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Databases

Read current/past issues of magazines like Newsweek as well as newspapers such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Access Gale databases, academic journal articles, speciality encyclopedias, and health information. Learn more about Gale databases here.

A variety of Gale databases are also available through Gale InfoTrac. Simply enter your library card number to gain access.

Did you know that, in Florida, you can read full issues of the New York Times online from 1985 to the present? Or current issues of popular magazines like Newsweek and Prevention? These are just a few of the many resources available to Florida library patrons through the Florida Electronic Library, a state-sponsored electronic library devoted to the sharing of electronic information resources in Florida.

Many Floridians are unaware of the enormous amount of information available at their fingertips without the need for pricey subscriptions. To get started, visit flelibrary.org. Under "Featured Resources" you will find the most popular resources that the FEL currently offers. Want a suggestion for a good book to read? Visit "Books and Authors" under the "About Books" category. Need information on the risk factors for hypertension? See the "Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine" under "Health". Or are you doing a school project and need to read the Florida Constitution of 1838? Check out the "Florida Memory Project" under "History".

The Florida Electronic Library is accessible from any Internet connection in Florida. For access out of state, you will need to enter your Florida library card number. So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of these great resources today.

Genealogy

The library has a small selection of resources related to conducting genealogical research. The library does not have any genealogical records. For more in-depth genealogical research, check with the Lee County Public Library or follow the links below.

National Archives
Lee County Public Library resources
Lee County Genealogical Society

Ancestry.com
USGenWeb Project
Cyndi's List
Ellis Island passenger search
National Archives
Resources by state

Nearby Libraries

Lee County Library System
Collier County Public Library
Sanibel Public Library
FSW State College Library
Florida Gulf Coast University Library

Legal Resources

Lee County Clerk of Courts
Florida laws and legal info
FindLaw legal help
Free Federal resources

Discover Gale Databases

Online databases are essential to today's research needs. Students, researchers, and professors all rely on databases to quickly access electronic versions of journal articles, periodicals, and reference materials that formerly required extended trips to academic libraries. As a Florida public library card holder, you may be surprised to learn that you also have access to many of the same resources that professional researchers use. But even if you are not a professional researcher, online databases contain resources that will appeal to all levels of interest. You can read magazines, learn how to improve your job search strategy, and even learn how to market your small business.

Online databases are repositories of articles and written materials pulled from a variety of sources and made accessible in one place online. Databases typically include full-text articles as well as citations, or bibliographic references. Even if a database does not contain a full version of an article you are seeking, a citation will help you locate it. Some databases have morphed into online subject encyclopedias and "reference libraries" which include unique articles not found elsewhere. These databases may or may not include access to journal articles from other sources.

As a Florida library card holder, you have access to a wide spectrum of Gale databases. Gale is an educational publishing company that produces some of the most popular and widely-used databases for educational research. To find the Gale databases that are available to you, go to the Florida Electronic Library and click on "View all resources". Any icon with the word "Gale" on its left side is a Gale database.

Here is a small sample of the many Gale databases available:

Gale Academic OneFile - Millions of articles from more than 14,000 titles. 6,000 of these titles are available in full-text. Geared toward academic research and includes a large selection of peer-reviewed journals. Search by keyword, subject, or publication.

Gale General OneFile - Millions of articles from nearly 8,000 titles. Geared toward a general audience and includes access to current and back issues from popular periodicals and newspapers such as Newsweek, The Atlantic, and the New York Times. The easiest way to search for a particular publication in any Gale database is by clicking on "Publication Search" and typing in the title of the publication.

Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine - A combination database and encyclopedia. Search for information by disease or condition, or find details about popular drugs and herbs. Includes a list of carefully selected web sites for reliable and trusted health information. Also includes access to more than 400 peer-reviewed medical journals.

Gale OneFile: Business - Access to articles related to starting and operating a small business. Topics include financing, marketing, taxes, and more.

Gale OneFile:Popular Magazines - A surprising collection of full-text articles from popular magazines such as The Economist, House Beautiful, Backpacker, The New Yorker, and much more. Many articles include graphics.

Florida Newspaper Database - Access to some full-text articles from a variety of Florida news sources and magazines including the Tampa Bay Times, Florida Trend, Florida Sportsman, and much more.

Employ Florida Market Place - Get advice about your resume, apply for jobs, and research careers. Employ Florida is your online resource for employment.