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Finding Book Reviews

To locate book reviews on a particular work, first identify the correct spelling of the author's name and the date of initial publication. In most cases you can obtain this information by searching for your book in the MnPALS library catalog.

Online Databases (for Books Published AFTER 1990)

Academic Search Premier (Off-Campus Access)

1. Type the author’s last name into one search box and a few major keywords of the book’s title on the second line.

2. If this search creates too many results, click on the blue "Refine Search" tab and select "Book Review" from the drop-down menu under "Document Type."

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Off-Campus Access)

1. Click on the "News" link in the red Search tab along the top of the screen.

2. In the search term boxes, type the book's title or the author's name.

3. Select "Book, Movie, Music, Play, and Video Reviews" from the "Select Sources" dropdown menu. 

4. Finally, choose "All available dates" from the "Specify Date" menu.

Additional Databases With Book Reviews

Many library resources contain book reviews. Try another discipline-specific database, Ask a Librarian, or stop by the Reference Desk.

Print Resources (for Books Published BEFORE 1990)

1. Select a print resource from the list below.

2. Using the author’s last name, search the volume for the year your book was published.

3. If you do not find reviews published during that year, try volumes for the following two or three years.

Source Dates Indexed Location
Book Review Digest 1905-present Index Area (Reference)
Book Review Index 1965-present Index Area (Reference)
Children's Book Review Index 1969-present Curriculum Professional 028.52 .C387 (Second floor)
Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities 1960-1990 Index Area (Reference)

Need Help?

Librarians are eager to help. If you have any questions, please stop by the Reference Desk or call (218) 299-4656.