110 East Venango Street | Mercer, PA 16137 | 724-662-4233
Mercer Area Library
"A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life."-Beecher
ONLINE REFERENCE RESOURCES
Library cardholders may access a wide variety of online reference resources that provide accurate, factual, and expert-verified information for research, school work, or reference. Accessing this information is simple, and each online database or resource is filled with articles, newspapers, journals, magazines, entries, books, and more. Resources for children, teens, and adults are available for browsing.
Resources for Adults
Use Ask Here PA to receive live answers to your questions 24/7 from a librarian. Please note that the ASK Here PA Librarian does not work at Mercer Library and therefore will not have access to your Mercer library account related to renewals, overdues, and materials you currently have checked out.
GALE Virtual Reference Library is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. Browse through a wide variety of encyclopedias from areas such as business, education, literature, medicine, and science.
GALE Testing & Education Reference Center is a detailed information on private high schools, undergraduate, graduate, vocational schools, and executive education programs; online practice tests for preparatory exams (including college and military entrance exams and civil service exams); and PDF versions of respected college and career handbooks. Research career choices and build a high-quality resume to share with potential employers. Save your resume as a Word document or email it directly from the site.
GALE PriceIt! Antiques & Collectibles may be used to identify, research, and price art, antiques, and collectibles. Pricing information in the database is gathered from three reputable sources: online auctions (eBay, GoAntiques), online retail (GoAntiques, TIAS), and land-based auction houses.
POWER LIBRARY is an amazing resource for PA residents that allows you to access thousands of full text periodical articles, newspapers and a major encyclopedia. Various databases offer access to information on authors and literature, history, business, health and science, and more! This valuable resource provides verified, peer-reviewed information for serious researchers.
Resources for Teens
When the physical library is closed, you can always count on Ask Here PA. If you have questions any day, any time, these librarians are here to help you get started or to assist when you’re stuck! This free service is super easy to use- just launch a chat to get started. Please note that the ASK Here PA Librarian does not work at Mercer Library and therefore will not have access to your Mercer library account.
GALE Virtual Reference Library is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources that allow you to research to you heart's content! Find a wealth of information on a variety of topics that will help you better understand what you're learning in school and will give you the edge on papers, assignments, and homework.
In GALE Testing & Education Reference Center, find detailed information on private high schools, undergraduate, graduate, vocational schools, and executive education programs; online practice tests for preparatory exams, and PDF versions of respected college and career handbooks. Research career choices and build a high-quality resume to share with potential employers. Save your resume as a Word document or email it directly from the site. These resources are great for research for exams, term papers, and more! Think beyond the school year and gear up for college, university, the military, or the workforce!
POWER LIBRARY gives you access to 22 different databases, collections, and archives that will undoubtedly help you level up this year in school! From the main page, you can see all of the available resources and utilize the database that best suits your needs. Not sure what you need? Power Library gives you a hand in selection! Databases available include AP Images, Contemporary Authors Online, EBSCO, MasterFILE Main Edition, and Newspaper Source Plus. Suggested resources for high school and middle school students are EBSCO Host, Academic Search Plus, Middle Search Main Edition, Middle School Student Research, and SIRS Discoverer.
Resources for Children
POWER KIDS gives you great access to so much information online! Choose from a wide variety of resources to discover, learn, play, and more. Using these resouces will help you learn more about how to use computers and the Internet while having fun and learning something new. Develop great research skills and become a master of any subject. The resources listed below are great starters for kids just like you!
BOOKFLIX from Scholastic Books brings the fun of the libary home with you! This resource pairs a video based on a popular picture book wih a non-fiction ebook so the fun and learning doesn't have to end at the library! Look through dozens of pairs of books and build a love of reading today!
CYBERSMARTS offers users a safe, simulated Internet experience with hands-on instruction on how to deal with important online safety issues. Choose different scenarios to play through, and there's even a version for middle school students and teens!
ELEMENTARY STUDENT RESEARCH allows you to discover reliable information on thousands of topics with the click of a mouse or swipe of a finger. This one stop database has loads of info on books, science, history, writing, math, technology, and more!
PRIMARY SEARCH is perfect for beginners to learn how to research. This database provides access to full-text articles to popular magazines for elementary school research dating back to 1990.