I spend hours most working days on a computer doing various reports, correspondence, and research. Many times every day I use a search engine such as Google.  I appreciate being able to find information rapidly.  But sometimes I need to look elsewhere.

Subscription databases are online services that cost money but provide exceptional services.  For example, Pocahontas Libraries has a subscription to Online University, which offers hundreds of online computer software tutorials.  Pocahontas Libraries also has a subscription to Ancestry.com, a premier genealogical research program to trace and gain information about ancestors.  These programs are free for patrons to use by contacting a local librarian and reserving a time slot.

The West Virginia Library Commission also subscribes to a number of subscription databases. These are available, free, to any West Virginia library patron.  These databases can be accessed at home with an easy to remember password you can obtain from your librarian.

The website is www.WVInfoDepot.org/ or you may enter through our PCFL portal at www.pocahontaslibrary.org/

EBSCOhost offers thousands of journal, magazine, newspaper titles with fully searchable full text articles covering a vast array of subjects in health, business, general information.
Consumer Health Complete is a specialized searchable database of hundreds of sources.
NoveList Plus offers a wealth of information about novels including a search function reviews, book talks, and awards. NoveList Plus K-8 is for younger school children.
Points Of View is a searchable topical database culling from newspapers, books, magazines and journals on issues of debate.
Searchasaurus is a seachable database of children’s magazines and other resources. Searches can be through a Lexile Scale for reading level.
Kids Search is another children’s database.
Groliers (Young Readers) is a searchable database of encyclopedia, magazine, and websites for youngsters. Groliers (Older Readers) is geared for teens and adults. Excellent resource for teacher lesson preparation.
Access NewspaperARCHIVE contains tens of millions of searchable newspaper pages, dating as far back as the 1700s. Thousands of newspapers are listed, including some recent issues of The Pocahontas Times.
Selected West Virginia Newspaper has archives of The Charleston Gazette, Charleston Daily Mail, Dominion Post (Morgantown) and Herald-Dispatch (Huntington), and several national news magazines.
LearningExpressLibrary.com is a leading source for test preparation materials and interactive practice exams based on official tests. Immediate scoring, answer explanations, and individualized analysis of results. Signup and login must be done through our web portal at www.wvinfodepot.org/ or accessed through our library web page. May be used at home.
These databases offer extraordinary information capacity.  Check these out. And remember to ask your librarian for a password.