The LOC.GOV Wise Guide : Land of the Lost . . . Title, That Is

How frustrating is it when you can’t remember the title of a book you’ve wanted to read? Perhaps you know the lead character, or the movie you’ve just seen is based on the book, although with a different name. What about poetry? You’ve known your favorite verse, but the name of the poem escapes you.

Search the scripture. Between 1835 and 1856

The school librarian and one of her student assistants at Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington, D.C. 1943

Have no fear. The Library’s Digital Reference Team can save the day. Their new Web Guide, “Lost Titles, Forgotten Rhymes,” can help you find a novel, short story or poem without knowing its title or author.

According to the team, a good starting point for identifying novels and poems is an Internet search engine, like Yahoo! and Google. Google also offers a book-search database where you can access digitized images of books, including full text if the book is no longer under copyright.

The Library of Congress Catalog holds approximately 14 million records, by publication date, place of publication, language and format (for example, books). Users can conduct a keyword search or browse by subject heading to locate relevant records.

You can also search subscription databases and print resources found in your local library.

In today’s Web 2.0 world, calling upon the knowledge of others is at your fingertips. The team suggests posting to message boards and listservs and utilizing e-mail/web form services. A list of suggestions is included in the guide.

Locating short stories is often more difficult than locating novels and poetry, since there are fewer bibliographic tools that catalog and index stories. In addition, print indexes do not typically provide subject or plot access to short stories, which is essential if only the plot is known.

Again, the team suggests using community-based resources such as message boards and databases to which your local library subscribes. Try asking for Lit Finder or the Short Story Index, the print editions of which can be identified in the Library’s online catalog using the subject-heading search.

The Digital Reference Team offers a variety of virtual programs and services, including video conferences, the virtual reference shelf and chat with a librarian.

A. Search the scripture. Between 1835 and 1856. Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Information: Reproduction Nos.: LC-USZC2-2990 (color film copy slide), LC-USZ62-2875 (b&w film copy neg.); Call No.: PGA - Currier & Ives--Search the scriptures (A size) [P&P]

B. The school librarian and one of her student assistants at Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington, D.C. 1943. Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Information: Reproduction No.: LC-USW3-039775-D (b&w film neg.); Call No.: LC-USW3- 039775-D [P&P], LOT 941 (corresponding photographic print).