Research Databases

Use of these select digital information sources is limited to those who hold library cards.
Mark Twain Library cardholders have access to the subscription databases listed here. Some databases are subsidized directly by the library, some are offered by Joel Barlow High School and can be accessed by Redding residents, and some are made available to all state residents by ResearchIT CT, Connecticut’s Digital Library.

Library-funded Databases/Digital Publications

• HeritageQuest® Online is a comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources—rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, convenient research guides, interactive census maps, and more.
• Fold3 provides convenient access to military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. The records at Fold3 help you discover and share stories about these everyday heroes, forgotten soldiers, and the families that supported them.
• Ancestry® Library Edition (Library computers only): the most comprehensive source of genealogical information on the web; the site recently added complete U.S. military records
• ConsumerReports.org: online access to product reviews and ratings from Consumer Reports (to use from home, you will need to enter your library card number)
• Redding PILOT Online (from NEWSBANK): allows patrons to browse PILOT articles by date, starting with the June 5, 2003 edition, up until the last issue published on October 10, 2018; letters to the editors, obituaries, and general news articles can be accessed. Many issues of the paper going back to October 1966 are also available at the library; please contact us for more information.
• Morningstar® Investment Research Center: Real-time access to comprehensive data and independent analysis on thousands of investments, spanning mutual funds, stocks, exchange-traded funds, and closed-end funds. Available in the library and from home.

• The New York Times (Library computers only): Free, unlimited access to The New York Times website on any library computer during your visit. To activate, you’ll need to register for a free NYTimes.com account or log into an existing account.
• The New York Times: (Remote and WiFi access): Free, unlimited, 72-hour access to The New York Times website and mobile apps from outside the Library or using WiFi. To activate, enter your library card number, click on “Get Your Access Code,” click on “Redeem,” then register for a free NYTimes.com account or log into an existing account. Once your pass expires, return to this page to renew for another 72 hours.

Connecticut State Library

(can be used at the library and from home)

• Digital Collection—WPA Architectural Survey: amazing images of Redding’s Historical Buildings taken between 1933–35 by the WPA. They can be downloaded, printed, and shared.
• Digital Collection—Treasures of Connecticut Libraries: Redding homes from the 1937 slide collection Dr. Goldhorn. They can be downloaded, printed, and shared.

ResearchIT CT—Connecticut State Library’s search engine

(can be used at the library and from home)

• ResearchIT CT provides a collection of essential library and information resources for all Connecticut students, faculty and residents. Their Digital Library offers periodical, newspapers, reference databases, and downloadable books. Click here to see what’s available