Online Research

Click for list of all PLS libraries

Audio eBooks and Podcasts

  • Netlibrary
    Some viewable online and some downloadable. Both popular and academic titles. eBooks and audiobooks. Not compatible with iPod.
  • Digital Book Library
    Download a wide range of popular fiction and non-fiction. eBooks and audio eBooks. Not compatible with iPod.
  • LibriVox
    Free audiobook versions of public domain titles (i.e. no longer under copyright.) Downloaded files can be played on iPod or other audio player, burned to CD, or played on computer.
  • Manybooks.net
    15,000+ free public domain eBooks in a variety of formats (including PDF) designed for a wide variety of e-text readers. View online or download -- no library card required. Also some audio eBooks -- files can be can be played on iPod or other audio player, burned to CD, or played on computer.
  • Podcast Search
    Podcasts are radio shows or other audio programs that are often episodic and are downloadable over the Internet. From news and information to music and commentary from around the world, podcasts are available on every subject you can imagine. Use iTunes or the program of your choice to download and listen to content on your computer, iPod or other audio player.

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Automotive

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Biographies

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Books and Reading

  • Literature Resource Center
    Biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses for over 120,000 authors from every age and literary discipline.
  • What Do I Read Next?
    Find books similar to past favorites. Includes plot summaries and lists by genre.
  • BookPage
    Reviews and recommendations
  • We Recommend
    Recommendations for good reads, lists of award-winning books, and book review information.
  • CliffsNotes
    Summaries and commentary for hundreds of literary classics.
  • Book Lust
    A community of people who love books

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Business and Finance

  • Business & Company Resource Center
    Company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, and more.
  • General Business File
    A  combination of broker research reports, trade publications, newspapers, journals and company directory listings with full text and images available.
  • ValueLine
    Investment survey reports and company look-up. In-library use only.
  • RefUSA
    Business & residential listings; great for direct marketing
  • Associations Unlimited
    Data on over 456,000 organizations from the Encyclopedia of Associations series and IRS information on nonprofit organizations.
  • Small Business Network
    Information on business regulation, starting a small business, customer service, sales and marketing, franchising, import/export, and doing business with the government. 

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Career Resources

  • Eureka
    Research careers and discover your apptitudes. One-time registration required. Call or ask in library before use from home.
  • CareerOneStop
    Job openings, salary data, and everything else you need to start job-hunting
  • SimplyHired
    Search engine for job listings that draws from many other job site – all in one place.
  • Jobstar
    California-oriented job hunting website.
  • CalJobs
    Sponsored by the California Employment  Development Department (Free, but requires SSN and password) Information available in Spanish.  Automatically shows jobs in San Mateo area once you register.
  • PeninsulaWorks
    Local offices offer phones and fax machines, classes on resume writing and interviewing, and help for changing careers.  Site is also in Spanish and Tagalog.  Special assistance available for veterans, workers over 55, and persons with disabilities.

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Community Information

  • The Community of Redwood City
    Redwood City news, government, recreation, business, and history
  • Community Information Program
    Database of nonprofit and public services available to people who live or work in San Mateo County.
  • How to Reach Your Lawmakers
    Contact information for local, state, and federal elected officials.
  • Great Schools
    GreatSchools.net is a national, independent nonprofit organization committed to helping parents choose schools, support education and improve schools in your community.

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Consumer Resources

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Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

  • Encyclopedia Britannica Redwood City card required
    Click HERE to use from home, school or work.
    Click HERE to use in the library.
    Complete encyclopedia -- plus world atlas and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus.
  • Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online
    Dictionary with audio pronounciations
  • Virtual Reference Library
    Online versions of print reference books on history, popular culture, law, environment, and medicine
  • Bartleby.com Great Books
    Consult a collection of classic reference works including dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, quotations, English usage, mythology, the bible, and more.
  • General Reference Center
    Multi-subject reference collection with hundreds of reference books, magazines, and newspapers.

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eBooks

  • Virtual Reference Library
    Online versions of print reference books on history, popular culture, law, environment, and medicine. View online or print/download sections
  • Netlibrary
    Some viewable online and some downloadable. Both popular and academic titles. eBooks and audiobooks. Not compatible with iPod.
  • Digital Book Library
    Download a wide range of popular fiction and non-fiction. eBooks and audiobooks. Not compatible with iPod.
  • Safari Tech Books
    Current and popular IT and technology titles. View online only.
  • Tumblebooks
    Animated talking storybooks for children in English, Spanish, and French. Also teacher resources and learning to read tools. View online only.
  • California Missions Books
    Read online or download to be viewed in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
  • Manybooks.net
    15,000+ free public domain eBooks in a variety of formats (including PDF) designed for a wide variety of e-text readers. View online or download -- no library card required. Also some audiobooks -- files can be can be played on iPod or other audio player, burned to CD, or played on computer.

