The Ferguson Library has made the following online encyclopedias available for the use of remote visitors. 

Please have your Ferguson Library handy to use the databases.  If you do not have a Ferguson Library card, please visit your local branch to obtain one.  Connecticut state residents may use their local library card number to access those databases that are marked with a blue bullet () next to it.

Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America - Presents extensive data on the habitats and ecosystems of more than 1,200 species identified as endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.

Biology - A comprehensive collection of articles on all aspects of biological science, including its history and issues. Includes articles on biology-related careers and important individuals, as well as topics from active transport to zoology research.

Encyclopedia Americana

Encyclopedia Judaica - Updated edition of this lauded work on Judaism features more than 21,000 entries on Jewish life, culture, history, and religion.

Encyclopedia of Small Business - Contains articles and overviews of all the key information needs of small business owners, including financing, financial planning, business plan creation, market analysis, sales strategy, tax planning, and human resource issues.

Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence and Security - A guide to the history, uses, related scientific principles and technology of espionage and intelligence. Topics covered range from the historical use of espionage to the emerging use of technology in modern espionage and counterintelligence.

Encyclopedia of Population - Covers large-scale changes and research in population studies during the last 20 years; topics include: rapid demographic expansion in poor countries, low fertility rates, environmental impact of dense population; expanded reproductive rights; and much more.

Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations and Footwear through the Ages - Facts and information about the cultural, religious and social implications of human decoration and adornment throughout history, with a particular emphasis on the decades of the 20th century.

Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine - Covers alternative and complementary medical practices. Includes therapies for specific disorders and diseases, medicinal uses for plants and herbs, efficacy studies, and analysis of acceptance by traditional scientists and doctors.

Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer - Covers specific cancer types, diagnostic procedures, treatments, cancer side effects, and cancer drugs. Also includes concepts such as cancer biology, carcinogenesis, and cancer genetics; and issues such as clinical trials, home health care, fertility, and cancer prevention.

Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders - Information on genetic disorders including conditions, tests, procedures, treatments and therapies.

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine - Covers common medical disorders and concepts with causes, symptoms, diagnosis, conditions, tests, procedures, and treatments.

Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America - Essays on ethnic and culture groups in the United States that emphasize religions, holidays, customs, and languages in addition to providing information on historical background and settlement patterns.

Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History - Designed to answer such key questions as: How has the U.S. Constitution shaped the economy of the United States? What were the consequences of Prohibition on consumers' behavior? Provides era overviews, event/movement profiles, biographies, business/industry profiled, geographic profiles, and more.

Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia

Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre en linea

Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students - Prepared especially for non specialists, focusing on Renaissance-era topics most studied in high school world history, art, literature, economics, and science curriculum.

SIRS Discoverer

St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture - Essays on American popular culture ranging from fast food and fitness fads to political events and literary genres. Major topics include: television, movies, theater, art, books, magazines, radio, music, sports, fashion, health, politics, trends, community life and advertising.

Student Research Center: student-friendly version of the History and Science Reference Centers that provides the same high quality content. Choose content sources (Magazines, Newspapers, Biographies, Country Reports, Film & Video), browse by topic headings, use an online dictionary and encyclopedia, explore top searches of the day, and even limit searches according to reading levels.

World Book Online Reference Center - The articles of the venerable World Book Encyclopedia form the foundation of this expansive reference database that includes the World Book Dictionary, the World Book Atlas, an extensive multimedia collection, thousands of editor-selected Web sites, correlations to state and provincial curriculum standards, and much more.

World of Earth Science - Guide to the concepts, theories, discoveries, pioneers and issues relating to topics in earth science. In addition to traditional subtopics in geology and meteorology, also covers a substantial number of topics in astronomy.

U*X*L Encyclopedia of Landforms and Other Geologic Features - Focuses on the physical and geological aspects, structure, and features of 48 of the earth's landforms - what they are, how they look, how they were created, how they change over time, and major geological events associated with them.