Bowen Library - Digital Collections - Resources

Digital Collections

The world that Google can't bring you

A woman sits in a semi lotus postion reading her laptop

Looking for research information beyond the scope of our book collection? Our Digital Collections provide high-end information services at your fingertips - all you need is your library card. There's a lot more to the net than Google!

Explore history, current events, homework help, consumer information and much, much more. Digital collections are e-books, audiobooks, newspapers online, full text databases of magazine articles, encyclopedias and other reference sources. They are available 7 days a week from anywhere you have Internet access and are free to Bowen Library members. For those that require your library number, remember to put in all 14 numbers, but no spaces.

Find out more:

	Askaway Ask a real, living librarian for help - from your computer. Chat live online with expert staff and find answers to your questions. Staff provide research guidance and help with navigating the Internet, your library's catalogue, and other online resources.
	Tumblebooks This entertaining site is now available through the Bowen Island Public Library, and presents full colour pages of books for kids, read aloud. It's all controlled by you or your kids from a simple interface. Enjoy Tumblebooks for free.
	Library To Go - Download e-books and audiobooks British Columbia Libraries: Your Library Without Walls! Download e-books or audiobooks and read or listen to best sellers and classics 24/7 on your e-reader, desktop, laptop, or mobile device. Your library without walls is always open!
	Proquest Canadian Newstand ProQuest provides seamless access to and navigation of more than 125 billion digital pages of the world's scholarship, delivering it to the desktop and into the workflow of serious researchers in multiple fields, from arts, literature, and social science to general reference, business, science, technology, and medicine. Includes the world's largest digital newspaper archive, periodical databases comprising the output of more than 9,000 titles and spanning more than 500 years, the pre-eminent dissertation collection, and various other scholarly collections.

World Book Encyclopedia Advanced More than 1.3 million pages of primary source documents—books, documents, selections—fully integrated with the encyclopedia content. Research and teaching tools include timelines, citation builder, and saved research.	World Book Kids With content from the award winning World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia, the site offers simpler navigation, thousands of colorful illustrations, diagrams, and maps, and dozens of activities tied to national curriculum standards.
World Book Student The new version of World Book Reference Center, with articles, multimedia, Web sites, and much more.	Know BC Know BC (formerly Encyclopedia of BC) is the definitive reference work on BC. With more than 4,000 entries and 1,500 accompanying photographs, maps, charts and tables, as well as sound and video clips, EBC is the source of readable and authoritative information on all the significant BC people, places and things.
Gale Virtual Reference Library Including electronic reference books from Gale and their publishing partners, researchers can instantly access thousands of eBooks on virtually any subject. These trusted, authoritative reference works are available 24/7 through our state-of-the-art Gale Virtual Reference Library platform, providing an unprecedented combination of functionality and features.

World Book
Encyclopedia
Advanced

More than 1.3 million pages of primary source documents—books, documents, selections—fully integrated with the encyclopedia content. Research and teaching tools include timelines, citation builder, and saved research.

World Book Kids

With content from the award winning World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia, the site offers simpler navigation, thousands of colorful illustrations, diagrams, and maps, and dozens of activities tied to national curriculum standards.

World Book
Student

The new version of World Book Reference Center, with articles, multimedia, Web sites, and much more.

Know BC

Know BC (formerly Encyclopedia of BC) is the definitive reference work on BC. With more than 4,000 entries and 1,500 accompanying photographs, maps, charts and tables, as well as sound and video clips, EBC is the source of readable and authoritative information on all the significant BC people, places and things.

Gale Virtual Reference
Library

Including electronic reference books from Gale and their publishing partners, researchers can instantly access thousands of eBooks on virtually any subject. These trusted, authoritative reference works are available 24/7 through our state-of-the-art Gale Virtual Reference Library platform, providing an unprecedented combination of functionality and features.

