The class gives you a search function, which takes a hash in form of {:first => first_name, :last => last_name} and returns an array of hashes corresponding to results. you can send an options hash with :form => 'json' to get the results as JSON example: Phonebook.new.search_results(:first => 'Bob', :last => 'Jones') will produce '[{:name=>Jones, Bob, :location=>HUP Medicine Department of 3400 Spruce St, :contact_info=>{Office=>(215) 5555-5555, Cell=>(215) 555-5555, email=>Bob.jones@uphs.upenn.edu}}]' this is an array, even if there is only one result. Can also call Phonebook.search_results(name_hash, options)