How to Use the Library Catalog Objective: Students will understand how to locate information using a library catalog.

The library catalog will help you find the information you need that is available in your library. Information found in the catalog may be in different formats including: Books CDs Audio books DVDs and VHS videos Maps Art work

A variety of Library Catalogs exist, but the search process is similar.

How do you search for these materials ? For example, to find a book, you may search by… Keyword Title Author Subject Series

Let’s try a keyword search first. Go to the main search page of the library catalog. You will see the option. Keyword

Next, type in the search term for the keyword search and click the appropriate icon. Keyword

Next, you will see the list of titles resulting from the keyword search.

You will also be able to view the call number, and whether the book is checked in or out.

Choose the title of the book you would like and you will be able to view additional information.

The additional information may give you a summary of the book, along with how many copies are available, and other details. Details such as index, bibliography

You may also search for a book by title.

You may also search for a book by author. Type the name of the author into the text box and click on the search button Author Search

You will be able to view the title of books by the author, along with other information such location, call number, and whether it is checked in or out.

You can also search by subject.

Results for the subject ‘vampires’

A search looking for information on a keyword will result in more hits than a search for a subject. Subject results Keyword results The entire book is about the subject. The keyword only has to appear within the text of the catalog text.

You may search for books by series, i.e. Lord of the Rings.

Results of search for Lord of the Rings series.

Advanced Search An advanced search gives you more options. You may search by title, author, subject, keyword, call number, series, publisher, or any combination of three options.

Advanced Search Instead of one text box, there are multiple search boxes. You may modify your search by using the Boolean Operators– AND, OR, or NOT.

Advanced Search AND will narrow your search; OR will broaden your search; NOT will exclude a specific search term. Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT

Remember, you can also ask your library teacher for help in finding information in the library catalog!

Summing Up The library catalog will help you find the information you need that is available in your library.