General Research

We offer many resources you can use to discover information that can help you manage and improve the quality of your life. Get health and legal information, develop personal finance and investing skills, or research product quality and safety. We even offer genealogy resources and services to help you explore your ancestry.

Use our online resources to research anything

  • Library card required Academic OneFile Offers a world of academic research at your fingertips, with more than 17,000 scholarly journals, podcasts and transcripts.
  • Library card required America’s GenealogyBank Access nearly 249 million U.S. genealogical records from 1690 to the present, including obituaries, marriage and birth announcements, military records and other government documents.
  • Available only in Library locations Ancestry Library Edition Interested in genealogy? We partnered with Ancestry.com to help you search billions of historical documents, photos, oral histories and more, from the 1500s to the present. This resource is available only in Library locations.
  • Library card required Art Source Find articles and research from more than 750 journals that cover art, architecture, design, costume, crafts and more. This database also includes more than 63,000 images.
  • Library card required AtoZ the World Want to learn about another country? Get in-depth information about 175 countries, including history, culture, customs, food, religion, travel information, maps and much more.
  • Library card required Biography in Context Get in-depth biographical information about the world’s most influential people from all time periods.
  • Library card required Birds of North America Find facts about more than 760 bird species that breed in the United States and Canada. Includes image and video galleries that show behavior, habitat, nests and more, plus audio recordings of bird songs and calls.
  • Library card required Britannica Online Reference Center The Encyclopedia Britannica online, plus a dictionary, thesaurus, world atlas, the full text of current magazine and journal articles, live feeds from a variety of news sources and much more.
  • Library card required Computer Database Provides articles, news and product reviews from more than 600 publications that cover the computer, telecommunications, and electronics industries.
  • Library card required Consumer Reports Use product reviews, ratings and comparisons from Consumer Reports magazine to make better buying decisions and save money.
  • Library card required ConsumerLab.com Choose the best quality health, wellness and nutritional products, based on test results published by an independent laboratory.
  • Library card required Consumers’ Checkbook Get ratings, reviews and advice to help you choose the best retail stores, service companies and healthcare providers in the Puget Sound region.
  • Library card required CultureGrams Get an inside look at the daily life, history, culture and customs of the world's people. Includes information on more than 200 countries, every U.S. state and all 13 Canadian provinces and territories.
  • Library card required Driving-Tests.org Practice driving tests for cars, motorcycles, and the Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Online access to the Washington Driver's Handbook.
  • Library card required General OneFile Need to research a topic? Here’s an easy-to-use source for searching magazines, newspapers, journals and audio content.
  • Library card required HeritageQuest Online Explore these searchable and printable genealogy resources, including local and family histories, research guides and the complete U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1940. Powered by Ancestry.
  • Library card required LGBTQ History & Culture Explore LGBTQ history, culture, health, and political, social and legal issues in the United States and around the world. The searchable database includes approximately 1.5 million pages of information.
  • Library card required Oxford Reference Online Premium For quick fact checking or in-depth research, you’ll find up-to-date dictionaries and reference materials on a wide range of subjects. A customizable research tool allows you to add notes and save them for later.
  • Library card required ProQuest Doing a research project for school or work? Start with this vast archive of more than 90,000 reference and information resources that spans centuries.
  • Available only in Library locations Puget Sound Business Journal and Book of Lists Get online access to the Puget Sound Business Journal for local business news. The Book of Lists offers rankings and information about Seattle-area businesses. This resource is available only in Library locations.
  • Library card required ReferenceUSA Looking for someone? Search this database of more than 25 million U.S. and Canadian businesses and more than 267 million U.S. residents. Download up to 250 records at a time.
  • Library card required Statistical Abstract of the United States Provides detailed statistics that describe social and economic conditions in the United States.
  • Library card required Travel E-books Plan your next trip with Lonely Planet travel guides. Choose from 75 e-book titles from Lonely Planet, always available, no wait list.

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