You may wonder if a particular type of book has been published for a region which you are interested. The best way to ascertain this information is through the use of a library. Two online sites which can help start your search:
World Cat is an online catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories.
You may also want to consider checking the corresponding state historical library. Often state libraries try to obtain as many sources related to their state as possible. A simple web search should turn up the proper web address. For example the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library (the former Illinois Historical Library) can be found at http://search.illinoisheartland.org/default.aspx?ctx=617.1033.0.0.1
Another possible avenue of research is through the use of bibliographies.
After determining the existence of a book you have several options in obtaining a copy.
- Check with your local library to see if they can obtain the book via interlibrary loan.
- Check Google books or a site like Archive.org to determine if a digital version resides on the web.
- Try to locate a copy for sale. A good general site which searches several book sites is Bookfinder. In searching for books you need to remember entering to much information may result in not finding the book. If the author of a book is Thomas H. Smith a book seller may have entered the name as T.H. Smith, Thomas Smith or some other variation. If you searched by the full name you may not find all copies of the book. To increase the odds of locating the book I would search by Smith and a few key words from the title.
Church Publications
County Histories
Military Books