Research

Access World News Research Collection

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Search full-text articles from a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources from around the world to around the corner. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device with a library card.

African-American Heritage

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African American Heritage is a groundbreaking digital resource exclusively devoted to African American family history research. Created in partnership with leading African American genealogists and recognized leaders in genealogical information AAH provides a comprehensive mix of resources, records, and tools specifically pertaining to African Americans.

Ancestry Library Edition

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Please note: Ancestry is only available in the library. Find a wide range of unique resources for genealogical and historical research, including US census records, military records, court, land and probate records, vital and church records, directories, passenger lists, and more.

Ancestry for Virginians

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Search for your Virginian ancestors. Free public access to select content from Ancestry.com. Provided by the Library of VA.

Black Life in America

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The experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media, 1704 to today.

Britannica Learning

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Downloadable from Hoopla (requires free registration with your library card)

Explora Public Libraries

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EBSCO’s Explora is a user-friendly search tool designed with public library patrons in mind, that provides easy-to-use features and reliable content from the world’s leading magazines and reference books, grouped into easy-to-browse categories. Explora searches across the following resources.

    • MasterFILE Complete – A comprehensive collection of full-text general interest articles from periodicals, newspapers, and books. This authoritative general information database is the best place to start your research project.
    • Read It! – Research while practicing reading skills. Read It! helps students who have a basic foundation in English grammar and reading but need level-appropriate reading material. Read It! is also a great tool for English Language Learners.

Also search Consumer Reports using the search box below.

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Consumer Reports

Explora Secondary Schools

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Explora supports both student research and classroom instruction with age-appropriate content for middle and high school learners with an easy-to-use interface and great accessibility tools, including translation and text to sound.

Gale in Context: Elementary

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Gale In Context: Elementary meets the research needs of students in Kindergarten through grade 5, with age-appropriate content from magazines, newspapers, and reference materials, covering current events, the arts, science, health, people, government, history, and more.

Genealogy Resources

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Whether you are looking for information online or in print, the Pittsylvania County Public Library provides multiple ways to discover your family history with help from these online resources and our friendly staff.

Health & Wellness

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The library offers a range of free health and wellness resources online to help patrons learn about healthy living, wellness, and research related to treatments and health conditions.

Heritage Hub

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Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704 - today. HeritageHub helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information and potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid 1900’s, and original obituary images. Access is available 24/7.

Heritage Quest

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With Heritage Quest, you can access census data, search genealogical books and magazines, and explore special resources devoted to African-Americans and to the Revolutionary War.

Legal Forms

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Find downloadable, fillable forms for basic legal transactions, current to Virginia code covering basic legal needs--wills, power of attorney, landlord/tenant, and lots more. Includes a comprehensive section of templates for small businesses including: invoices, leases, sales agreements, contracts, and more.

Star Tribune and Pittsylvania Star (1930s-1985s)

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Digitized Microfilm of Star Tribune (1930s-1970s).  Welcome to the Community History Archive resources page! Here, you will find a range of resources to make exploring local history simple and accessible. This page is designed to guide users with easy-to-follow tutorials, helpful tips, and practical how-tos that unlock the full potential of the archive’s features. Whether you’re searching for specific dates, clipping and sharing stories, or navigating the platform’s advanced search options, our resources provide step-by-step assistance to ensure a seamless experience.