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Learn How To Find Books:

Find a Book by Title

  1. Click on MadCat Catalog.
  2. In the Search For box, type the title.
    • Omit initial articles (a, an, the, la…).
    • Punctuation and capitalization are not necessary.
  3. In the Search By box, select Title (begins with).
  4. Click on Search.
  5. Click on the link for the title you need.
    • If you do not recognize your title in the list of results, use other information about your book such as the author or publication date to help you select.
    • The book you want may have several editions. Usually you will want the most recently published edition.
  6. Write down the book's location and call number.
    • Write down the complete call number. You will need all this information to find the book on the shelf.
  7. Retrieve the book.
    • To find out the library's location, use the campus library map.
    • To find out where in the library your book is shelved, ask for a stack guide at the information or help desk.

Questions? Ask a Librarian!

Find Books by Author

  1. Click on MadCat Catalog.
  2. In the Search For box, type in the author's name.
    • Type in the author's last name, followed by her/his first name.
    • Punctuation and capitalization are not necessary.
  3. In the Search By box, select Author Browse.
  4. Click on Search.
  5. Click on the link that best matches your author.
  6. Click on the title for the book you want.
  7. Write down the book's location and call number.
    • Write down the complete call number. You will need this information to find the book on the shelf
  8. Pick up the book.
    • To find out the library's location, use the campus library map.
    • To find out where in the library your book is shelved, ask for a stack guide at the information or help desk.

Questions? Ask a Librarian!

Find a Book by Topic

  1. Click on MadCat Catalog.
  2. Click on the Guided Search tab.
  3. In the Search For box(es), type in the key concept(s) you are looking for.
    • Type one concept per box.
    • If your concept is a single word, leave the drop down menu at the default: all of these.
    • If your concept is a phrase, select as a phrase.
    • Leave keywords anywhere as the default in the drop down menu of the Search By box.
  4. Click on Search.
  5. Click on the links for titles that seem best for your topic.
    • To help you select the best titles, consider the following:
      • Title of item: does it seem relevant to your topic?
      • Name of author: is it someone in the field you recognize?
      • Date of publication: how current is the book and is currency important for your topic?
    • If you are looking for more books on your topic, look at the subject headings for this book and click on the one(s) that seem relevant to your topic.
  6. Write down the book's location and call number.
    • Write down the complete call number. You will need all of this information to find the book on the shelf.
  7. Retrieve the book
    • To find out the library's location, use the campus library map.
    • To find out where in the library your book is shelved, ask for a stack guide at the information or help desk.

Questions? Ask a Librarian!