Searching for Reading Materials by Lexile

Searching any Camden OPAC to recommend appropriately leveled reading materials

The bad news:

You can’t. Our current automation system (Mandarin) won’t let you search by Lexile.

Even worse: the MARC records that describe each book within your library may or may not have Lexile information within them, so you won’t be able to search EVERYbook within the database.

The good news:

This summer, the Camden libraries will be switching to a NEW automation system(OPALS), where you will be able to search materials by Lexile.

Even more good news! Over the past few years, each Camden librarian began insisting that any book they ordered have a record that when possible, included Lexile information. So newer materials should show up, and the numberof books that can be searched by Lexile will get bigger each year.

In OPALS, a Lexile search willlook like this:

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What else can you try to recommend Lexiled print reading?

Metametrix has a website called Find a Book where you can search by title to see what Lexile the book is rated.

If you don’t have a particular book in mind, but want to knowwhat’s appropriate for a particular child, Find a Book can also suggest books based upon a known lexile range.So can Barnes and Noble.So does Scholastic’s Book Wizard.

If you have a book in mind but need to know the Lexile,

*Of course, this doesn’t guarantee the student can get a copy of the book from your school library, but we can interlibrary loan most requests, given some lead time.

Searching the NOVELNY Electronic Databases for Lexiles:

More good news!

Madison Oneida BOCES School Library Systems received a grant called

Search 4 Success

that has let them make searching the NOVELNY databases (and any otherdatabase a school district has bought through one of their COSERS) with a single password. Some of the databases can be searched by Lexile ifyou are looking for a way to differentiate materials on the same subject. Unsure about the new password? Check with your building’s librarian.

So what will you have to do to search by Lexile?

It depends upon which database you search. But generally, you will need to look for the advanced search function to search by Lexile. For instance…

Encyclopedias

Golier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Americana and the New Book of Knowledge are all Grolier products, and their advanced

search screens are identical.

Encyclopedia Britannica does not allow Lexile searching,but does differentiate by allowing you to search for elementary, middle and high school articles on the samesubject at the same time. Additional Content (right hand column) is listed the same way.

Related to, but not part of Britannica

General Indexes

Searchasaurus is a primary database with the ability to search by Lexile rangeon the first search screen.

General Indexes

Kidsearch is a primary database with the abilityto search by Lexile range on the first screen.

General Indexes EBSCO Primary Search is a primary database with the ability to search by Lexile range on the first screen.

General IndexesInfotrac General OneFile allowssearching by Lexile range on the advanced search screen.

NewspapersNewsBank (America’s News) firstScreen allows search by “readability”, which is actually Lexile.

NewspapersInfotrac Newsstand’sadvanced search screenallows searching by Lexile range.

NewspapersInfotrac’s New York StateNewspapers advanced search screen allows searching by Lexile range.

Other Searchable Databases

TeachingBooks.net’s advancedsearch function allows searching by Lexile range.

Other Searchable Databases

EBSCO’s Science ReferenceCenter advanced search screenallows searching by a limited LexileRange.

Other Searchable Databases

Infotrac’s Health Reference Centeradvanced search screen allows searchingby Lexile range.