Research

Resources A-Z

ALLData Automotive Repair – In-library use only
Find repair, maintenance and diagnostic assistance using up-to-date, factory-direct diagrams.  Covering over 38,000 vehicles with engine-specific repairs, listing make and models 1966 to present, while including instructional resources with troubleshooting from certified industry automotive specialists and an ALLData Community Help Forum.

Ancestry Library Edition
Ancestry Library is the world’s largest online family history resource which provides instant access to hundreds of years of history in billions of historical documents and millions of historical photos from all over the world.  It includes local narratives, oral histories, indexes and other resources which span from the 1500s to the 2000s. In-Library use only.

Books and Authors – In-library use only
Research books, authors, genres and topics, and find titles for Interlibrary Loan requests.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.

City of Pensacola
Official website for the City of Pensacola offers helpful resources, including disaster preparedness, parks and recreation, and things to do around the city.

Code, City of Pensacola (Municode)

Code, County of Escambia, FL

Demographics Now
Robust and highly detailed U.S. demographic data. Ideal for gaining consumer and market insight when opening a business, finding an untapped audience for products/services, analyzing the shifts and needs of a given population and more.

Escambia County
Official website for the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and its departments. Visitors can find information about county parks and community centers, commission meetings, events, county projects, job openings and more. 

Escambia County Law Library
Helpful resource for federal and state case law and legal questions, including Westlaw and Shepard’s databases. Free computer access is available to the general public at the Escambia County Law Library. 

Family Law Forms
Family law forms approved by the Florida Supreme Court. Some of these forms include dissolution of marriage, alimony and temporary custody.

Family Search
Discover your family history. Explore the world's largest collection of free family trees, genealogy records and resources. 

Florida Courts
Comprehensive look at the Florida court system, including the Supreme Court of Florida, the District Courts of Appeal and court locations. The site also features helpful resources and services such as self-help, court interpretation and some online forms.

Florida Department of Health (FDOH)
FDOH provides a wide range of health information and services to Floridians.

Florida DMV Practice Tests
Get instant access to free 2018 Florida DMV practice tests and requirements. Official FL DMV Handbooks, tips, tricks, and more. 

Florida Health Finder
Information about living wills, health care advance directives and health care surrogate designation.

Florida Law Help
Resource for free and low-cost legal aid and assistance as well as some legal forms.

Florida Electronic Library
The Florida Electronic Library is a gateway to electronic magazines, newspapers, almanacs, encyclopedias and books, along with the “Ask a Librarian” reference service.

Free Legal Answers
Resource providing low income individuals and families with free legal advice on civil law questions (does not include criminal law)

Fuel Economy Guide
FuelEconomy.gov is federal government website that helps consumers make informed fuel economy choices when purchasing a vehicle and helps them achieve the best fuel economy possible from the cars they own. FuelEconomy.gov is maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy with data provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The site helps fulfill DOE and EPA's responsibility under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to provide accurate fuel economy information to consumers.

GALE Health and Wellness
Accurate, authoritative information on a full range of health-related issues

GCFLearnFree
Free Online Learning at GCFLearnFree. The freedom to learn what you want, when you want, absolutely free! Check out their everyday life, basic math, and computer training today.

HeritageQuest
Digitized census records, primary sources, local and family histories and more.

Informe
Full-text Spanish and Portuguese scholarly journals and magazines.
Diarios académicas y revistas en español y portugués. 

Landlord/Tenant Forms
Residential lease and eviction forms from the Florida Bar.

Libby - eBooks, Audiobooks and eMagazines
Access eBooks, audiobooks and eMagazines through Libby. You can also download the Libby app on your mobile device. All you need to get started in Libby is your device and your library card number and PIN number. The Libby app is easy to use and will guide you through the setup process and get you connected to our library in just a few minutes. If you have questions, you can find in-app support, or visit the Help site or Libby Academy within the app for assistance.

