Welcome to the Media Center 
Where To Go When You Need To Know!

Check out these resources!

With over 12,000 books and access to many online research databases, your school library media center is the place to go when you need information for any assignment or research project.

You can work from home!

To access documents in your school U: drive, click here for Windows and Mac instructions.

A reference library at your fingertips! 

Just read the directions below, and then click on one of the great reference sites to find the facts you need to know. Many include language translation and audio. A reference library at your fingertips!  All of these resources and more are also available on :

Mrs.Sims eboard   http://mediacms.portage.site.eboard.com

To Use PPS Online Research Databases from Home:

1. Get your parents’ permission to access the Internet.
2. Choose a research database (below) and click on its name (blue link).
3. To log-in, type the log-in names and passwords exactly as shown on the hand-out provided by your language arts teacher (also available in the media center).
4. Only Portage Public School students may use our passwords.

Proquest SIRS Knowledge Source – Magazine and Newspaper Articles, Government Publications, and Excellent Research Tools for Social Issues and Controversies

Log in. Select SIRS Issues Researcher, Renaissance, or Discoverer.

Proquest eLibrary Curriculum – Encyclopedias, Almanacs, Magazines, Pictures, Maps, TV and Radio News

1. Log in.
2. Follow instructions on the screen.

Student Resource Center Junior – Biographies, Author Information, Literary Criticism, Multimedia

1. Log in. 
2. Follow instructions on the screen.

Grolier Encyclopedia - Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, The New Book of Knowledge, Lands and Peoples

1. Follow instructions on the screen.

NetTrekker  – Current, Accurate, Highly Recommended, Educational Web Sites

1. In the upper right corner, click on: log in
2. Carry out your search, or use subject guides to find web sites.

Portage District Library  - Online Article Search

1. Log-in: Use your Portage Library card number for a user name. 
2. PIN: Last 4 digits of phone number you had when you got your card. 
3. Click on: Article Search 
4. Select a database and click on the link.

Ask Any Research Question – Get an email answer in 30 minutes (during library hours).

To email your question, click on the “Ask Any” link above or call 329-4544.

Michigan Electronic Library – Free Research Databases for All Michigan Residents

Click on the link above, choose MEL Databases, and then the database you want. Suggestions include:

CultureGrams (choose World Edition) Geography, Government and Culture of Countries and States, Flags, National Anthems, Sound Recordings, Native Dishes.

eLibrary, elibrary Elementary, General Reference Center Gold, Health and Wellness Resource Center, InfoTrac Junior, InfoTrac Student,   InfoTrac Newsstand,   Opposing Viewpoints in Context   and    SIRS Discoverer Deluxe.

If the database requires a log-in, you have three choices:

1. Use your Portage District Library card number to log-in.

- Select: Portage District Library
- Enter your Portage District Library card number.

2. With your parent’s or guardian’s permission, use their driver’s license number to log-in. 
3. Go to http://www.mel.org/ and click on Kids, Teens, Reference Desk, or other links to free databases (no log-in).

The Homework Spot

Help with middle school subjects. No log-in. Click on a link. English, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Health/Fitness, Math, Science, Social Studies, Technology

Citation Machine- Create easy citations in MLA format. 

1. Click on MLS or APA, then click on SUBMIT.
2. Click on the type of resource (book, article, etc.) you want to cite.

3. Fill out the form. Click on SUBMIT.

Atomic Learning  Get help with software applications and technology.   Watch tutorials, read instructions and experiment with different programs.