Information about how to use the library's online collections (i.e. research databases) to answer questions about books. Useful for book clubs, English literature students, readers, etc.

1. Online Collections
All about Books
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2. Where can you find them?
westervillelibrary.org > Online Collections > Books & Authors

3. Who should use them?
Book clubbers
Book lovers
Librarians
Students
(and, you know, everyone)

4. What can you do with them?
1 Suggest a book.
2
Write a paper.
3
Read a book.
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5. 1 Suggest a book.
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6. If I liked [this Play MadLibs. will I like?
book],what else
Discover All Kinds of Books
Fiction
Literary non-fiction
All ages
(No scholarly titles or how-to guides)
Browse Hand-Picked Readalikes
By Author
By Title
Use Novelist Plus or Novelist Select (in Encore).

7. Play MadLibs.
What’s another book about [this subject]?
What’s another book in [this genre]?
Use Novelist Plus or Novelist Select (in Encore).

8. Who will bePlay next favorite author?
my MadLibs.
Define the Intangibles (Appeal Factors)
Pace
Tone
Writing style
Find Other Goodies
Reviews from all major publishers
Shortcut link to Westerville Library catalog
Age level
Series
Verdict: If you’re only ever going to use one, use this one.

9. What’s the next in [this series]?
Play MadLibs.
Author
Title
Only Adult Character
Only Fiction Location
No Book Covers
Subject
Keyword
Use eSequels (or Novelist) to get started.
Verdict: Good for “I’ll know it when I see it” browsing.

10. What books were written during [this
literary movement]?
Discover the representative works.
Get in-depth explanations of the
movement’s trends & themes.
Covers works by authors who are
currently active or who died
between 1800 and 1999.
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Use Literature Criticism Online to get started.

11. 2 Write a paper.
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12. Who is [this author]?
Get Biographical Information
Born here.
Died here.
Get Bibliographic Information
Wrote this.
Then wrote this.
Covers 130,000+ authors
Louisa May Alcott/J. K. Rowling
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not Shakespeare/Chaucer
Use Contemporary Authors to get started.

13. Contemporary Authors
Why is [this author] famous?
Learn Why They‘re Famous
Literary Themes
Criticisms
Search for Award Winners
Pulitzer
Nobel
National Book Award…
Find Other Goodies
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Suggested Books/Articles about Author
Use Contemporary Authors to get started.

14. What are critics saying about [this book]?
Search the New York Times Book Review.
Read reviews from Library Journal, Kirkus
Reviews, etc.
Get a concise analysis of all criticism for
particular works or authors.
Use ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Contemporary Authors, Literature
Criticism Online or Masterplots to get started.

15. Where can I find the CliffsNotes for [this book]?
Main Characters
Plot Summary
Critical Evaluation
Suggested Reading
Use Masterplots to get started.

16. 3 Read a book.

17. Can I get free ebooks?
Popular Fiction
Popular Non-Fiction
Not Academic
Not Everything
Some Audiobooks
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Use Ohio eBook Project, SEO Consortium or Westerville Cloud
Library to get started.

18. How do I entertain my kids on a long road trip?
Read & listen to animated
books for kids.
No download required.
Also includes videos, games,
puzzles, foreign language &
iPad-compatible titles.
Use Tumblebooks to get started.

19. Where can I find
[this play, short story, essay, poem]?
Full Text or Found In
“Primary Sources & Literary Works”
Limit to full text.
Search Options
Nationality
Century
Find Other Goodies
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Author bios
critical explanations of various works
Use LitFinder to get started.

20. How do you define [this word]?
Search Inside
Dictionaries
Encyclopedias
Subject-specific reference books
Examples
A Dictionary of Shakespeare
The Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction
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A Dictionary of Abbreviations
The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotations
Use Oxford Reference to get started.

21. How do I find [this information]?
Subjects Include
Business
College
Health
Examples
Brands & Their Companies
Encyclopedia of Associations
The College Blue Book
The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Use Gale Virtual Reference Library or
Gale Directory Library to get started.

22. The end.
Thanks for coming!
-Tamara
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