Using Library Catalogs to Find Books
Why Use Books for research?
Books are useful for research because they:
- give in-depth coverage of a topic
- often provide background information on a topic
- are used to get an overview of a topic
- demonstrate how a research topic relates to broader, narrower
and related issues
- lead readers to other related books and reference sources
Books are sometimes NOT useful if the research topic is very new or
narrow in focus. It can take over a year for many academic books to
be published. Use articles to find information on a very current topic.
What Is The Library Catalog?
The library catalog is the database containing a record for every
book, magazine, journal, newspaper, video, audio cassette, document
and/or other item owned by a library. Use the online catalog to
find out which books are available, on what subjects, and where
they are located in a particular library. Every library has its
own catalog. Most libraries have their catalog freely available
on the World Wide Web. Catalogs are created by librarians. A unique
record is created carefully describing each item. Each record is
entered into the catalog database.
What The Catalog Is NOT!
- Do NOT use the catalog to look for articles on a research topic.
Use article databases
to find articles and article references or citations. Specific
magazine, journal or newspaper articles can NOT be retrieved
using a library catalog.
- The library catalog is not generally used to find Web sites.
Use Internet search engines to
find Web sites.
After using an article database to find an article reference or
citation, DO use the catalog to find out if a magazine or journal
needed is owned by the library and where it is located (its call
number). The library catalog tells which magazines, journals and
other periodical titles are in a particular library.
How To Access A Library Catalog
A link to the library catalog is always found on the library home
page. Library catalogs are available for anyone to use at anytime
from any computer connected to the Internet.
How To Search In A Library Catalog
Most library catalogs allow searchers to search for books, or other
items by either
Alphabetically browsing under :
- author's name (steinbeck, john)
- title (Hamlet or Shakespeare Quarterly)
- subjects (Library of Congress Subject Headings)
|
Keyword searching for :
- general keyword (roman sculpture or
air AND pollut*)
- author's name (Rowling or Rowling, J K)
- title (Hamlet or Shakespeare Quarterly)
- subject (acid rain)
|
|
Use alphabetical searches if you know:
- the beginning of the title
- author's last name
- series title
- Library of Congress subject heading
|
Use keyword searches if:
- only partial information is known
- you want to search multiple concepts at once
|
Although all catalogs are designed to serve the same function,
and to work in a similar way, catalogs may look different at different
libraries. Try not to let this confuse you, just carefully read
the instructions on the screen you are using. Select the appropriate
items, and enter terms depending on your particular need. Be sure
to ask for help from librarians anytime you have questions.
TIP:
- Searchers can also often limit a search in a catalog by format
or type of material, or specific collection (video, book, journal,
government documents, archives, etc.)
- Searchers can usually sort their search results in a catalog
by date of publication. Sorting by date and descending order will
show the newest publications first. This is a very useful research
technique as newer items will provide references to earlier research
on the same topic.
- The next section, Creating Search
Statements, will show you how to develop effective search
techniques for library catalogs and other databases.
Understanding And Using Library Catalog Records
After entering a search statement in the library catalog, a list
of items matching the search will be displayed in a brief format.
If you need more information, click on the hyperlinked title, View
Record or More Information to see the complete catalog
record displayed.
Brief or short record display will usually contain
one or more of the following:
- title
- author
- location
- call number
- option to click on detailed display
|
You may use brief record displays to:
- select an item and use the call number to find it on the
shelf
- click on an item to get a much more detailed display
|
| Sample short or brief catalog record
Title: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Publication date: 1987
Location: Media VHS - Lower Level North
Call number: PR2807.A23T5 1987
Availability: Available
|
Sample full catalog
record
(Different catalogs may call the full display long view,
detailed display, more information, view
record, or complete record.)
|
TIP:
- If the short record shows the item is available, copy down the
call number and you can go right to the shelf to find the item.
Be sure to ask for help at the reference desk at any time.
- If you know which book you want, and you can't find it using
your catalog, use interlibrary loan
- If you find books using online bookstores, such as Amazon.com,
use the library catalog to see if that title is available in your
library, or order the book using interlibrary loan. Use libraries,
and save money!
Locating books on the shelves
A call number is the address of a book, or other item, on the shelf.
The call number identifies the unique location of an item in the
library. Books and other library resources are usually arranged
by subject using the Library of Congress classification system of
call numbers. If you find one book, similar books will likely be
close by.
- Search the library catalog to find out if the library owns
the book or other item needed
- Write down the call number for the book or other item needed
- Use the call number to go to the shelf to find the book
Catalogs may also catalog items found on the Web, not on library
shelves. For these items go to the online location (URL) for the
electronic book or other item needed
Exercises:
- Call Number Exercise: Use this interactive exercise to learn
to put call numbers in order and find books on the shelf. Select
each call number below
- Click on the call number that belongs on book 1. If you are
correct, the correct call number will move onto the book.
- Click on the call number that belongs on book 2 and continue
until all the call numbers appear on all of the books. This
is how they would be shelved in a library.
- Did you get it right? You can try again.
- Use the online catalog at your library to find a book on your
research topic. Below is a list of academic libraries in Utah,
but you can use any library for this exercise.
- Select "Keyword Search" and enter your keywords
- Save or print the catalog record or copy down the call number
- Go to the shelf to find the book by its call number
Continue - Creating Search Statements
| Back to
Module 3
|
