Contact Us:

• Telephone Number: 828-304-0500 x7235
• Staff Directory

Reference

Hickory Public Library's Reference Staff is here to help you with the following:

Career Enhancement Center

Community Resources File

This computerized database on local clubs, organizations, and other non-profit agencies is available online from the Library's web site. Ask the staff for a form to get your non-profit group or civic organization included in this wonderful resource.

Computer Classes

Library staff members teach a variety of computer classes, from introduction to the Internet to Advanced Searching.

Online Library Catalog

The library's catalog contains materials located in both library facilities, and can be access from the library's web page. The catalog also includes book reviews and other information on the materials owned by the library, and allows the library customer to view their record, renew materials, and place requests from their home or office. Reference staff will be available to help you learn to use this updated and more efficient tool.

Interlibrary Loan

If Hickory does not have the book or article you need, please ask about Interlibrary Loan. This free service allows you to borrow materials from other libraries for approximately one month. This service does take approximately 2 weeks to get the material into the library.

Internet Access

The Hickory Public Library has full access to the World Wide Web at 28 computer stations and wi-fi access for patrons with Internet-enabled laptops. You must have a library card to obtain access to the Internet. Visitor cards are available for patrons who will be in the area for two weeks or less. Computer cards are available to non-residents for a $5.00 fee. The library's Internet Policy may be viewed by clicking here.

JAWS and Kurzweil Readers

These two programs allow customers with visual impairments to use computers and print resources.

A massive collection of magazine articles, images, reference works, and complete books available in the library and remotely for library cardholders, NCLive is provided by the State of North Carolina and may be accessed from the library's web page. For a list of resources, click here.

NewsBank Newsfile Collection and Business Newsbank

Newsbank Newsfile Collection provides full-text coverage of social, economic, environmental, government, sports, people, the arts, health and science issues, and events from a variety of U.S. regional and national newspapers, wire services and broadcasts. Business Newsbank provides full-text coverage of companies, industries, executives and products, including current information on hard-to-research small companies from a variety of U.S. local, regional and national newspapers, newswire, and business journals. Newsbank products are available in the library and remotely for library card holders.

Newspapers

The library has all the newspapers from the Greater Hickory Metro in addition to important papers from around the state and the nation, including a Spanish language newspaper. Including duplicates, the system currently subscribes to 31 newspapers. The Hickory Daily Record is available, either on microfilm or in regular copies, from 1915 until the present, and the Charlotte Observer is available from 1983 to the present.

Online Services

These high-quality commercial databases are available for use from the library's computers, and sometimes available remotely as well:

• College Source Online - Learn about colleges as well as financial aid, etc. Available only inside the libraries.
• Global Road Warrior - A database with a wealth of information about the countries of the world. Topics include political and cultural facts, demographics, business climate,  travel information and a variety of printable maps.
• HeritageQuest - Searchable census records and other family history information. Available in the libraries or from the library's web page.
• NCLive - A massive collection of magazine articles, images, reference works, and complete books available in the library and remotely for library cardholders, NCLive is provided by the State of North Carolina and may be accessed from the library's web page. For a list of resources, click here.
• NCKnows - 24 hours per day, 7 days per week real-time reference service using chat technology. There is no charge for this service. Available from the library's web page.
• NewsBank - Newsbank Newsfile Collection provides full-text coverage of social, economic, environmental, government, sports, people, the arts, health and science issues, and events from a variety of U.S. regional and national newspapers, wire services and broadcasts. Business Newsbank provides full-text coverage of companies, industries, executives and products, including current information on hard-to-research small companies from a variety of U.S. local, regional and national newspapers, newswire, and business journals. Newsbank products are available in the library and remotely for library card holders.
• Reference USA - Massive collection of business information, available in the libraries or from the library's web page with a valid library card.

Pathfinders

Reference staff maintains pathfinders and bibliographies on a wide variety of topics. Reference staff members are also happy to prepare bibliographies on special topics for customers.

Print Resources Available

Telephone Reference

Sometimes you're just too busy to come to the library. Call our Reference Staff at 304-0500 x7235. We'll be glad to assist you with your information needs - and we can fax the answers directly to your office.

Tours and workshops

Hickory Public's reference staff will be happy to conduct a tour or teach a mini-workshop on library use for your middle school or higher group. Please call 304-0500 x7277 to book a time for your tour or workshop.

Microsoft Office

Computers with laser printers are available in the Reference area. All computers contain Microsoft Office Suite for word processing, spreadsheets, and database management.