EBSCO is a database of magazine and journal literature. The database contains abstracts of all articles and full-text of selected articles. The database is searchable by keyword, author, journal title or publication year. In order to use this database from home, click here and enter all 14 digits from your Bowen Island Public Library card barcode. Do not include spaces. View a video introduction to the system.
Searchasaurus Three popular elementary and middle school databases (Primary Search®, Middle Search® Plus and Book Collection: Nonfiction™) can be accessed. Complete with erupting volcanoes, dinosaur guide and compass, the animated interface with a dinosaur theme encourages young researchers to to explore a wide range of topics. Younger researchers may also utilize the Kids Search interface.	Kids Search A search engine designed specifically for elementary and middle school students according to their needs and abilities. A child-friendly, graphically-rich design that is both powerful and fun to use. Now it's easier for students to automatically search across all applicable databases at the same time.
NoveList K-8 NoveList K-8, a fiction database, is designed with a bright, appealing layout, designed especially for elementary and middle schools. The “Working with Kids” section of the Browse panel on the homepage provides a single location to play with such things as Grab and Go Book Lists, BookTalks, Picture Book Extenders and more. Discover ways to introduce kids to new books, and encourage independent reading and help them think more about why a particular story appeals to them. NoveList K-8contains enhanced subject access for over 60,000 fiction titles aimed at the K-8 population. Full-text reviews from sources like School Library Journal and Booklist are available for many titles.	Databases for Children Using a more traditional interface, this search tool gives you access to a wealth of sources, including: Primary Search: full text for more than 70 popular magazines for elementary school research. All articles are assigned a reading level indicator (Lexiles); Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia: over 25,000 entries covering a variety of subject areas. EBSCO Animals: in-depth info on a variety of topics relating to animals.. History Reference Center: full text from more than 2,400 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books, 135 leading history periodicals, more than 61,100 historical documents, 57,000 biographies of historical figures, more than 110,200 historical photos and maps, and over 80 hours of historical video.
Search ALL Ebsco databases	Auto Repair Reference Center Based on Chilton’s and other car repair manuals, this one contains information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles, with repair information for most vintage makes starting as far back as 1945. Database content includes more than 33,100 vehicles covered from 1945 to present; over 250,000 drawings and step-by-step photographs; approximately 77,570 technical service bulletins & recalls issued by the original equipment vehicle manufacturer; over 144,600 enhanced wiring diagrams for easy viewing and printing; specifications & maintenance schedules; Labor Time Guide & Estimator; AutoIQ; Quick Tips, a complete guide to vehicle ownership & maintenance; unlimited remote access and much more.
Consumer Health Complete The single most comprehensive resource for consumer-oriented health content. It is designed to support patients' information needs and foster an overall understanding of health-related topics. CHC provides content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic and integrated medicine. This full text database covers topics such as aging, cancer, diabetes, drugs & alcohol, fitness, nutrition & dietetics, children's health, men & women's health, etc.	Business Source Premier This business-specific tool provides business researchers with the highly refined tools they need, in order to conduct sophisticated searches. An array of sophisticated features provides users with a high level of control over the development of their search strategies. The information is gathered from a wide variety of sources, including academic journals, SWOT analyses, trade publications, industry and company rofiles, market research reports and product reviews. The user can select which of these and other types of sources to search.
NoveList For many libraries, over half their circulation comes from fiction readers. NoveList, a readers' advisory service, not only provides access to 155,000 fiction titles, but it also offers a wide range of feature content such as author read-alikes, book discussion guides, reading lists and more.	History Reference Center The world's most comprehensive full text history reference database designed for secondary schools, public libraries, junior/community colleges, and undergraduate research. Features full text for more than 2,400 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books from leading history publishers. Also includes full text for 135 leading history magazines. Further, the database contains more than 61,100 historical documents; more than 57,000 biographies of historical figures; more than 110,200 historical photos and maps; and more than 80 hours of historical video.
GreenFile A freely accessible research database focusing on the relationship between human beings and the environment. Comprised of more than 600 scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports, GreenFILE offers a unique perspective on the positive and negative ways humans affect the ecology.
Canadian Student Research Centre Combines Canadian magazines, newspapers, newswires and reference books to create the largest collection of regional full text content available. Includes leading Canadian periodicals and international (U.S. and U.K.) periodicals in full text; full text reference books; 84,774 full text biographies and an Image Collection of 400,972 photos, maps and flags. Also provides full text for leading Canadian newspapers & newswires. The CSRC includes full text for leading Canadian reference books including a global almanac, Canadian dictionary and thesaurus and others.	Student Research Center Designed specifically for secondary school students, according to their needs and search abilities. The most appropriate research tools for easily searching the full range of EBSCO databases. Users can select which type of sources (e.g., Magazines, Newspapers, Biographies, Country Reports, Film & Video) will be included. They can search by topic heading, use the online dictionary and encyclopedia, explore the top searches of the day, and even limit their search according to appropriate Lexile reading levels.

	Canadian Citizenship Information Access a number of Citizenship Study Guides in several languages on the Surrey Public Library site.

EBSCO is a database of magazine and journal literature. The database contains abstracts of all articles and full-text of selected articles. The database is searchable by keyword, author, journal title or publication year.

In order to use this database from home, click here and enter all 14 digits from your Bowen Island Public Library card barcode. Do not include spaces.

View a video introduction to the system.

Searchasaurus

Three popular elementary and middle school databases (Primary Search®, Middle Search® Plus and Book Collection: Nonfiction™) can be accessed. Complete with erupting volcanoes, dinosaur guide and compass, the animated interface with a dinosaur theme encourages young researchers to to explore a wide range of topics. Younger researchers may also utilize the Kids Search interface.

