NoveList is a database of readers' recommendations for fiction titles. Over 70,000 novels are included in the database and are arranged by reading level. Additionally, NoveList includes over 29,000 full-text book reviews from Booklist and listings of over 150 book awards. NoveList uses a book or author you've read to help find other books and authors like it. Describe plots in your own words or rely on NoveList's extensive list of subject headings.

All of the titles have detailed subject headings to help locate books. Most of the titles have great plot descriptions and some link to web pages that may be of interest to readers. For example, a science fiction title might link to several web pages, including Definitions of Science Fiction and SF-Lovers Archive.

One of the really nice things about NoveList is that it provides choices and options at every screen. NoveList always prompts for the next step. Navigation is easy. Buttons are clearly marked, and a "home" icon is on every page.

If you are using NoveList from home, school, or work, you will be prompted for your library card number and last name as it appears on your card. This is the only difference between remote access and in-library use.

Select your reading level. NoveList categories are divided into Adult, Young Adult, Children's, and Easy. Adult titles are best suited for those 19 and older and Young Adult for ages 13 to 19. Children's books are for kids ages 8 to 12, and the Easy category covers the period from infancy to age 7.

It is possible to select several levels at once. This is especially helpful for users who fall into more than one category, such as teens who enjoy Young Adult and Adult titles.

Search by author, title, description of the plot, or NoveList's subject headings. Type terms in the search box, without separating by commas or any other punctuation. For example, selecting the Children's reading level and then searching plot descriptions for "little league baseball" retrieves a list of children's titles on the various aspects of little league. Browsing the subject headings under baseball duplicates these results.

Scan compiled lists of titles within a specific genre with "Exploring Fiction." For example, retrieve a list of gothic romance novels by clicking on "Romance" and then clicking on the subheading "Gothic." Do this with horror, science fiction, westerns and more.

Use "Match a favorite author" and "Match a favorite title" when specific titles and authors are known and can be used as the starting point.

• Capitalization is not necessary.
• The author's name can be in any order.
• Keep descriptions simple.
• Browse by fiction type, such as romance or mystery, or by best-sellers when a specific search isn't needed.
• Use the "help" screens for guidance at any point in a search to clarify reading levels or obtain search suggestions.

View the screen listing the titles of books matching your search criteria. Notice that for each title, this screen indicates if plot descriptions are available, what the reading level is, and ranks the search results. Click on a title to display publisher information, subject headings, reading level, annotation, if available, and information regarding whether the title is part of a series and, if so, any other titles in that series.

Choose to find other titles like the one selected by clicking on the "Find similar books" icon or select key words from the plot annotation or from the subject headings to locate similar books. Browse by selecting the next title in the list, or retrieve any other books by this particular author by clicking on the icon "All books by author."

Click on the icon to the left marked "Add this record to my list" to create a personal list of titles. Buttons to view and clear the list are located below this one. Print this combined list of choices once you are through searching.

NoveList lets you email records to your own or to a friend's account. This is a nice feature for one to share their favorite books with their friends and family.