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Reference and Research Assistance

The Plainfield Public Library has a highly trained reference staff to answer a wide range of questions using a variety of print and electronic resources. The reference staff is available to assist you in person and over the phone during library hours, or by email at any time.

The Reference Department holds many collections that are used on a regular basis, for example:

  • Our collection of career guides is a valuable resource for those currently looking for a job as well as people who are making plans for their future involving education and job training.

    We have also developed a list of job-seeking resources as part of our Community Guide.
  • Test preparatory materials are available for standardized exams that are required for high school exit exams and college and graduate school admissions, such as the GED, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT.
  • Current newspapers (The Star Ledger, the Home News Tribune, The Courier News, USA Today, and The New York Times) can be found at the Reference Desk.
  • Back issues of The Courier News are available on microfilm, located near the public computers on the main floor of the library. 
    Historic Newspapers
    Historical area newspapers
    can be found in the Local Historydepartment on the lower level.
  • A wide variety of reference materials are also available in Spanish; these materials are located in the Reference Section near the 8th Street library entrance.

  • We have a large collection of auto repair manuals, in addition to the Auto RepairAuto Repair Database Reference Center, an online database that is available within the library.
  • Historical documentary videos which include biographies of important figures.

  • We also offer collections of informational videos on topics such as drug and alcohol abuse, computer software training, and learning a foreign language.

  • Please search the Plainfield Public Library catalog for additional available materials.

 

  

Reference Department


Public Computers. There are computers available for the public next to the Reference section. Visitors can use the computers for personal research and will have access to the library's Community Guide and the Online Databases.

There is a one-hour time limit for computer usage, which may be extended if there is not a waiting list. For more information, please visit the Public Computers page.

 

Community Guide.  The Plainfield Public Library has created an online guide of local and regional resources on the following :

 

Online Databases. The library subscribes to online databases that provide full text newspaper and magazine articles, as well as business, medical, historical, and car repair information. The Local History department has also developed databases of local photographs, postcards and blueprints.

 

Legal Kiosk. The Plainfield Public Library is host to an LSNJ Law kiosk, which offers easy-to-find answers regarding legal information.  It is available for independent use in the Reference Department.

 

 

 
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