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Research

Whether you are digging into family history, shopping for a new car, or researching a topic for your next homework assignment, PDL has lots of options and resources to help you succeed. Our librarians are also available to help you with find the best resources for your project.

general research

PDL provides a variety of research products to help you dive into nearly every subject matter. From researching your next big purchase or finding your next read, we can help through our many databases and services.

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports

Ready to make a major purchase? Search Consumer Reports for the latest advice on purchasing products.

man with red hair reads a book with the words "NoveList Plus" written over the image

NoveList Plus

Looking for your next read? Browse Novelist Plus for readalikes, author information, and much more.

woman sits on bed planning a trip with map, passport and touchscreen tablet

A to Z World Travel

Research your next trip with A to Z World Travel. Insider information on sightseeing, security, transportation, and culture.

Detroit Free Press Link

Detroit Free Press

Access the Detroit Free Press for the years of 1999 to the present.

Update 09/13/2024
Historical Detroit Free Press direct link is available here. This is a temporary link until the content is fully moved into the Michigan Historical Newspapers database. Please contact the library if you are experiencing any problems accessing content.

Some content has already been moved to the Michigan Historical Newspapers database. Consider searching both databases while this content is being moved.


USA today database

USA today database

Search for articles in the USA Today database covering 2009 to the present. Please note that current articles don’t appear until 7 days after original publication.

Michigan Historical Newspaper database

Michigan Historical Newspapers

Search historical newspapers from Battle Creek, Port Huron, Lansing, and the Detroit Free Press.

Business & Investments

PDL provides access to a variety of business and investment research. Investment research from Morningstar can help you make decisions as well as expand your knowledge through their investor education. With Data Axle and other databases, business people can enhance their market research, develop leads, and investigate competition.

Morningstar

Morningstar

Please click here if you are inside the library.
Morningstar is a premier investment database providing research for all types investments. Comprehensive investor education is also available. Track your own investments through an individualized account.

Data Axle

Data Axle

Formerly known as Reference USA, Data Axle provides industry and consumer research. Generate leads and investigate business opportunities with the verified data from Data Axle.

two people read through charts with the words "Value Line" over the image

Value Line

Value Line Survey covers approximately 1,700 stocks, representing 90% of U.S. trading volume. The survey also includes stock screeners, ratings, and research reports on the leading stocks in each category, based on a variety of investment criteria.

Link to Gale Legal Forms Michigan

Legal Forms

Gale Legal Forms has over 36,000 legal documents and forms, including wills, name change, real estate and more. The forms are also specific to Michigan and can be downloaded and edited. Note: the forms and information are not intended as legal advice.

genealogy

Discover your family roots with our genealogical databases.

Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry Library Edition is available for in-library use. Search thousands of vital records, census data, yearbooks, and other material to discover your roots.

HeritageQuest

HeritageQuest

Heritage Quest is a genealogical database that is available off library. Many of the records overlap those of Ancestry. Heritage Quest also includes Freedman’s Bank (1865-1871) records.

Fold3 by Ancestry

Fold3

Fold3 focuses on military records. Browse by service or war. Fold3 also includes memorials, personal stories and other memorabilia of service personnel.

link to family search.org

Family Search

Plymouth is now a Family Search affiliate library. You can access additional information and images using your family search account.

academic research

MeL, Michigan eLibrary, Supporting Michigan Libraries

MeL (Michigan eLibrary) provides over 70 research databases, e-learning products, and tutorials to Michigan residents of all ages. Log in with your library card or state ID. These databases range from academic peer reviewed journals to encyclopedias and reading tutorials for children. Statewide interlibrary loan is also available through MeL.

Local History

Plymouth Library - about 1930