Books provide in-depth information that you won't find in short nonfiction texts or encyclopedia entries. Biographies offer detailed accounts of your progressive's life, motivations, and accomplishments, while books about the Progressive Era give you the historical context to understand why their work mattered.
Use the resources below to find books both in our school library and beyond.
What is it?
Destiny Discover is our middle school's online library catalog where you can search for books, view what's available in our collection, and see which books are currently on the shelf. For this project, there is a special collection of Progressive Era books set up in the library classroom for easy browsing.
Why use it?
Destiny Discover lets you quickly see what books we have in our school library about your progressive or the Progressive Era. You can search by person's name, topic, or keyword, and the catalog will show you exactly where to find the book on the shelf. The curated collection of Progressive Era books available in the library classroom supports you in browsing multiple relevant titles in one place.
Keep in mind
Logging in increases access and information. By clicking on the book's cover, you'll have access to an overview, similar titles, related subjects (these are potential search terms!), reviews and more.
What is it?
The Scarsdale Public Library offers a large collection of books, ebooks, and research databases that extend far beyond what's available in our school library. You can search their online catalog, place holds on books, and access digital resources from home with your library card.
Why use it?
The public library has a much larger collection than our school library, which means more books about your progressive and the Progressive Era. You can also access their ebooks and audiobooks instantly through Libby and Hoopla without waiting for physical copies.
Keep in mind
You'll need a Scarsdale Public Library card to check out materials or access digital resources—if you don't have one, you can sign up online or visit the library in person.
What is it?
WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, combining the collections of thousands of libraries worldwide into one searchable database. You can search for books, ebooks, articles, and other materials about your progressive, then see which nearby libraries own them.
Why use it?
WorldCat helps you discover books that aren't available in our school library or the Scarsdale Public Library. Once you find a relevant book, WorldCat shows you which libraries near you have it, making it easier to locate hard-to-find materials. This is especially useful if you're researching a lesser-known progressive and need access to more specialized sources.
Keep in mind
WorldCat is a discovery tool, not a library you can borrow from directly—you'll need to visit or contact the library that owns the book to access it. Some results may be from academic or university libraries that have restricted access, so check availability before making plans to visit.
What is it?
Google Books is a massive digital library that lets you search millions of books and view portions of their content online. Depending on the book's copyright status, you may be able to read the full text, preview selected pages, or see only basic information like the table of contents and a few snippets.
Why use it?
Google Books is excellent for quickly checking whether a book contains relevant information about your progressive before you commit to finding the physical copy. You can search inside books for specific keywords, read sample chapters, and view tables of contents and indexes to determine if a book is worth tracking down. To narrow results, use the "Tools" dropdown menu to filter your search by view, document type, or time periods. This saves you time by helping you identify the most useful sources.
Keep in mind
Most books only offer limited previews, not full access, so Google Books works best as a research tool to help you decide which books to pursue rather than as your primary source for information. Always note the publication information so you can find the complete book through your school library, public library, or WorldCat if it seems valuable.
