Step 3: Find Books & Videos
LIBRARY CATALOG
The Library Catalog is an inventory of all the materials we own - books, periodicals, videos/dvds, and CDs. It lists the call number, availability, and physical location of each item. It also includes links to online items like eBooks and streaming videos.
SEARCH TIPS
Titles
- Leave out 'a', 'the', 'le', 'la', 'el', 'die', and other articles at the beginning of a title.
- Just enter the first few words.
- Capitalization and punctuation are not necessary, except hyphens.
Examples:
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Title:
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Search command:
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| The Hitchhiker's Guide to Calculus | hitchhikers guide |
| Censorhip in America: a Reference Handbook |
censorship in america |
Authors
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Enter the surname(last name)first.
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Capitalization and punctuation don't matter.
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Use Author search to find authors, editors, artists, illustrators, translators, corporations, and organizations.
Examples:
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Author:
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Author Search command:
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| John W. Snapper | snapper, john |
| J. R. R. Tolkien | tolkien |
| The World Chess Federation | world chess federation |
Subjects
- When you search by Subject you are searching a formal set of vocabulary called 'Library of Congress Subject Headings.'
- If you don't know the exact subject heading for your topic, use a keyword search instead.
Examples:
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Your topic :
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Subject Browse command:
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| computer circuits | computers -- circuits |
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Your topic:
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Keyword Search command:
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| psychological causes of anorexia | anorexia psychology |
LOCATE THE ITEM
Find the item on the shelf (or online) using the information provided:
Locations:
- Main Level, Reference
- Main Level, Circulation Desk
- Main Level, New Books Shelves
- Level 3, Circulating Collection
- Level 1, Curriculum Library
- Level 1, Buc Cup CBU
- Online Resource
Call Number: Plough Library uses the Dewey Decimal System. Each number in the Dewey Decimal System represents a particular subject.
Status:Tells if item is available or checked out and other information about availability of item.
- Available = Item is on the shelves or online.
- Charged = Item is checked out.
- Lost = Item is lost.