A Pathfinder for Autobiographies
and Biographies
Would you like to get the best resources for your English, arts
and social studies classes, using quick links? Here’s how to do it.
Follow the steps in this pathfinder to learn how to use ABC-CLIO,
Google Books, internet directories and public library databases.
To open any of these sites, place your mouse over the title and then press “Ctrl” and left click your mouse
ABC-CLIO
Books
Open Source
Magazines Directory
Intute
Internet
Public
Library
Virtual
Uber
Learning
Biographies
Resources
ABC-CLIO Database
http://www.socialstudies.abc-clio.com/Login/Login.aspx
To search enter your
keywords into the search
box.
ABC-CLIO requires a login
and password. Write
down the information in
your planner so you
always have it.
Online Resources--Internet Sites
Internet Directories are websites that gather together resources according to subject or keyword.
 Open Source Directory: The largest available web catalogue. You can search by keyword then use
the results to help you develop subject headings for other searches. All results include an abstract
that describes the website’s relevancy
 Intute: source directory for educational and research websites for science and humanities
subjects. You can search by subject using the A-Z function at http://www.intute.ac.uk/az.html or
use advanced search at http://www.intute.ac.uk/search.html to search by database or by type of
resources (moving images, full text journal articles, blogs, or primary or secondary sources. Intute
will save all your searches and documents for you if you choose the My Intute option at
http://www.intute.ac.uk/myintute/index.php.
 Internet Public Library and Librarian’s Internet Index: Check the search base for information.
Most of the materials will be relevant for U.S. History. If the search is unsuccessful, IPL has a
multi-search option at http://www.lii.org/pub/htdocs/search_tools.htm which allows you to
search 16 other website directories or indexes.
 Virtual Learning Resources: Good news, you can use this
database in German, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and
Chinese. Bad News: Searching this database may not be
successful. Consider browsing through topic areas instead or
use the information portal box.
 Uber Biographies: “The backgrounds, careers and achievements of the men and women who
have shaped political events across the world in the 20th century, balancing fact with critical
appraisal.” The advantage of the site is that users can search by name and the search will pull
multiple biographical entries from academic and general dictionaries and encyclopedias. Warning:
the index is alphabetical by first name so if further help is needed use the large search window
and type in the name of the subject.
Special Biography Websites
The Biography Channel
http://www.biography.com/search/index.jsp
(Search Page)
Big Big Biography Section
Click on person or general links
http://www.deweybrowse.org/biography.html
Gale Free Resources Biographies
http://gale.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/
The Biography Center
http://www.biography-center.com/
BBC History
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/
Yahoo Biography Directory
http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/People/Biogr
aphies/?skw=biographies
(links to many websites)
S9 Biography information (modern and pop
culture)
http://www.s9.com/
Los Angeles Public Library
IF YOU HAVE AN LAPL CARD YOU MAY ALSO ACCESS THESE SITES
To access the site, place mouse on database icon, press “ctrl” and let click your
mouse. Enter your library card number and password (always the last four digits
of your home phone)
BEST
• Expert acdemic or
professional
resource
• Based on
evidence
• Timely: written or
updated recently
B
E
T
s
• Straightfprward
and understandable