Contents

Introduction

Searching Catalogs

by Author

by Title

by Keyword

by Subject

by Call Number

by Publication Date

with Boolean Operators

Understanding Catalog Search Results

Locating Sources

Finding Library Catalogs

 

How to Search an Online Library Catalog : A Research Guide by Mike Palmquist

Library Catalogs

Online library catalogs focus primarily on print publications in a particular library collection. However, they can also provide information about publications in non-print media, such as audiotape and microfilm. Library catalogs typically help you locate books, journals owned by the library (not individual articles), newspapers and magazines owned by the library (not individual articles), documents stored on microfilm or microfiche, maps, graduate student theses and dissertations, and videotapes, audiotapes, and other multimedia items owned by the library.

Most online catalogs will ask you to specify what kind of search you are doing, either by making a menu choice or by typing in a command. You can learn how to carry out common searches of library catalogs by following the links below: