Research Steps
- Begin with general reference resources, such as encyclopedia articles, to give you a sense of the main issues.
- Move to critical articles (e.g. from the databases) that debate and discuss the issue.
- If applicable, consult primary sources for original evidence and examples.
Electronic Resources (Virtual Library)
Use the links below to search for books, encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, journals, and verified websites available on our virtual shelves. Most of these digital resources can be accessed without a password in the OCDSB Student Portal, under the Research waffle in the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
Click here for a video on how to access the Student Portal and the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
If you are having trouble accessing resources via the Student Portal, click here for direct links and passwords (password document available only to OCDSB accounts).
- Encyclopedia Britannica Online (currently available only through the Ottawa Public Library) »Need an Ottawa Public Library card?
- Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia — English-language general encyclopedia, available through the VLE as part of Ebsco
- The Canadian Encyclopedia — English and French versions (no password required)
- French Encyclopedias: Universalis et Universalis Junior — French-language general encyclopedias, available through the VLE in the Student Portal.
- Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development. Also available in French.
Use these databases to access:
- newspapers
- magazines and academic journals
- encyclopedias and other reference books
- multimedia sources
Go to the Student Portal/VLE to access OCDSB databases. Click here for instructions.
Having trouble logging in to the VLE? Click here for direct links and passwords for EBSCO databases (OCDSB access only).
How to use EBSCO databases for research
Video: How to translate EBSCO articles (ELL)
Free online journal and research databases
- JSTOR Open Access to academic journals and research resources
- American Psychological Association - Contains psychology topics (definitions and treatments).
- PLOS (Public Library of Science)
- PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal (U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
- C-SPAN Video Library
- Ohio University Library Digital Archives
- Perplexity (AI search engine)
Original information and documents, including newspapers and magazines.
- Popular Science Magazine
- La revue Géographica
- Statistics Canada
- Browse by topic to find statistics and articles on trends in Canadian society, economy, environment, health, justice, etc.
- Library of Parliament Research Publications
- Early Canadiana Online
- Canada in the Making, the Fur Trade, the Hudson’s Bay Company, Canadian Women’s History, Colonial Government Journals, the Early Governors General of Canada, English Canadian Literature, History of French Canada, Jesuit Relations, and Native Studies.
- National Library and Archives Canada (Collections Canada)
- Look in the Virtual Exhibitions and the Digital Collections for online, digitized versions of Canadian primary sources (diaries, newspapers, photographs, and other documents) in the National Library and Archive of Canada.
- The Globe and Mail Archive, 1884-2003 (Ottawa Public Library)
- You can access this archive of The Globe and Mail newspaper articles from 1844 to 2003 FROM HOME ONLY, with an OPL library card, by going to the Ottawa Public Library’s website and clicking on Browse » Magazines and Newspapers. Need an Ottawa Public Library card?
- Ontario History Links Online
- The Ontario Genealogy Home Page lists online links and publications related to the history of Ontario communities and townships. Many digitized primary documents.