Databases & Websites by Subject
 |
Accessible from home with a
Downers Grove Public Library card |
 |
In-library use only |
Books and Reading
Databases
Black Literature Criticism: Classic and Emerging Authors Since 1950
Find information and analysis of the works of such writers as Toni Morrison and James Baldwin as well as less well-known writers of note.
BookFlix
Read, view and interact with a selection of classic picture
books for preschoolers to third grade readers.
Booklist Online
Browse adult and children's fiction and nonfiction
book and media reviews, and search for similar authors
to those you enjoy reading.
Books and Authors
Looking for a good book to read or biographical information
about an author? Browse genre fiction, nonfiction, and
author biographies in this newly redesigned database.
Books and Videos in Print
A listing of books and videos currently in print in Baker
and Taylor's Title Source 3.
Children’s
Literature Comprehensive Database
Find reviews, reading levels, and other useful information
for juvenile and young adult literature.
Downloadable Audiobooks
Download audiobooks at home.
Drama For Students
Each volume examines about 15 plays that are most discussed in literature classes. Each entry includes plot summaries, major themes, critical commentary and more.
Literary Movements for Students
Discusses such movements as Greek Drama, the Harlem Renaissance, Magic Realism and Transcendentalism.
Literary Newsmakers for Students
Each volume of this series discusses recent literary releases such as The Memory Keeper's Daughter and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Literature Resource Center
Literary criticism, author biographies, historical context, book, theater, and film reviews, and 25,000 full-text contemporary poems, short stories, and plays.
Litfinder
More than 135,000 full-text poems, short stories, plays, essays, and speeches.
MagillOnLiterature Plus
Plot and character summaries, and critical analysis, of
literary works.
NoveList Plus
Looking for a good fiction or nonfiction book? Search by
subject, plot summary, and more.
Reader's
Advisor Online
Find new authors or titles to read. Search for fiction
and/or nonfiction read-alikes or browse by subject or genre.
Student Resource Center
Aimed at middle school and high school students, this source has information on many topics including history, literature, science and social studies from articles and reference books.
Test Preparation E-Books
Study guides and test preparation e-books from Learning
Express.
U*X*L Encyclopedia of World Mythology
This source “helps students with the plot points, historical context, and mythological allusions they need to fully understand how mythologies not only reflect cultures of old but also remain meaningful in society today.”
Writer's Directory
Biographies, booklists and contact information for 20,000 living authors.
Websites
Books
All About Romance
Reviews, author interviews and more.
Amazon.com
Bibliographic information, as well as published review
and customer comments on a wide range of titles. Genre
lists, including best sellers by genre, and book discussion
questions as well.
Barnes & Noble
Review
Online publication that aims to bring serious readers
smart and useful appraisals of current books, music,
and films
(on DVD), as well as reconsiderations of important past
works.
Bookspot
Links to book related sites including bestsellers, genres,
awards and reviews.
ClueLass HomePage
Mystery news, forthcoming books and a directory of events,
authors, etc.
Internet Speculative Fiction Database
Forthcoming science fiction and fantasy books, magazines,
and authors' works lists.
Mystery Reader
Reviews of new and old titles plus features on authors
and titles.
Overbooked
Self-proclaimed website for "ravenous" readers.
Reviews, links, and lists galore.
The
Poisoned Pen
New releases and recommended reading for mystery fans.
Recommended Fantasy Authors List
Listing of fantasy authors recommended by fans.
Romance Reader
Reviews of new titles and old as well as features.
What's
Next?
Best guide to discover the order of books that are part
of series. No annotations, but access by author, title,
or series title.
WorldCat.org
Easy search for an item in libraries near you.
Conservation and Repair
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Answers to FAQ about book preservation.
Simple Book Repair Manual
Electronic Texts
Google Book Search
See full-text of books in the public domain and small excerpts
from titles still under copyright.
Internet Public Library Links for Books
Links to many online texts.
Online Books Page
Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, it lists over
25,000 books.
Project Gutenberg
Access to thousands of books no longer under copyright.
Scholars'
Lab
Maintained by the University of Virginia Library.
For Book Discussion
Leaders
Amazon Book
Clubs
This site gives suggestions
for book discussions groups along with a short plot summary
and list of discussion questions. Look for the "reading
group guide link" when browsing Amazon reviews.
Book
Group Corner
This site offers reading companions
to books and authors published under the Bantam, Dell,
Doubleday and Broadway imprints of Random House. The
companions provide descriptions of the author's
works and suggested questions for book group discussion
leaders.
Oprah's Book Club
Oprah's site gives
background information including reviews of the book,
author biographies, discussion questions and highlights
from her discussion on the show. The complete list and
guide for Oprah's book club choices starting from
1996 is available.
Oxford
World Classics
This site gives questions
and backgrounds for book discussions of the classics.
Oxford Reading Group Guides can be picked up free of
charge at your favorite bookstore or downloaded from
this site.
Random House
Readers' Circle
The readers' guides
include author interviews and discussion questions for
titles published under Random House's Ballantine
imprint.
Reading
Group Choices
The Reading Group Choices
site provides information on starting a book discussion
group, suggestions for discussion leaders, and most importantly,
a searchable database of book group discussion guides.
The database includes phone numbers and web sites for
publishers' reading group guides.
Reading
Group Guides
This site has advice and
ideas for new groups and veterans alike. Each guide gives
a summary of the story, questions for discussion and
author biographical information.
For Book Lovers
All About Romance
Reviews and author interviews
Amazon.com
Bibliographic information, as well as published review
and customer comments on a wide range of titles. Genre
lists, including best sellers by genre, and book discussion
questions as well.
Bookbrowse—The
Guide for Avid Readers
Features book reviews, reading lists, forthcoming titles,
author interview, library websites and more.
Bookspot
ClueLass
Internet Speculative Fiction Database
Mystery Reader
Reviews of new and old titles plus features on authors
and titles.
Oprah's Book Club Archive
A listing of the titles Oprah has featured in her book
clubs.
Overbooked
Self-proclaimed website for "ravenous" readers.
Reviews, links, and lists galore.
Poisoned Pen Home Page
Recommended Fantasy Authors List
Listing of Fantasy with multiple series recommended by
fans.
Romance Reader
Reviews of new titles and old as well as features.
Soon's
Historical Fiction Site
Authors and books in historical fiction.
What's
Next?
Best guide to discover the order of books that are part
of series. No annotations, but access by author, title,
or series title.
Quotations
Famous Quotes and Authors
Over 25,000 quotes by more than 6700 authors, searchable by keyword, topic, or author.
Used and Rare Books, Listings of
Abebooks
Addall
This website searches for books and also offers price comparisons.
Alibris
Extensive coverage of books, films and audio sources. Their
QuickBuy feature finds the lowest-priced copy of the
title you are looking for.
Bookfinder
Choosebooks
TomFolio
Booklists
Getting Published
A list of books to help you get your writing published and maybe earn a little money too.
What Are My Old Books Worth?
A guide to finding the value of old books using resources
available at the library. |
