Research Tools

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Research Tools

Magazines & Newspapers
News Journal Indexes
Directories
Encyclopedias
Ask-a-Librarian

Magazine and Newspaper Indexes:

You will need your valid Wilmington library card (The barcode is on the back of your Library Card.)
See below for a description of the databases you can access.
To Access the Databases, click on the Delaware Library Catalog
In the upper right corner, please type in your 14 digit Library Barcode number in the "User ID" box and your four digit PIN number in the PIN box. (No spaces when typing in your barcode number.)
The GREEN BAR on your screen will expand to include the databases and resources described below.
Click on any database listed and begin your search.

List of Online Databases you can Access:

EbscoHost is a useful database to use when trying to find magazine articles. This index contains articles from over 1,880 general interest magazines. Many of the articles will be on-line in full text.

Use Proquest when trying to locate newspaper articles in the Wall Street Journal. Many of the articles will be on-line in full text.

Magazine Indexes (Paper Format)

If you are looking for magazine articles which are over 10 years old, the library offers several paper indexes including: Biography Index, Business Index, Education Index, the New York Times Index, Wall Street Journal Index and the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature.

News Journal, Delaware Today & Historic Delaware Newspapers Indexes.

Librarians at the Wilmington Public Library have been indexing major, local events from the local papers for almost a hundred years.

HISTORIC (1922-1977)
The Old Delaware Index still exists in its original card index form. Anyone from the public is welcome to come into the library to research a topic. The card index roughly covers from 1922 to 1977. The library owns microfilm copies of the local papers going back to the 1880s. During various times the local papers were called Delaware Republican, Morning News (M.N.), Evening Journal (E.J.), Journal Every Evening (J.E.E.), Every Evening (E.E.) or Sunday Morning Star (S.S). The current Delaware state newspaper is the News Journal.

DELAWARE INDEX (1989 - Present)
Delaware Index - is created and maintained by the Wilmington Library staff. It only covers the large, local stories from the News Journal and Delaware Today from 1989 to the present. One can access this database through the Delaware Library Catalog.

Call a Reference Librarian at (302)-571-7416 for more information.

Databases:

Testing & Education Resource Center allows one to prepare for the tests for several different Civil Service jobs, GED tests, College Entrance Exams and more.

Novlist: Search this database by author or title to find other similar books. Novelist covers books for all ages, from picture books to adult books.

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Directories:

Reference USA: This National Directory searches for companies anywhere in the USA by name, geographic region, SIC codes, and more. The results may include contact people, fax numbers, toll free numbers, company size, estimated sales and more.
** You will be leaving the Wilmington Library web site to access this directory offered by
** You will need a valid Wilmington library card and pin number.

AnyWho: AnyWho is a web site created and maintained by AT&T. One can search the yellow or white pages by name, business category, city or state. This directory also does reverse look-ups.

Switchboard: Business and residential directory offered by InfoUSA.

Canada White & Yellow Pages: Bell Canada & Canada411 offer this business and residential directory. One can also search for toll free numbers and postal codes.

Zip+4 Code Look-UP: The United States Postal Service offers this directory which allows one to search for zip codes by address

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Encyclopedias:

World Book Encyclopedia: Children's Encyclopedia

Britannica Online: Interactive on-line encyclopedia containing the current
Encyclopedia Britannica.

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Ask a Reference Librarian: Wilmington Public Library offers three different ways you can ask a reference question.
** Obituary requests, please click here

Call during Open Hours:	(302) 571-7416
Write a reference letter:	The Wilmington Library Reference Department Post Office Box 2303 Wilmington, DE 19899-2303
E-mail the reference desk your question. Please include the following information with your question: Your name. A telephone number, fax, address, or e-mail address to respond to your question. Be specific! Give as many details to your questions as you can. It often helps if we know what you need the information for. If this is for a school project please include what the class is and your grade level. Please read our guidelines: Please allow several working days for a response to your question. The more complex your question, the longer it will take for us to respond. The library does reserve the right to charge for copies. If you have any questions, please call the reference desk (302)-571-7416. Click here to e-mail a Reference Librarian: wilmref@lib.de.us
OBITUARY SEARCHES
The Wilmington Library will search our microfilm records for a copy of a Wilmington area (New Castle County) obituary. Please make your request in writing only to the following address:
The Wilmington Library Reference Department Post Office Box 2303 Wilmington, DE 19899-2303
Include the person's name and exact date of death (month/day/year). We will search by (month/year) for deaths occurring after 1960 only. Include any additional information that may assist us with the search. The cost for searching, printing and mailing each obituary is $5.00. There is a limit of three names per request. Note that the $5.00 charge is payable even if we are unable to locate the obituary. Please enclose your check, in the appropriate amount, with your request. Checks should be made payable to The Wilmington Library.

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