It's July and -- at least in this part of the world -- it's time for summer vacation. Whether you're traveling afar or relaxing in your own backyard, there's no better way to pass the time than with a good book. This month's issue of ResearchNOTES highlights a few sites to help you put together your summer reading list...

Start with a book search engine. About.com has compiled a list that's available at http://snipurl.com/2yjzl. In addition to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, they include tools for finding out-of-print books, local independent bookstores, online books, and more.

Would you like to know what other people are reading? Try Goodreads, a social network for readers found at http://www.goodreads.com/. You can get book recommendations, view other members' reading lists, and keep track of your own lists. Another way find out what others are reading is by tracking some of the best-seller lists, including those from The New York Times (http://snipurl.com/2yk4z) and USATODAY.com (http://content.usatoday.com/life/books/booksdatabase/default.aspx).

For long car rides, why not take along some audio books? To pick just the right ones for you and your family members, head to Books for Ears: Audio Book Reviews at http://snipurl.com/2yk9e. For each book listed on this well-organized site, you'll find a short review and a link to a longer review.

Enjoy! -- Marcy

Visit my blog about information and the information industry at www.MarcyPhelps.com.