Research Tutorial: Finding Books

UC Library Catalog

• Lists all the books, journals and newspapers available in the UC Library
• Allows you to search by keyword, subject, title and author
• Tells you the location and status of the item
  • Location: the general location of the item in the Library building
  • Call Number: the exact location of the item in the Library Collection using Library of Congress Classification
  • Status: whether the item is available, for in-library use only (Reference or Reserves) or checked out

Searching the Library Catalog

Keyword searching is a great place to begin, but subject searches can help you narrow results to those in your specific topic area

Subject Searches

• Help tailor results to your topical area
• Provide a range of topic options and similar subject areas
• Search the Library Catalog by subject

1. Type a subject term in the box
2. Select "Subject" from the drop down menu
3. Hit the Search button

• Tip: your keywords or broad topic area terms are a great place to start a subject search

Keyword Searches

• Provide general results in a topical area
• Provide the broadest range of results
• Search the Library Catalog by keyword

1. Type your keyword into the box
2. Hit the Search button

FirstSearch WorldCat Database

• WorldCat is a national and international version of the UC Library Catalog
• The WorldCat database lists all the books, journals, newspapers and other library materials owned by hundreds of library's worldwide
• UC Library's library materials are listed in WorldCat

Searching WorldCat

1. Open WorldCat
2. Enter your keyword or keywords into the search boxes
3. Select any limits you'd like
4. Hit the Search button

Getting the Book

UC Library Owns the Book

• Note the location and call number of the book
• Use the How Do I ... Find Materials in the Library guide

UC Library Does Not Own the Book

• InterLibrary Loan (ILL) is a free service where UC Library borrows a book from another library on your behalf
• Go to InterLibrary Loan (ILL)