Kids Search

A search engine designed specifically for elementary and middle school students according to their needs and abilities. A child-friendly, graphically-rich design that is both powerful and fun to use. Now it's easier for students to automatically search across all applicable databases at the same time.

NoveList K-8

NoveList K-8, a fiction database, is designed with a bright, appealing layout, designed especially for elementary and middle schools. The “Working with Kids” section of the Browse panel on the homepage provides a single location to play with such things as Grab and Go Book Lists, BookTalks, Picture Book Extenders and more. Discover ways to introduce kids to new books, and encourage independent reading and help them think more about why a particular story appeals to them. NoveList K-8contains enhanced subject access for over 60,000 fiction titles aimed at the K-8 population. Full-text reviews from sources like School Library Journal and Booklist are available for many titles.

Databases for
Children

Using a more traditional interface, this search tool gives you access to a wealth of sources, including:
Primary Search: full text for more than 70 popular magazines for elementary school research. All articles are assigned a reading level indicator (Lexiles); Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia: over 25,000 entries covering a variety of subject areas. EBSCO Animals: in-depth info on a variety of topics relating to animals.. History Reference Center: full text from more than 2,400 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books, 135 leading history periodicals, more than 61,100 historical documents, 57,000 biographies of historical figures, more than 110,200 historical photos and maps, and over 80 hours of historical video.

Search ALL Ebsco databases

Auto Repair
Reference Center

Based on Chilton’s and other car repair manuals, this one contains information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles, with repair information for most vintage makes starting as far back as 1945. Database content includes more than 33,100 vehicles covered from 1945 to present; over 250,000 drawings and step-by-step photographs; approximately 77,570 technical service bulletins & recalls issued by the original equipment vehicle manufacturer; over 144,600 enhanced wiring diagrams for easy viewing and printing; specifications & maintenance schedules; Labor Time Guide & Estimator; AutoIQ; Quick Tips, a complete guide to vehicle ownership & maintenance; unlimited remote access and much more.

Consumer Health
Complete

The single most comprehensive resource for consumer-oriented health content. It is designed to support patients' information needs and foster an overall understanding of health-related topics. CHC provides content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic and integrated medicine. This full text database covers topics such as aging, cancer, diabetes, drugs & alcohol, fitness, nutrition & dietetics, children's health, men & women's health, etc.

Business Source
Premier

This business-specific tool provides business researchers with the highly refined tools they need, in order to conduct sophisticated searches. An array of sophisticated features provides users with a high level of control over the development of their search strategies. The information is gathered from a wide variety of sources, including academic journals, SWOT analyses, trade publications, industry and company rofiles, market research reports and product reviews. The user can select which of these and other types of sources to search.

NoveList

For many libraries, over half their circulation comes from fiction readers. NoveList, a readers' advisory service, not only provides access to 155,000 fiction titles, but it also offers a wide range of feature content such as author read-alikes, book discussion guides, reading lists and more.

History
Reference
Center

The world's most comprehensive full text history reference database designed for secondary schools, public libraries, junior/community colleges, and undergraduate research. Features full text for more than 2,400 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books from leading history publishers. Also includes full text for 135 leading history magazines. Further, the database contains more than 61,100 historical documents; more than 57,000 biographies of historical figures; more than 110,200 historical photos and maps; and more than 80 hours of historical video.

GreenFile

A freely accessible research database focusing on the relationship between human beings and the environment. Comprised of more than 600 scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports, GreenFILE offers a unique perspective on the positive and negative ways humans affect the ecology.

Canadian Student
Research Centre

Combines Canadian magazines, newspapers, newswires and reference books to create the largest collection of regional full text content available. Includes leading Canadian periodicals and international (U.S. and U.K.) periodicals in full text; full text reference books; 84,774 full text biographies and an Image Collection of 400,972 photos, maps and flags. Also provides full text for leading Canadian newspapers & newswires. The CSRC includes full text for leading Canadian reference books including a global almanac, Canadian dictionary and thesaurus and others.

Student Research
Center

Designed specifically for secondary school students, according to their needs and search abilities. The most appropriate research tools for easily searching the full range of EBSCO databases. Users can select which type of sources (e.g., Magazines, Newspapers, Biographies, Country Reports, Film & Video) will be included. They can search by topic heading, use the online dictionary and encyclopedia, explore the top searches of the day, and even limit their search according to appropriate Lexile reading levels.

Canadian Citizenship Information

Access a number of Citizenship Study Guides in several languages on the Surrey Public Library site.

home | login | catalogue | contact

inquiry@bowenlibrary.ca

Direct Links

Digital Collections

The world that Google can't bring you