The Alabama Virtual Library Alabama’s premiere online information resource Alabama’s premiere online information resource The Alabama Virtual Library is supported by the Governor and the Alabama Legislature and funded by Alabama taxpayers. The Alabama Virtual Library is supported by the Governor and the Alabama Legislature and funded by Alabama taxpayers.

avl.lib.al.us At Alabama libraries, no User ID or Password is needed.

HOME ACCESS However, in order to access AVL at home, you will need a user name and a personal password. However, in order to access AVL at home, you will need a user name and a personal password. You may apply for an AVL User Card at any Alabama library. The card is free. You may apply for an AVL User Card at any Alabama library. The card is free. Keep your personal password secure. Keep your personal password secure. Your AVL User Card is usually good for 3 years; you may renew it at any Alabama library. Your AVL User Card is usually good for 3 years; you may renew it at any Alabama library.

You must follow the directions on the AVL User Card. Your ID and Password must be typed in all capital letters. Passwords never contain numbers!

The Alabama Virtual Library is made up of databases containing information from various sources: Magazines Magazines Newspapers Newspapers Encyclopedias Encyclopedias Dictionaries Dictionaries Almanacs Almanacs Academic Journals Academic Journals Poetry Literature Health Law Science Stories

 EBSCOhost Web  Britannica Online  Twayne’s Authors Series  InfoTrac Student Edition  SIRS SAMPLE DATABASES

 SEARCHES JOURNALS  AND MAGAZINES  SEARCHES JOURNALS  AND MAGAZINES

Check the boxes of the database(s) you want to search.  HEALTH SOURCE: CONSUMER EDITION  MASTERFILE PREMIER NEWSPAPER SOURCE  MAS ULTRA—SCHOOL EDITION Check the boxes of the database(s) you want to search.  HEALTH SOURCE: CONSUMER EDITION  MASTERFILE PREMIER NEWSPAPER SOURCE  MAS ULTRA—SCHOOL EDITION

Britannica Online School Edition for grades K-12 Three complete encyclopedias Three complete encyclopedias  118,000 articles  22,000 images  2,000 video clips  24,000 biographies  Detailed maps of 196 countries  Dictionary and Thesaurus

 BIOGRAPHIES OF FAMOUS AUTHORS  SUMMARIES OF AUTHORS’ WORKS  BIOGRAPHIES OF FAMOUS AUTHORS  SUMMARIES OF AUTHORS’ WORKS

Literature Resource Center 120,000 authors from every age and literary discipline. 120,000 authors from every age and literary discipline. Additional coverage for 2,500 of the most-studied authors. Additional coverage for 2,500 of the most-studied authors.

Contemporary Authors Complete biographical and bibliographical information and references on more than 120,000 U.S. and international authors

  SIRS Databases SIRS Discoverer—elementary resource SIRS Discoverer—elementary resource SIRS Government Reporter—by and about the U. S. Government SIRS Government Reporter—by and about the U. S. Government SIRS Knowledge Source—general research information SIRS Knowledge Source—general research information SIRS Renaissance—arts and humanities SIRS Renaissance—arts and humanities SIRS Spotlight of the Month—monthly highlighted topics SIRS Spotlight of the Month—monthly highlighted topics

New Databases Alabama Mosaic Alabama Mosaic Alt HealthWatch (alternative medicine) Alt HealthWatch (alternative medicine) Annals of American History Online Annals of American History Online Auto Repair Reference Center Auto Repair Reference Center Biography Reference Bank Biography Reference Bank Book Source: Nonfiction Book Source: Nonfiction History Reference Center History Reference Center

New Databases Medline Plus Medline Plus Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center Oxford English Dictionary Oxford English Dictionary Oxford Reference Online Premium Oxford Reference Online Premium

Opposing Viewpoints A one-stop source for social issues A one-stop source for social issues Contains statistics, documents, full-text magazine and newspaper articles as well as links to websites Contains statistics, documents, full-text magazine and newspaper articles as well as links to websites

Upgraded Databases Academic Search Premier (formerly Academic Search Elite) Academic Search Premier (formerly Academic Search Elite) Business Source Premier (now includes Datamonitor Company Profiles) Business Source Premier (now includes Datamonitor Company Profiles) Student Research Center (replaces MAS Ultra—School Edition and Middle Search Plus) Student Research Center (replaces MAS Ultra—School Edition and Middle Search Plus) Kids Search (replaces Primary Search and Searchasaurus) Kids Search (replaces Primary Search and Searchasaurus)

Format for MLA Source Cards Source cards (bibliography cards) for material that you access through AVL have a special format. In addition to the usual information that you would give for a published source, you must add on the source card that you found the material on AVL. Source cards (bibliography cards) for material that you access through AVL have a special format. In addition to the usual information that you would give for a published source, you must add on the source card that you found the material on AVL.

How do I cite AVL resources? There are differing opinions about how to cite online resources. Some AVL databases have information about how to cite their resources. For example, on the main page for SIRS Knowledge Source, there is a button in the upper right of the screen (Cite) which provides information about how SIRS recommends citing sources. How do I cite AVL resources? There are differing opinions about how to cite online resources. Some AVL databases have information about how to cite their resources. For example, on the main page for SIRS Knowledge Source, there is a button in the upper right of the screen (Cite) which provides information about how SIRS recommends citing sources.

MLA WEBSITE Scroll down and click on Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format. Then, scroll down to Basic Forms for Electronic Sources. Instructions as well as examples are included.