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Reference Services

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Local Reference Resources | Looking for a Good Read? | Research Pathfinders | In the News | Local Events Calendars

Ask a Librarian

Send the Reference staff a question!

Bennett Martin Public Library houses the central Reference Collection for the library system. A selection of essential reference materials are also available at each library branch to assist you with your informational needs.

Print out our latest Reference Services brochure! (Currently being revised) (The Reference Services brochure is provided here as a PDF file, which requires the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader.)


Local Reference Resources

Local Genealogy Resources at the Lincoln City Libraries
Microfilm Reference Collection — Misc Local and National Topics
     ScanPro3000 Microfilm/Microfiche Reader Tutorial (2023)

The Vertical Files Collection of the Lincoln City Libraries
Starkweather: Murder on the Plains — 1957-58
The Mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska — 1871 to Present Updated in Feb 2024
The Governors of the State of Nebraska — 1854 to Present Updated in Feb 2024


Research Pathfinders Banner

Small Business Resources Updated in Dec 2016


BookGuide-Midsize2

If you’re looking for the readers’ services that used to reside here on the Reference Department page of the Lincoln City Libraries site…they’ve moved! We invite you to come visit our BookGuide readers tools site, where our Readers Advisory staff members, both downtown and at the branches, are available to assist you in selecting material for your pleasure reading, using both printed and on-line resources. Browse our expanded selection of themed Booklists, Award-winners and Author Read-alikes. Check out the current New York Times Bestsellers Lists for hardback fiction and non-fiction. See what folks are reading in the current national Media Book Clubs like the Oprah Book Club and Today Show Book Club. Join one of our Book Talk or Book Discussion Groups in person, or join one of our Online Book Clubs and start receiving portions of books in your daily e-mail. Check out what the library staff are reading with our Staff Recommendations. Subscribe to our Books, Movies & More! newsletters — receive reading and viewing recommendations in your e-mail. Submit your own Customer Reviews or Readerlists to share with other readers. Check out our Lincoln Journal Star’s book review index.


In the News

Are you interested in the materials and resources available at the library about people, issues and events in the news? Click on the subject below for more information.

Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004: The Death of a President  (June 2004)

Nebraskan Ted Kooser named Poet Laureate of the United States  (August 2004)

Summer Olympic Games  (2004, updated to 2012)

Johnny Carson, 1925-2005: The Life and Death of “The King of Late Night”  (January 2005)

Winter Olympic Games  (2006, updated to 2014)

Living Black in America  (2020)

Read for Change: Black Lives Matter  (2020)

Remembering…John Lewis  (2020)

Past Exhibits:

Abraham Lincoln | Abraham Lincoln On-Line Resources (February 2009)


Reference Department at Bennett Martin Public Library received the 2005 BBB Resource Award

Click Here to read about this special May 2005 event!


Local Events Text Line

Lincoln City Libraries Events Calendar
Community Events Calendar from the Lincoln Convention & Visitors’ Bureau
Pinnacle Bank Arena Events Calendar
Downtown Events Calendar from the Downtown Lincoln Association
Lied Center for the Performing Arts Calendar

New  — New addition to this site within the past two months

 Updated — Updated with new entries within the past two months