WorldCat — 1.2 billion items in 10,000 libraries worldwide

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to see if your local library (or any of 10,000 others around the planet) has a book you're interested in — without leaving your home?

Guess what?

You can do just that, as I learned from J.D. Biersdorfer's "Q&A" column in yesterday's New York Times; the item follows.

Tip of the Week: Look Up Books at Your Library From Home

Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading. You might even be able to look up books available at your library — before you leave the house — with the WorldCat database at www.worldcat.org. Type in a title and follow the screens to supply your address so you can find the book in the library nearest you. WorldCat, a global network that logs 1.2 billion items, can also look for DVDs and CDs and has plug-ins available for Firefox and Facebook.