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en español

  • Informe
    Revistas populares en español.
    Popular Spanish-language magazines.
  • Tumblebooks
    Libros animados para niños en español y en otros idiomas.
    Animated talking storybooks for children in English, Spanish, and other languages.
  • Red de Empresas Pequenas
    El Centro de Servicios e Información para la Pequeña Empresa es un centro virtual diseñado para complementar los servicios localizados físicamente en la biblioteca para los pequeños empresarios.
    A virtual center, designed to complement the public library's on-site services and resources for people working in small businesses.
  • MedlinePlus en Español
    Información de Salud:  sobre diversas condiciones, enfermedades y bienstar, pruebas médicas, síntomas, lesiones y cirugías.
  • PeninsulaWorks
    PeninsulaWorks es una asociacion de gobierno y organizaciones de la comunidad en el condado de San Mateo de California que ofrece servicios de empleo y informacion gratis. Los servicios en espanol estan disponibles en los centros durante el dia para ofrecer asistancia a las personas en busca de empleo y a los empleadores.
  • Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California.
    Este sitio Web le ayudará a encontrar ayuda e información, trabajar mejor con un abogado y en algunos asuntos legales le ayudará a representarse a sí mismo.

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Genealogy

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Government

  • Redwood City Municipal Code and Zoning Ordinances
    Rules and regulations for a wide variety of situations and issues in Redwood City
  • San Mateo County Code
    Rules and regulations for a wide variety of situations and issues as handled in San Mateo County
  • California Code
    CA law consists of 29 codes covering various subject areas.
  • The State of CA
    Topical and audience-focused links to web pages from the state government. Includes links to state agencies and online services.
  • USA.gov
    Topical and audience-focused links to millions of web pages from the federal government. Includes A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies (Education, Labor, etc.)
  • Brookings Institution
    Conducting research in economics, governmental studies, foreign policy, and the social sciences. Brookings is one of the oldest think tanks in the US is an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to research, analysis, and public education.
  • Thomas Legislative Information on the Internet
    Databases providing access to the full texts of bills and laws from the United States Congress, the daily Congressional Record, relevant proceedings and proposed legislation, committee reports, and roll call votes, variously available from the present back to the 93rd Congress (1973). Includes links to major U.S. legislative Web sites.
  • United Nations
    Background information, documents, and news briefs concerning the U.N. and its handling of issues such as human rights, peace and security, economic and social development, humanitarian affairs, and international law.

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Health and Medicine

  • Health and Wellness Resource Center
    Health and medical information including an encyclopedia, drug information, and alternative treatments.
  • Health Reference Center
    Full text of nursing and allied health journals, plus a wide variety of personal health information.
  • MedlinePlus
    Authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.

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History and Countries

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Homework

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Internet Searching

  • Computer & Internet Tutorials
    Librarian-selected and created tutorials for different skill levels on search engines, internet use, and online safety.
  • Internet Search Tools
    Quick link to the most common search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Ask.com

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Library Services

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Legal

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Magazines and Newspapers

  • National Newspaper Index
    Indexing for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post.
  • Full Text Newspapers
    Full-text newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, and the Contra Costa Times.
  • Historical New York Times
    Covers the New York Times from 1851-2001 - full text and images.
  • The Newspaper Archive
    Full text and images for non-CA papers up to 1977. In-library use only.
  • Informe (español)
    Popular Spanish-language magazines.
    Revistas populares en español.
  • InfoTrac OneFile
    Full-text articles for 5,800 popular magazines like Time, Newsweek, and People.
  • Expanded Academic
    Academic and research articles from scholarly journals in arts and humanities, social sciences, science and technology, etc.
  • General Reference Center
    Multi-subject reference collection with hundreds of reference books, magazines, and newspapers.

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Science and Technology

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Statistics and Demographics

  • Counting California
    Current and historical California social and economic statistics from state, federal, and local governmental agencies.
  • Kids Count
    Statistics on the education, economic, social and physical well-being of children in the U.S. Site allows you to generate custom graphs, maps, ranked lists, and state-by-state profiles or download the entire data set.
  • Population Reference Bureau
    Timely and objective information on U.S. and international population trends and their implications. Topics include the environment, AIDS, aging, education, family planning, gender, health, poverty, mortality, policy, and race.
  • U.S. Census Bureau Fact Finder
    Population, housing, economic, and geographic data for the United States

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Look it Up!

Read up on health

History Resource Center