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Individual Databases

Use these resources on any Chicago Public Library computer or on non-Library computers with your Chicago Public Library card.

Booklist Online »
Get expert advice on great reads in both fiction and nonfiction from the editors and reviewers of Booklist. Read the latest reviews and columns, search for reviews based on a number of criteria (topic, audience, date, “starred review,” etc.), or use the “find similar titles” feature to find recommendations for further reading based on a title you’ve enjoyed in the past.

Books in Print »
Find publisher-verified information on all U.S. books in print. Books in Print contains in-print and forthcoming books, and books declared out-of-print or out-of-stock since 1979.

Contemporary Authors »
Contemporary Authors offers information about the lives and works of modern authors. In general, information is available only for writers who were active after 1960, though biographies of some earlier influential authors are also included.

EBSCO Magazines & Journals »
Find book reviews and author interviews from general interest magazines and scholarly journals.

Fiction Connection » teen pick
Fiction Connection helps one find fiction titles of interest. Users can browse by topic, genre, setting, character, location or time frame. Or they can use the search function to find titles that meet their reading interests in several areas (for example, romances featuring time travel) or to find books similar to a favorite title.

Nonfiction Connection » teen pick
Find a great nonfiction title to read. Type in the name of a book you’ve enjoyed in the past to find similar titles or search by topic, genre, setting, character, location or timeframe.

NoveList » teen pick
This database, which contains descriptions and reviews of over 125,000 works of fiction, helps readers find new works to explore based on their favorite titles, authors, subjects and genres.

NoveList K-8 »
Find picture books, easy readers, chapter books or books for teens by picking what types of people should be in the story, what happens in the story, and where and when the story takes place. Or look up a book you’ve enjoyed in the past and find others similar to it. NoveList K-8 also offers lists of award-winning titles as well as more general lists focusing on a particular type of book or theme.

ProQuest Newspapers »
Find book reviews, author interviews and more from hundreds of newspapers from around the world. Papers covered include the Chicago Defender, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Globe and Mail (Canada), The Times (London), The Times of India and Daily Yomiuri (Japan).

WorldCat »
WorldCat is a catalog of items held by libraries across the United States and around the world. Each item description links to a list of “Libraries Worldwide” that own the item. Use this database to discover print, audiovisual and electronic resources beyond the Chicago Public Library collection.