The Minot Public Library is proud to offer patrons a database that carries with it a name people the world over know and trust: Chilton Library Online.

Chilton auto repair manuals are some of the most recognizable and utilized resources a library carries. They provide a variety of information on auto maintenance for all makes and models, both domestic and imported, in easy-to-understand language that car enthusiasts and people who don’t know a thing about cars can comprehend. The Minot Public Library recently culled some of the older Chilton paper editions that were in disrepair and added new copies in order to maintain a print collection that covers vehicles from the 1970s through the 1990s to complement our new Chilton Library Online electronic database.

In addition, MPL also subscribes to another automobile database called Auto Repair Reference Center, which provides similar information as the Chilton guides. While it provides excellent coverage from the early 2000s and back, ARRC does not always have the most recent makes and models. The Minot Public Library therefore decided to add Chilton Library Online based on the ability to retrieve information on newer vehicles along with the fact people still rely on Chilton books. The purchase of Chilton Library Online will allow MPL to provide library cardholders access to information on all possible vehicles.

After spending just a few minutes scrolling through the database, users will find that the purchase appears to be the correct choice. The breadth of coverage is amazing. The database covers all years from 1940 up to the present day. While the most current year, 2016, is limited at the moment to only GM, Mazda, Kia and Chevy, access to vehicle years 2015 and earlier include every makes and model imaginable. Vehicles made by domestic companies like Ford, GM and Chevy, popular Asian imports such as Toyota and Nissan, and trendy European brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW all have listings within the Chilton database.

Once the make and model are selected, all sorts of important information is at the user’s fingertips. The first useful feature is that all bulletins pertaining to your specific vehicle are listed, whether it’s a major recall, maintenance

reminders or simply tips on using features like an audio system.

Secondly, whenever your vehicle has to go into the shop there’s always the dreaded “waiting game” to be played. If you are not a car person, you may not have any idea how long a particular repair might take: could it be 15 minutes or could it be a few hours? Chilton Library Online takes any vehicle make and model and provides an estimate on repair times for a variety of car features. For example, Chilton indicates that a simple tire rotation on a 2013 Toyota Corolla will take approximately 30 minutes at a dealership or about 40 minutes at an outside mechanic.

The third section for which Chilton offers resources is the repair section. Here, users can find information on various parts and systems in a vehicle, ranging from fuel, brakes and engines, to steering, AC and transmissions. Each main category breaks down into their own sub-categories. Theses sub-categories present detailed, easy-to-understand diagrams and instructions to show users how to perform the repairs themselves or find where a possible issue might be so you can tell the mechanic exactly what is wrong.

Lastly, based on the sub-model of each vehicle and extent of car use (whether driving normally or through extreme conditions such as a work vehicle hauling equipment) Chilton makes available a detailed maintenance service listing, starting at 5,000 miles and going all the way to 120,000 miles. Under each mileage marker, there’s an “X” for every item an owner should pay attention to, whether it involves rotating tires, topping off fluids, replacing air filters or inspecting nuts and bolts.

Chilton Library Online can be accessed freely at the Minot Public Library through the open-access WiFi internet on your own device, the two computers with instant access to databases, or by logging into a computer with your MPL library card number information. Additionally, patrons with a library card can access Chilton through their own connection, whether that’s at home or another location outside the library, using their library card number.

To find Chilton, go to the library’s homepage, www.minotlibrary.org, and click on either the “Electronic Resources” tab on the left side of the screen or the “Research” tab at the top then “Electronic Resources.” Following the “Auto/Engineering” category or the letter “C” using the alphabetical sort will take the patron to the Chilton link. The database works best on a computer, but can also be used on tablets or other mobile devices for the extra convenience of accessing the information while in the garage or workshop working on repairs.

The Minot Public Library believes the Chilton name will draw more people to use the Library’s electronic auto reference resources while making the library a partner and center of knowledge for mechanics, car enthusiasts and non-car people alike. For more information about this tool, contact me at 852-1045 or brendan.chella

@minotnd.org.

(Brendan Chella is the adult services librarian at the Minot Public Library.)