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By Jennifer Downey

Recently, a well-meaning friend asked me a question that exasperates librarians the world over: Why do students still use libraries for research when they can just as easily find everything they need on the internet

The answer, of course, is that not everything we read on the internet is true. While it’s true that there are many reliable, trustworthy sites students can use for their research, a great deal of sites contain misleading, false, or even downright dangerous information. Sorting the facts from the fluff is becoming more and more difficult all the time. With school back in session, students need access to reputable, trustworthy internet-based resources more than ever.

Luckily, the A.K. Smiley Public Library supports students’ research needs by providing a wide range of databases to ensure that their research is comprehensive and fact-based. By using our carefully-selected databases, there’s no need to worry about whether you’re getting the real story.

Have you been assigned a biographical project? Then hop on our Gale Biography in Context database, where you’ll find primary sources, magazine and newspaper articles, podcasts, videos, and images of a wide variety of people from all fields and time periods. It is updated continuously, so the information you find is always up-to-date.

Participating in a debate or writing a persuasive paper on a social issue can be a challenging assignment. We’ve got you covered with Gale’s Opposing Viewpoints in Context database. This is a one-stop shop to study the pros and cons of hot topics like capital punishment, marijuana laws and immigration. The material in this database helps build information literacy by presenting points of view for both sides while learning about complex topics. It’s all about critical thinking skills and gaining the confidence to draw valid and well thought-out conclusions.

Gale Student Services in Context is a database offering content that meets state and national curriculum standards and covers areas such as problem solving, innovation, and collaboration. Full-text, comprehensive newspaper and magazine articles are offered, along with images, audio, and other scholarly sources. This wide-reaching database has your information needs covered with well-researched facts and sources to make those term papers shine.

Gale Reference Center Gold offers full-text context from over 4,400 magazines, newspapers, reference books, historical images and maps. All context is indexed, making those pesky citations much simpler. When you first sit down to begin a research project, this is the perfect place to get started and get those ideas flowing.

All of these databases can be accessed either in the library or from any computer with internet access. You just need your library card and PIN – usually the last four digits of your phone number. Students attending any school in Redlands are eligible for a free Smiley library card, even if they live outside the city’s limits. Applications are available at schools or students may apply in person at the library. School IDs are required.

Log on to www.akspl.org/elibrary to access our databases and start acing those classes!

Jennifer Downey is principal librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library. The library is located at 125 W. Vine St., Redlands.

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https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2018/09/06/how-a-k-smiley-public-library-can-help-students-get-the-real-story/
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