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Individual Databases

Use these resources at any Chicago Public Library location or from home, school, or work with a 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.

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.

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 Magazines & Journals »
ProQuest Magazines and Journals (Research Library) helps one find magazine and journal articles on a wide range of topics. It covers over 2,600 magazines and journals; the complete text of the articles is available for about 60 percent of these. Included are popular magazines, magazines for professionals of all types, and scholarly journals. The database includes both magazines written for children and those for adults. Use this database to find book reviews and interviews with authors.

*ProQuest Newspapers »
Find book reviews, author interviews, and more from over 35 newspapers, including both local and national titles. Papers covered include the Chicago Defender, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, The Guardian, and New York Times.

Spanish Books in Print »
Find information on Spanish-language books from more than 24 countries and 5,000 publishers. The database includes information on both in-print and out-of-print books as well as audio and video titles.

*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.

* - indicates that the database is included in the Quick Search above.