Homework Help Guide

These online learning tools and research websites are all off-site resources available for free with your library card.

Jump to:
Authors & Books | General Research | History & Geography | Magazines & Newspapers | Practice Tests, Exercises, & Tutoring
See also: DBRL’s Educational Resources Guide, a catalog of learning tools from your library, including virtual programs, physical and digital collections, databases and free digital courses.

Authors & Books

  • Books & Authors
    Find a new author or a whole new series tailored to your reading taste. Can limit search to young adults or children.
  • Book Collection: Nonfiction – Middle School Edition
    Search the full text of more than 3,100 popular nonfiction books for middle school students on subjects like health, life skills, ethnicity, sports, adventure, technology, history, science and more.
  • Book Collection: Nonfiction – Elementary Edition
    Search the full text of more than 1,300 popular nonfiction books for elementary school students on subjects like animals, weather, holidays, sports, Native Americans and more.
  • Literature Resource Center
    Critical essays and biographical information on more than 165,000 authors. Can limit search by “target audience” (including children).
  • eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
    Online collection of 88,000 e-books. (Formerly NetLibrary.)
  • Novelist
    Search for works by a favorite author, readalikes and book discussion guides.

General Research

  • AccessScience
    McGraw-Hill’s Encyclopedia of Science and Technology.
  • Biography in Context
    Biographies on more than 5,100 people.
  • CultureGrams Online
    CultureGrams Online offers World, Kids, Canadian Provinces and U.S. States editions in which you’ll find maps, statistics, photo galleries, famous people and recipe collections.
  • MAS Ultra – School Edition
    Designed for high school students, this database contains full text articles, biographies, primary source documents, reference books and images on topics ranging from science, history and literature to political science, career exploration and more.
  • Middle Search Plus
    Designed for junior high and middle school students, this database features full text for magazines, biographies and historical essays; primary source documents; the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia; American Heritage Dictionary; and photos, maps and flags.
  • World Book Online Reference Center
    Every article from the print encyclopedia enhanced with state-of-the-art multimedia, maps, and more. Includes Spanish Student Discovery Encyclopedia, World Book Kids and World Book Reference Center.

History & Geography

  • A to Z the USA
    Information about each state and U.S. territory, including climate, weather, demographics, geography, history and historical images.
  • African-American History Online
    Provides expansive and in-depth information on the people, events, and topics important to the study of African-American history.
  • American History Online
    Spans more than 500 years of political, military, social, and cultural history, highlighting the important people and events of the American experience.
  • American Indian History Online
    Offers thorough access to more than 15,000 years of Native American culture, history, and heritage.
  • American Women’s History Online
    Covers the important people, events, legislation, and issues relevant to the study of women’s history in the United States.
  • Ancient and Medieval History Online
    Explores the pre-modern world with in-depth focus on Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
  • Issues and Controversies in American History
    Builds a deeper understanding of how historical events have shaped our nation by exploring the key players and the battles they fought.
  • Modern World History Online
    Covers the people, places, and events in the broad expanse of history–from mid-15th century to the present.
  • U.S. Government Online
    Presents in-depth information on the structure and function of the U.S. government and its everyday role in the lives of citizens.

Magazines & Newspapers

  • MasterFILE Premier
    Provides full text and images from a wide range of general interest magazines.
  • NewsBank
    Full-text articles from the Fulton Sun and other American newspapers.
  • Newspaper Source
    Cover-to-cover full text for more than 40 national and international newspapers as well as selective full text for more than 389 regional papers, including the Columbia Daily Tribune.
  • SIRS Issues Researcher
    General reference database containing thousands of full-text articles exploring social, scientific, health, historic, business, economic, political and global issues.

Practice Tests, Exercises, & Tutoring

  • Learning Express Library
    Learning Express provides test preparation materials for elementary through adult level. Also includes sections useful for elementary school, middle school, and high school skills improvement, with diagnostic tests and practice exercises as well as math, reading comprehension and writing courses.

  • Parks and Recreation
    Open Monday-Friday from 3-7 pm during the school year. Many of the volunteer tutors are provided by MU’s Office of Service Learning. Call to confirm: 573.817.5077. There are no appointments.
    Location: Armory Sports Center – Downstairs
    701 E. Ash Street, Columbia MO.