Student Toolbox -MPS Virtual Library Guide
Why Use MPS Databases vs. Google?
Google does not evaluate websites for authoritativeness or accuracy of information
 Google uses a formula to locate, organize and post website links to users
 Google users must in essence become the “subject expert” in order to
determine which websites are biased, present inaccurate, dated or unreliable
information
MPS databases take out all of the guesswork and save time for the researcher
because they are the collected efforts of subject experts and educators.
The General Construction of a Database
Search Screen may provide:
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Keyword or a browse feature to choose from
Basic and advanced/Boolean search options
Limiters or relevance feature
Results Screen usually offers:
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A choice of media type such as journal/magazine articles, newspaper, TV
transcripts, reference, books, websites, podcasts, etc.
Primary vs. secondary sources
Hot topic, or topic of the month from current events in the news
Patron folder in which to store a number of articles; most are temporary
Reference section with dictionary, thesaurus, etc.
Print button, download button, citation button
Search history feature
Additional Features: Look for buttons to refine and/or sort your results, a folder to keep selected resources in, a
way to navigate back to results, back to home screen, and area for alternate search terms.
Access these resources from the MPS Home Page by clicking on the Student link on the left side, then click on Students’ Toolbox.
From home, type in the following web address: http://mpsportal.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/.
Badger Link
3-12
Wisconsin Newspapers, ProQuest Newspapers, LitFinder: Literature Finder, African
American Biographies, Wisconsin Government sites, and Wisconsin history
You may need your public library card to use this at home.
Brainfuse
K-12
Online academic support providing tutoring and one-to-one homework help in ‘real time’.
Students will create username and password during online registration - http://goo.gl/BNNlqv.
Public library card is needed for tutoring services.
BrainPop
Prek-12
A group of educational websites with over 1,000 cross curricular short animated movies for
students in grades K-12, together with quizzes, supplemental information and related
materials,
Username: bp0+(school/site number) Password: brainpop
Biography Resource
6-12
Biographical dictionaries, periodical articles, photos and illustrations
Username: (none necessary)
Password: mpslibrary
Last Update: 2/9/2016 (LDC)
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CultureGrams
3-12
Biographies, photos, games and geographical information about cultures and countries
around the world and States in the US
Username: mpsstudent
Password: mpsstudent
Discovery Education Streaming Plus
PreK-12
Discovery Education streaming Plus has 9,000 full-length videos segmented into 71,000
content-specific clips tied directly to state and national standards for students. Teachers can
download concept-level video clips, virtual labs, interactives, audio files, and lesson plans.
Contact the librarian to obtain the school passcode in order to create an account.
EBSCO
PreK-12
Kid’s Search. Research articles and periodical databases with language translation
Username: mpsstudent
Password: mpsstudent1
NetTrekker
PreK-12
Search Engine offering over 600,000 standards-based websites evaluated for relevance and
reliability
Students need to register online while at an MPS site.
News-2-You
PreK-12
A weekly online newspaper for beginning readers
If necessary, contact Cynthia Dean at deancj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us for login
directions.
News Currents
3-12
Contains NewsCurrents Online, a discussion-based classroom current events program for
kids in grades 3 to 12, and Read to Know, which provides non-fiction reading in a weekly
online current events magazine for grades 6 and up.
Username: 53218
Password: north
OverDrive eBooks
PreK-12
eBook collection of fiction, nonfiction and professional titles.
Use your MPS username and password for access
Rand McNally
6-12
Maps, games, activities, and geographic reference information.
Username: mps2
Password: student
Thinkfinity
PreK-12
Links to amazing facts, online resources, entertaining games to help study and learn, and
real world problems to enhance literacy, problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Last Update: 2/9/2016 (LDC)
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