technical, chemical, medical, health, business, financial, weather, geographic, dictionary, calendar, reference, and general knowledge - and much more

WorldCat

WorldCat is a proven and highly trusted tool that empowers anyone to find the authoritative content they need in every format from worldwide library collections. FirstSearch delivers the precise, full-featured WorldCat searching that library staff and researchers value.