Gov. John Baldacci proclaimed Jan. 12-16 Maine Libraries Week. What a great time to introduce you to a wonderful resource available free to all Maine citizens: “MARVEL!, Maine’s Virtual Library.” In my opinion, this is something that all Maine people need to know about, since it is an invaluable resource that has been financed largely through public funds, and it can help people with so many aspects of their everyday lives.

When you think of a library, you might think of a place.

MARVEL!, Maine’s Virtual Library takes you beyond the walls of a physical building and brings a virtual or electronic library into your home, office or school. Think of the MARVEL! collection as enhancing your own home and town library collections. You have millions of articles available to you anytime of the day or night. You only need a computer with Internet access, your curiosity and in some cases, an assignment from the teacher.

Many libraries have a link on their Web sites. For example, you can find this resource by visiting the Maine State Library Web page at http://www.state.me.us/msl, the Bangor Public Library page at www.bpl.lib.me.us and click on the MARVEL!, Maine’s Virtual Library link or visit www.mainelibraries.com.

One of the convenient features of this collection is it is searchable and often you get the full-text of the article. You might remember using Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature to research a particular topic. In the “old days” we had to look up our subject in one of the many indexes, locate the article, read or photocopy it. We could spend hours just compiling the material to be read at a later time. Now we can type in the topic and get complete articles instantly. (I often illustrate this fact to students as their parents nod knowingly. I think that is why I appreciate a resource such as MARVEL! so much and think there is something a bit magical about all this information at my fingertips.)

However, we still need the traditional sources such as Reader’s Guide. All of this information available to us can sometimes seem a bit overwhelming. Librarians are trained to help you find just the right source for your particular research question whether it is from electronic resources, such as MARVEL!, a book or the Internet.

The Internet is a vast and somewhat unorganized place. Search engines help, but have not been perfected yet. It is certain there is valuable information to be found on the Internet but there is much misinformation too. Even to the experienced Internet user, it is not always easy to determine if the information is from a reliable source. With MARVEL! you are accessing magazines, encyclopedias and reference books, not Web sites.

MARVEL! goes beyond a search on the Internet and reaches what is sometimes referred to as the “hidden Internet”. In MARVEL! you will find encyclopedias, professional and scholarly journals, magazines such as Consumer Reports, video and audio clips, science and health information from accredited sources and your search will include images.

Searching for images on the Internet can be tricky yielding results you didn’t expect. Try searching for images through the EBSCO collection in MARVEL! There are photos of famous people, natural science and historical images, maps and flags. This image database provides an alternative to the Internet.

Like a library, MARVEL! has something for everyone. Do you have an interest in the stock market? Try Business Source Premier where you will find company reports, trade journals and articles in business magazines. Or if you prefer, peruse the Wall Street Journal. Come into your local library to try the electronic version of the popular Value Line Investment Survey.

Looking for a good book to read? Try NoveList, another resource included in MARVEL! NoveList contains plot descriptions, book reviews, book discussion questions for reading groups and a feature to help you find books you might like based on books you liked.

Are you aware there are resources in MARVEL! for students of all ages? Beginning with Searchasaurus where you will find magazine articles written at the primary and middle school level to Academic Search Premier, which contains over 3,000 scholarly journals in a variety of areas of Academic study.

Did you know that many libraries have computers with Internet access? The Bangor Public Library has 20 public access computers in the Adult Department alone. If you don’t own a computer (and even if you do) you are welcome to come in and use the computers at the library. The Children’s Department provides Internet access with permission from a parent or guardian.

If you need help getting started on your quest for knowledge, we are here to help. “MARVEL!, Maine’s Virtual Library” doesn’t replace libraries but can only enhance the marvelous collection we already have.

For more information about MARVEL! or any other library services, call the Bangor Public Library at 947-8336. Bangor Public Library is on winter hours and open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Molly Larson has worked for the Bangor Public Library since 1984. Along with working in the Reference Department, she teaches basic computer skills to library patrons.