Catalogue Search Help
About Call Numbers
The library catalogue can help you find books, audiovisual materials and items that have been put on reserve. If you're looking for articles in electronic newspapers, magazines and journals, see the Periodicals section of the library website for more information.
When you enter the library catalogue , you will see the basic search screen. From this screen, you can enter keywords to search for books in the library collection. Try typing in:
The database search engine will review every record in the database, and try to find a match for the exact word or words that you input.
If you click on the "More Information" link, you will see the following screen:
Need MORE information?
Broaden or expand your search by searching for synonyms or alternative forms of your keyword. Between each synonym, type the Boolean Operator OR.
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HINT: Using OR always retrieves MORE results |
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HINT: Expand your search even more. Where appropriate, shorten your search term and use the wildcard symbol, so that you retrieve the singular, plural or other variations of your word. The wildcard symbol for the library catalogue is $. For example, child$ would retrieve child, child's, children, and children's. |
Find too much information?
Narrow or refine your topic by limiting your results to a specific geographical location, group of people, timeframe, etc. Between each word, type the Boolean Operator AND.
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HINT: Using AND always retrieves FEWER results |
Often you will retrieve more relevant and thorough results if you submit a complex search by including all of your key concepts and their synonyms.
First, put the synonyms for each concept in brackets with the word "OR" between them. Then, connect the key concepts with the word "AND". Here is an example: "(television or tv) AND (child$)". Below is the first screen of results for this search query. Note that records with EITHER the word tv or the word television are retrieved, as long as the word stem child$ also appears in the record.
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HINT: Be sure to use your Boolean operators correctly! Many internet search engines assume that there is an "AND" between your search terms. Library databases are different. If you do not type AND, the database will assume you are searching for a phrase. |
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Library Catalogue Search Hints: You may change the type of search from keyword to subject, author, or title. This may be a good option if your keyword search is retrieving too many items. You don't need to use capital letters or punctuation, EXCEPT hyphens. For example, the search parent teacher finds different results than parent-teacher . Spelling counts. Use British OR American OR Canadian spelling variations to ensure you find all materials. For example, counselor OR counsellor |
To find the item on the shelf, first go to the appropriate location in the library.
Locations IN the library include:
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Reserves |
: 1st floor circulation desk, west end |
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Reference |
: 1st floor east end |
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Special Collections |
: 3rd floor |
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Stacks |
: 2nd and 3 rd floors |
Note: for videos, you must visit Media Services in the John-Willey Building .
Within each location in the library, items are shelved in call number order.
Our library, like most university libraries, uses the Library of Congress Call Number Classification Scheme (LC). Each LC call number begins with one or more letters, to represent the broad subject area. Following the letters are numbers, then decimal numbers to further subdivide. Reference items will also include the letters "REF" at the beginning of the call number. Once you get to the Reference section of the library, ignore the REF and begin with the next set of letters in the call number.
Here is an example of a call number: HV6024.5.N63
To find your book, follow these steps:
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HV |
1. Use these letters to find the appropriate aisle(s) in the library |
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6024 |
2. Look for the main number (filed from smallest to largest) |
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.5 |
3. Look for any additional numbers (remember that .5 is larger than .45) |
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.N63 |
4. Look for the specific item using this combination of letter and numbers |
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HINT: Items that do NOT have a call number, but DO have a URL are likely e-books. Click on the link provided and enter your login information (the same login that you use to sign on your computer) to access these books. You must have internet access to use these resources. |