National legal referral service that provides assistance and information on finding a lawyer or law firm.

MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) website for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.

Merck Manuals
The Merck Manuals are a comprehensive medical information source covering thousands of topics in all fields of medicine. They are offered as a free public service to health care professionals and the general public. Many criteria have been put forth for what makes a website a credible reference source, and this issue has been much discussed in print and online. Thus, the Manual has drawn on existing consensus criteria to create an easy-to-remember reminder that people looking for online health information should see where the website STANDS:

• Source: Does the resource cite recognized authorities and provide their credentials?
• Transparency: Is it open and obvious whether the site’s mission is educational or commercial?
• Accessibility: Is the site available without registration and is there a way for users to contact someone with questions or concerns?
• Neutrality: Is the information available purely as a resource, or does the site benefit financially from what its users do (such as buying products or visiting advertised websites)?
• Documentation: Is the site updated when needed by recognized medical experts?
• Security: Can users access content without forfeiting personal information?
  • Merck Manual for the Consumer: Clear and easy to understand healthcare information for the general public.
  • Merck Manual for the Professional: For healthcare professionals and students.
  • Merck Veterinary Manual: For veterinary professionals and students.

MyFlorida
Official website for finding information about all things Florida including Florida Voter Registration, child support services and public assistance.

Nolo
Free information on personal, consumer and business law. Nolo provides many legal forms for purchase ranging from writing a will to filing a temporary patent. Nolo also offers assistance in finding a lawyer. Many of the Nolo Law book series can be found at West Florida Public Libraries.

OAIster WorldCat
Search collections of libraries worldwide.

Pillbox
Pillbox, an initiative of the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, provides data and images for prescription, over-the-counter, homeopathic, and veterinary oral solid dosage medications (pills) marketed in the United States. This data set contains information about pills such as how they look, their active and inactive ingredients, and many other criteria.

PowerSearch
Conduct research with ease and produce more relevant search results. Search by publication title, document type, date ranges, subject area and Lexile score. Articles can be translated into several languages. 

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: U.S. Southeast Collection (Includes Pensacola News Journal)
This collection of historical newspapers provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of this region.

ProQuest Recent Newspapers: U.S. Southeast Collection (Includes Pensacola News Journal)
This collection of digitized newspapers provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with cover-to-cover access to recent newspaper content. Every page image is full-text searchable.  Coverage: 2008 - recent.

Reference Solutions (formerly Reference USA)
Expanded phonebook listings for businesses, residences and health care facilities throughout the United States. Go HERE to access Reference Solutions at home or outside the library. This is a temporary service due to COVID-19.

Rocket Languages
Learn a language on your own terms and in your own time. Languages include American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian.

Small Business Resource Center
Search this database to learn how to start, finance and manage your small business.  Resources include sample business plans, how-to guides, articles and websites.

Sources in U.S. History Online: The Civil War
Digital archive of the Civil War including a variety of primary source documents examining the war and all its complexity.

Supreme Court
Official website for the United States Supreme Court. Information about the Supreme Court, including biographies of current justices, case documents and up-to-date press releases.

Universal Class
Available online at the link above or you may find it in the Libby app. Universal Class brings libraries lifelong learning courses in over 30 subject areas, many of which offer continuing education units (CEUs). More than 500 courses are available, and all are designed and led by professional instructors to build deeper understanding and mastery of subject matter. Universal Class includes videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and options for social media interaction with other learners. Patrons may take multiple classes and learn at their own pace.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Official website for citizenship and immigration. Information on citizenship, green cards and tools for genealogy research. The USCIS website also provides the appropriate forms for citizenship and green cards.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) – Drug Information for Consumers
Contains information to help answer consumers’ regulatory and drug-related questions.

The official handbook of the Federal Government. Provides information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.

USA.gov
Official website for all government information including government agencies, housing, jobs, taxes and unemployment. You can also apply for health insurance (the Affordable Care Act and Medicare) through USA.gov.