Alcove 9: An Annotated List of Reference Websites

Books and Booksellers

Advanced Book Exchange
Information about used and rare books, and free utilities for small bookdealers. Includes a used/rare book database with author/title/subject/keyword searching and subject browsing. There is also a directory of participating booksellers and a glossary of terms related to the book trade. ABE's cooperative "Book Sleuth" forum offers help to those trying to identify books they have read but whose titles and authors they have forgotten. The service is free, but users must register with ABE in order to participate in the forum. The Book Sleuth archives are freely available without registration; they can be browsed by date, but not searched by subject.

Alibris
Used and rare book information, including an advanced search facility (for Boolean searching, date or price limits, ISBN searching, etc.) and list of abbreviations and book terminology.

Bookfinder.com
Meta-search engine for finding commercially available imprints (new and used) online.

Loganberry Books: Stump the Bookseller
From an Ohio used/rare book dealer, a service offering help to those trying to identify books they have read but whose titles and authors they have forgotten. Users must pay a fee to submit a request to this service. However, the lists of ongoing and solved enquiries may be browsed without cost.