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Research Skills Tutorial
Module 5: Finding Books
- Library Catalogs
- Library Catalogs and Journal Indexes/Databases
- Library Catalogs in the University System of Maryland
- Searching in the USM Library Catalog
- Checking out books with the USM Library Catalog
- WorldCat: A Global Catalog
- Using Interlibrary Loan (DocumentExpress)
Library Catalogs
In order to find books, you will use a research tool called a library catalog. Library catalogs contain information on items owned by a library. Each item, whether it is a book, a journal, videotape, etc., has a record in the library catalog which contains information about that resource, including the title, author, subject, location, and call number.
Some libraries maintain a card catalog, while other libraries have switched to the electronic equivalent--the online catalog. Records in online catalogs contain the same information as the card catalog (author, title, subject, and location). In addition, the online catalog tells you whether or not the item is checked out.
One of the great benefits of online library catalogs is that they are often accessible via the Internet. You can then begin your research before stepping foot in the library by searching the library catalog from home or work.
Library Catalogs and Journal Indexes/Databases
It is important to understand that although a library catalog will tell you if a library owns a particular journal, magazine, or newspaper, the catalog will not tell you about the articles in these periodicals. To find particular articles, you need to use journal indexes and databases described in Module 6.
Library Catalogs in the University System of Maryland
The online information system of the University System of Maryland (USM) libraries provides access to the catalogs of the libraries in the University System. You can choose to search a combined catalog that contains information about the items owned by all of the USM libraries, or you can choose to search the individual library catalogs.
Searching in the USM Library Catalog
You can use the library catalog to find a particular item, or to locate materials on a particular subject. You can search for materials by keyword, author, title, or subject.
| Search
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Instructions | Examples |
| Keyword | Enter the term or terms. |
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| Author | Enter the author's name (or as much of the name as you know) and select the Name/Author option from the drop down list. Then select the correct author from the results list. |
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| Title | Enter the title (or as much of the title as you know) and select the Title option from the drop down list. |
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| Subject | Enter the subject term and select the Subject option from the drop down list. Then select the appropriate subject heading from the results list. |
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Go to the USM library catalog and search for books by Jane Austen and check on a title's availablity at College Park.
Checking out books with the USM Library Catalog
Through the online library catalog, you can request books owned by USM libraries to be delivered to any other USM library, or to UMUC Dorsey Station or UMUC Waldorf Center. This is done using the request command in the catalog. Note that you will need the barcode on the back of your UMUC ID card in order to place a request. You cannot request non-circulating items such as reference books, journals, or videos.
Current UMUC students and faculty who live outside Maryland in the
continental United States may have books mailed to their home address. Once you have found the book you want, to request delivery, use the request function in the catalog. At the prompt, enter the barcode number from the back of your student ID. Select "UMUC Distance Education" as your pickup site. The book will be sent to you via UPS and should arrive at least one to two weeks after you place your request. See Get It Delivered for more information about this service.
WorldCat: A Global Catalog
- WorldCat is one of the proprietary or subscription databases that you can access via the UMUC Library Services Web site.
- WorldCat contains records for books, journals, videotapes, and other resources from thousands of libraries worldwide.
- You can search WorldCat by author, title, or subject.
- Once you find an item in WorldCat, you can tell which libraries own it by looking at the information record for a title.
- WorldCat does not give the status of the item (that is, whether or not it is checked out).
After finding a book in WorldCat and looking at a list of libraries that own the book, you can decide if you want to go to a library that owns the book, or use Interlibrary Loan to have the book delivered to a library closer to you.
To access WorldCat, go to the library databases page and select WorldCat from the alphabetical list of databases.
Using Interlibrary Loan (DocumentExpress)
- Interlibrary loan is a service between libraries for obtaining books from one another to loan to patrons. Many local libraries provide this service and are able to get you the books you need from other institutions. Inquire about this service at your local library.
- You may use UMUC's DocumentExpress service for books not owned by the USMAI. See DocumentExpress book delivery options for details about picking up DocumentExpress books in person or having them delivered via UPS.
- Additionally, you may use DocumentExpress to request the book table-of-contents or one or more book chapters (as long as they are less than 20% of the book) and have them delivered electronically.
- Students outside the United States should check with their local libraries for more information about obtaining books through Interlibrary Loan. Use Libweb or Libdex to help locate a library near you.
Be sure to check the library catalog before requesting an item through DocumentExpress. If you find the book in the catalog, you should use the request function to have the book delivered to the USM library nearest you, or to have it sent to you if you live outside the state of Maryland and in the United States. See library catalog book delivery options for details.