Reference Services

The Reference Department is located on the main level at the far end of the Lobby from the Adult Circulation desk.  We are available to help with your research needs, including searching the OCLN Enterprise Catalog, the Statewide Commonwealth Catalog, downloading e-books or other electronic resources, document delivery, internet searching, local historical research, and other general requests.

Business Resources

The Library subscribes to a number of electronic and print Journals, Newspapers, and Databases to serve the needs of the business community.  

Document Delivery

The Reference Desk can request copies of the full text of articles which are not available through our electronic resources through Document Delivery from the Boston Public Library.   

Inter-Library Loans

Physical copies of items that are not available through our OCLN Enterprise Catalog maybe requested from other library networks in Massachusetts through the Commonwealth Catalog.  You can search the Commonwealth Catalog on your own and make requests with your valid Massachusetts library card.  Reference staff can also help you search and request titles. If an item Reference staff can also help find and request materials from outside the state through Massachusetts Library System Inter-Library Loan, and you can check availability of titles worldwide through WorldCat.

Microfilm

A microfilm machine is available in the Reference Room. Ask for help with emailing printing, or saving images to a flash drive. Available microfilm includes the Canton Citizen, Canton Journal, some Canton vital records, back issues of some magazines etc. You may bring in your own microfilm to view and print.  We can locate local obituaries for you if you can provide an approximate date.

Research

Reference Librarians can help you negotiate the content of our electronic resources, provide general guidance, and give citation advice for research projects.

Local History & Genealogy

We offer researchers access to materials in the Edward Bolster Local History Room, as well as a variety of local history and genealogy resources and databases, both in the library and online.