Biography Resource Center

Biography Resource Center is a comprehensive database of biographical information on more than 275,000 people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. Included in this database are:

• Narrative biographies -- extensive biographical profiles that provide an in-depth look at the featured individual's life and his or her accomplishments.
  
• Full-text magazine articles -- selected articles that amplify and update the narrative biographies and provide information on individuals not yet profiled in the Biography Resource Center database
  
• "Spotlight On..." -- features individuals currently in the news, as well as interviews with current newsmakers. Also contains links to related biographies and periodical articles within the Biography Resource Center

Getting Started
From the library's webpage http://library.mwcc.edu click on Databases, and after choosing the appropriate on-campus or off-campus access, click on Biography Resource Center. (Remember, off-campus access requires a valid library barcode number)

Searching

Name Searching (default search)
In the box on the search screen, enter either a Name or Start of last name. (Under the search box, be sure to indicate which search you are running.) Press Search to retrieve records that contain information about the individual you are researching.

Biographical Facts Search
The Biographical Facts Search feature allows you to perform highly targeted searches to identify individuals who match certain search criteria. The search interface is flexible, allowing you to select one, multiple, or all terms on the page for searching. Some of the search options include:

• Name
• Occupation
• Nationality
• Ethnicity
• Birth year / death year

Advanced Search
The Advanced Search feature enables you to perform searches using the following criteria: name, *keyword, source, full text, date of publication, and document number. The Advanced Search will return thumbnail biographies, narrative biographies, magazine articles, and websites that match the search limiters you specify.

*NOTE: For those instances in which a Biographical Facts Search results in zero records, you may wish to use the keyword search function.

Advanced Searching Tips

Name - Searches documents for an individual's name. Results will be returned in alphabetical order.
Full Text - Searches the entire text of all documents. This is a good search to use if you are looking for a particular line of text or an unusual phrase.
Keyword - Searches all documents for the presence of a specific word or words assigned to the documents (e.g. locations, awards, titles, etc).
Source - Searches for a particular Gale Group or magazine title.

Viewing Search Results
Once you have filled in your search criteria and selected Search, you will be presented with a list of the available records that fulfill your query. To display an article, click on the title.

Navigating Documents
After you have selected a document from the results list, it will be retrieved and displayed. Many documents have internal Table of Contents sections that will make it easy for you to jump directly to the component of information in which you are interested. In addition, the Results List button is available in the navigation sidebar at the left of the screen to enable you to return to the Biography Resource Page and access additional information about the person.

Mark List
The Biography Resource Center allows you to mark biographies that you find especially helpful or interesting in order to create a personalized citation list. Biographies may be selected from a results list by checking the box to the left of the citation, or while viewing a biography, by clicking in the Mark this document box.

Printing or Emailing

First, display the full text of the document …

then, select either:

• E-mail: Click on the E-mail button and enter the address of the person you'd like to send the article to. Also, select a delivery option, of either HTML or Plain Text. When finished, click on Send button.

Or

• Print: After clicking the Print button on the left side of the screen, the document appears on the screen. At this point, select the Print button at the top of your browser. Note: In the MWCC Library, printing requires a copy card and costs 10¢ per page. Printouts are sent to the printer on the main floor of the library.

If you need assistance, please ask at the Reference desk,
call us at: (978) 630-9338 or, email us at: library@mwcc.mass.edu

Mt. Wachusett Community College Library
Updated 12/10/2003