Research Tools

*Home

Research Tools

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

Magazine and Newspaper Indexes:

Online Magazine and Newspaper indexes (Click to go to)

You will be leaving the Wilmington Library web site to access these indexes.
You will need your valid Wilmington library card (The barcode on the back is your Borrower ID.)
See below for a description of the databases you can access.

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 Direct when trying to locate newspaper articles. ProQuest indexes over 2,000 periodicals including many of the main newspapers such as the New York Times and 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 Library's Online Catalog. Just click on "Library Catalog." Once the Library's Catalog is up, click on the "Community Resources" tab. You can than use the pull down menu to search by author, general keyword, subject, or title.

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

Databases:

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

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

Back to the Top

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.
AnyWho Toll Free: AT&T's Toll Free directory.

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

Postal Code Look-up: A Canadian postal directory offered by Canada Post Corporation.

Back to the Top

Encyclopedias:

World Book Encyclopedia: Children's Encyclopedia

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

Back to the Top

Searching the Internet

     Searching the Internet can be frustrating. One often finds too much or too little information. The Wilmington Library offers the "Subject Guide" service to assist library patrons in finding information online. This service is aimed at the general adult population of Wilmington.
     For children, the library has found several reliable websites. These children's sites can be accessed from the home page by selecting "Just for Kids" and clicking on "Internet Space Adventures." The Library always recommends parents monitor their children's Internet use.
     The Librarians have also selected a few useful search engines.

Click here to go to the "Subject Guides"

Click here to learn about the selection criteria for the web sites.

Back to the Top

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.

Back to the Top | Home