Finding Books

This guide will show you how to find print and ebooks using the library catalog and library databases, as well as how to find ebooks through free online digital libraries.

If you are not on the TBC campus, be sure to connect off-campus before linking to the library catalog or databases.

Quick Search For Books

Search the Graham Library catalog for print and ebooks

Finding books in the Library Catalog

The Library catalog has several options for searching the Graham Library collection:

  • TBC Graham Library Catalog finds books and ebooks held in our library or on our databases (see Finding Ebooks below). You may find these books in our stacks, request a hold and pick them up at the circulation desk, or link to the ebook online.
  • All ODIN Libraries finds books held by public and university libraries throughout North Dakota. You may request these resources through Interlibrary Loan.
  • Everything or Articles+ finds print books, ebooks, articles and many other types of resources in the library and online.

To get a quickstart searching for books using the Library catalog, use the search box above.

Finding ebooks

These are some of the best library databases for finding ebooks. You can browse or search for ebooks by topic, read them online, and email chapters or pages to yourself to read later.

  • EBSCO Ebooks
    EBSCO Ebooks has a wide collection of ebooks. It is an excellent resource for recently published books on general studies topics. Books are viewed as pdfs, and page selections may be saved, printed or emailed.
  • Gale Reference Library
    The Gale Reference Library has encyclopedias, primary resource collections, and other reference books that are good sources for general information on a topic.
  • Reference Shelf Online
    Online access to the excellent Reference Shelf series, which publishes six books each year with articles and essays on current topics. Also find the book in print in the library. Off-campus users must login with their library card number.

Finding books online

In addition to the library catalog, you can use these resources to search for free ebooks online.

  • Digital Commons Network
    Digital Commons Network is a worldwide repository of scholarly works, including articles, book chapters, theses, dissertations and more. You can explore by topic using their innovative graphic search tool or search for your topic by keyword.
  • Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)
    The DPLA is a project that aims to collect and make available resources from public and university libraries, archives and museums across America. It includes items from the Smithsonian, National Archives, Library of Congress, and many other institutions. Its goal is to create a portal that will be a valuable source of information for everyone.
  • CORE
    CORE searches repositories in thousands of institutions around the world. Use this custom search page or browse through the individual repositories included in this resource.
  • Google Books
    If you need quick access to a book that is not available in our library, try searching it on Google Books. There are many books that are available in either a partial or full ebook version.
  • HathiTrust
    The Hathitrust Digital Library provides access to the collections of major research institutions and libraries worldwide.
  • Theology Online Research Guide
    Many of the reference books in our collection can also be found online for free. Use this research guide to find commentaries, bible dictionaries and encyclopedias and other Bible and Theology study reference books.
  • World Digital Library
    The World Digital Library, published by the Library of Congress, includes primary materials from around the world, including ancient religious and Biblical manuscripts. Explore this site by the topic of “religion” or “philosophy”.