The Boston Public Library, BPL, supports the research and reading pleasure of all Massachusetts residents. While a student at Phillips Academy you can register for an electronic library card from the BPL that will give you access to databases not subscribed to by PA. To register for an eCard from an international location, please contact an OWHL Librarian.
If you can't find the resources needed to support your topic, extend your catalog search to include our consortial partners. Instead of searching just the "Phillips Academy" books and resources, search "NOBLE (All Libraries)" instead of the defaulted Phillips Academy one. If the widened search doesn't garner new resources, go wider still and use the "Commonwealth Catalog" tab in the catalog. Turn to the Internet Archive, Google Scholar, and the WorldCat database for further resources.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Library Catalog
| Keyword Searching | |
| Typically, when you search, you will use Keywords. Simply enter the basic ideas/keywords of your topic in the search box. The computer will search for books containing those keywords in the title, subjects, and descriptions of the books. | |
| Subject Searching | |
| Subject searching is more "powerful" than keyword searching. It allows you to use a specific vocabulary to find books in the catalog. To find a good subject, look at the display page of a book you already like. Simply click on the subject link to run a search | |
| Some sample subjects for this project are: | |
| Global Environmental Change | |
| Climatic Changes |
Social Dimensions of Climate Change by 
The city and the coming climate : climate change in the places we live by 
Research Tools in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics by 
