BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PATHFINDER
BOOKS:
 Benjamin Franklin books have been pulled & placed on a cart
 Encyclopedias are located under the windows
GENERAL WEBSITES:
Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man from The Franklin
Institute Science Museum http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/rotten.html
Information on Benjamin Franklin and science from the online version of this Philadelphia
Museum. Gives a brief overview of Franklin's contributions.
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/benfranklin/index.html
An overview of Franklin’s life, including his role as a printer, librarian, inventor and
statesman. Also includes a timeline of his life.
The Great Idea Finder: Benjamin Franklin
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/franklin.htm
Facts about Benjamin Franklin, inventor of the Franklin stove, lightning rod, odometer and
bifocal glasses.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
http://www.earlyamerica.com/lives/franklin/
Detailed information about Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography.
The Electric Ben Franklin
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/index.htm
Comprehensive information about all aspects of Benjamin Franklin’s life.
An Enlightened American
http://library.thinkquest.org/22254/home.htm
Information about Franklin’s biography, complete works, inventions, quotations, wit and
humor, interesting facts, genealogy and other references
Benjamin Franklin: A Documentary History
http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/
A documentary history of Franklin’s life from birth to death, highlighting all of his
important accomplishments. Includes links to information and timelines about his life as a
printer, a soldier, scientist and politician, an unofficial ambassador to England, a
revolutionary, and an elder statesman.
GROLIER ONLINE: (go.grolier.com)
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Click the Grolier On-Line icon on your computer’s desktop.
Type Benjamin Franklin in the Find It Fast! box at the top of the first screen. Click
the Go button.
Select an article from the results screen. I recommend that you select the article from
Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia (GME) to start with.
POWER LIBRARY: (Only available in the library, not in the computer labs.)
Click the POWER Library icon on your computer’s desktop.
ACCESS PENNSYLVANIA DATABASE DIGITAL REPOSITORY:
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In the Find A Book section, click the link to Access Pennsylvania Database.
When the Access Pennsylvania Database window opens, click the Search Other
Resources tab at the top of the page.
Click the link to Access PA Digital Repository.
Click the link to State Library of Pennsylvania Collections.
Click the link to Benjamin Franklin Collection.
Read the descriptions and select a title.
BIOGRAPHY REFERENCE BANK:
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In the Biography section, click the link to Biography Reference Bank.
When the Biography Reference Bank window opens, do the following:
 Type Franklin, Benjamin in the FIND box and change the in: box from All - Smart
Search to Person.
 Click the Start button.
Click the link to Franklin, Benjamin.
Look for more biography links on the left side of the page under Biographies
OXFORD REFERENCE ONLINE:
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In either the General Reference or Literature section, click the link to Oxford
Reference Online.
Type Benjamin Franklin in the Quick Search box and click the Go button.
In the results list, look for articles with Franklin’s name in the title and select one.
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SIRS DISCOVERER:
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In either the Children’s Resources, General Reference or
Newspapers/Magazines/Websites section, click the link to SIRS Discoverer.
When the SIRS Discoverer window opens, type Benjamin Franklin in the search box at
the top of the page, and click the Search button.
When the search results window opens, select an article title and click on it. Try the
links with Benjamin Franklin’s name in the title. They may be the most relevant.
STUDENT RESEARCH CENTER (6-12):
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In either the General Reference or the Newspapers/Magazines/Websites section, click
the link to Student Research Center (6-12).
When the search window opens, click the Uncheck all button to unselect all resource
types, and then select Books & Encyclopedias and Biographies.
Type Benjamin Franklin in the Find box near the top of the screen.
Under Limit your results, select Full Text.
Click the Search button at the top of the screen
Select an article from the results list. The Abstract (Summary) will help you decide if
the article is worth using.
To access POWER Library resources from home, you will need an Internet connection
and a public library card. Do the following:
1. Go to the public library’s website. Greater Canonsburg’s web address is:
http://www.cbgpublib.org/
2. Click on the POWER Library icon.
3. You will be prompted to enter your GCPL barcode number.
4. Click the “Submit” button.