Research & Discovery

Do high-level research with journals, periodicals, reports, books, and more. The database includes more than 7,300 peer-reviewed journals covering scholarly subjects like Medicines, Psychiatry, Law, Math, and Critical Care. Note: For some journals the full-text of the most recent issue may not be available right away.

Search genealogy records and discover more about your family history. Ancestry includes records from the U.S. Census, military, court, land and probate, church, directories, passenger lists, and more. Watch Ancestry tutorial., opens a new window

Please Note: Ancestry can only be used inside the library. When visiting the library, you can access Ancestry from a laptop while connected to our Wi-Fi, or by using one of our library computers.

Find digital copies of articles from magazines, newspapers, and journals. You can search for specific topics or browse by subject.

La Encyclopaedia Britannica en línea con niveles para niños y jóvenes proporciona artículos de texto completo con enlaces a sitios web. Un recurso útil para ensayos, tareas de historia y más.

Britannica Library Reference Center provides articles, biographies, images, and videos on many topics. Britannica is an online encyclopedia where you can search for any topic that comes to mind. Watch Britannica tutorial., opens a new window

Access the latest issue as well as back issues of some popular consumer magazines:

• • Consumer Reports (2014 - Present)
  • Consumer Reports On Health (2015 - Present)
  • Consumer Reports Buying Guide (2015 - Present)
  • AARP: The Magazine (2016 - Present)

Read reviews and comparisons of products and services for appliances, cars and trucks, electronics, and more. Learn about product recalls and the safety and reliability of individual brands.

Tips for Searching:

1. Click the link "Search within this publication."
2. If using the "Basic Search" option, use AND, OR, or NOT followed by your search term. For example: JN "Consumer Reports" AND Washing Machines. 

OR 

1. Click the link "Search within this publication."
2. Click on Advanced Search.
3. The first search box displays: JN "Consumer Reports". Add your search term, such as the term "Washing Machines," into the second search box.

While outside the library you can access some Santa Clara County historical newspapers from 1895 to 1923. This archive includes local newspapers from Campbell, Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.

While inside the library you can access our entire collection of Santa Clara County historical newspapers from 1895 to 2018. This archive includes local newspapers from Campbell, Cupertino, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Saratoga.

Digital ReeL provides online access to SCCLD’s microfilm collection of historical local newspapers. The digitized microfilm can be searched by publication title, year, and issue. Up to 10 people can access this service at a time. If you are unable to access, please try again at a later time.

Access hundreds of reference and nonfiction ebooks. Subjects include art and architecture, computer science, health and medicine, history, and more. Also included are full-text classic literature, poetry, and drama that are in the public domain. All titles can be read online or downloaded to your device for 21 days. See the Get Started Guides for more info.

A teacher's companion to the various Explora databases. Find professional development resources, lesson plans, research guides, and curriculum standards.

Offers a collection of full-text magazines, reference books, videos, and more. Topics cover school subjects as well as arts, music, health, sports, and life skills. Watch Explora tutorial.

Access a growing collection of U.S. military records from the Revolutionary War to recent conflicts. Includes the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. Contains millions of archived records, many of which are only available on Fold3. This resources is perfect for researching the military, history, and genealogy. Watch Fold3 tutorial.

Access hundreds of ebooks on science, health, business, history, literature, religion, and more. Read the full text online. You can also download and save articles. Watch Gale eBooks tutorial.

This dictionary provides definitions to impertinent, vile, censored, hip, witty, and fascinating slang words. Covers five centuries of the English-speaking regions of the world.

A collection of research materials for tracing family history and American culture. Includes U.S. Federal Census records, family histories, published genealogies, historical books, Revolutionary War records, Freedman's Bank records, and more. Watch tutorial video.

My China Roots is a genealogy resource for researching Chinese ancestry. Collections include records in both English and Chinese such as census, immigration, Chinese exclusion, community directories, burial and genealogy records. Users can research ancestral villages, surname origins, and digitized zupus (documents compiled by families to record the names and details of ancestors), as well as upload images with Chinese text to get a transcription. 

New York Times Games offer daily games, including The Crossword, Wordle, Spelling Bee, Connections, and more. Solve puzzles at any skill level and share scores with friends and family. The New York Times Wirecutter offers independent reviews and buying advice for thousands of consumer products including computers, electronics and tech devices, kitchenware, home and garden products, health and fitness tools, and more. Research recommendations before purchase to make informed decisions. First redeem access and log in to your New York Times account. Wirecutter is available from the NYT website menu.

Please Note: The New York Times (NYT) requires users to be 13 or older. The NYT also asks users age 13-17 to obtain parental or legal guardian consent to the NYT Terms of Service and NYT Privacy Policy. By following the link below to access the NYT, you certify that you are 13 or older, and that if you are 13-17 years old, that you have obtained the consent of your parent or legal guardian to the NYT terms of service and privacy policy.

When accessing the New York Times link, you will be leaving the Santa Clara County Library District website and directed to the New York Times site. This service is provided at no charge to Santa Clara County Library District patrons. Please be aware that policies that apply to the Library and its website may not be the same as the terms of use for other websites. By proceeding you agree to accept and assume all risks and responsibilities for the losses and damages that may arise from your use of the New York Times website and release the Santa Clara County Library District from all liability.

Find legal forms and ebooks that explain topics such as business law, financial planning, family law, property and real estate, and rights and disputes. Search for state-specific legal forms for Adoption, Bankruptcy, Name Changes, and more.

Provides contemporary and historical meanings and pronunciation of words, using quotations to illustrate usage. Look up words and learn about the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. Watch OED tutorial.

Provides ready reference eBooks from Oxford University Press' Dictionaries, Companions and Encyclopedias. Highlights from the collection include architecture, economic history, music, German and American literature, Shakespeare, ancient Egypt, the Reformation, the Renaissance, women in world history, and much more. Watch Oxford eBooks tutorial.

Search for the titles of magazines, journals, newspapers, reference books, newsletters, and more which are available in the library's online collection. You can enter a title, subject, or ISSN/ISBN. Available in Article Search: Ebsco Discovery Service (EDS).

Provides information about businesses and people. Search by name, location, type of business and more. Conduct business and consumer research, create marketing plans, research competitive analysis, and locate executives. Watch the Reference Solutions tutorial.

Enciclopedia en español para hablantes de español y estudiantes del idioma. Incluye videos, características para comparar y contrastar, y un diccionario visual.

Provides encyclopedia articles, edited to suit kids and adults. Also includes tables, animations, videos, pictures, maps and resources for teachers. This trustworthy reference is perfect for school reports and research papers. There are different portals for different age ranges, and includes Spanish resources for elementary school users. Learn more by watching the World Book tutorial.

Search the collection and holdings of other library systems from around the world. Find books, magazines, newspapers, archival material, videos, audio recordings, maps, and other items not owned by the Santa Clara County Library District. This is a great resource for patrons looking for reference items, archival material, primary sources, or hard to find items that maybe out of print. You may place an Interlibrary loan (ILL) request (fee charged) for items to be delivered to an SCCLD library.