Five Colleges of Ohio Research Tutorial: Library Catalog; 2

Home > Library Catalog : 1 - 2 - 3 Definitions

Searching the Catalog

The online catalog can be searched by Author, Title, Subject, or Keywords. Examples are given below.

Author Searches

An author search retrieves a list of works written by a specific author whose name you already know. If you are looking for a single specific work, it may be easier to use a title search instead, especially if the author is a prolific writer. Authors listed in the catalog include editors and corporate authors.

Author Search Tips Examples

Type the last name first. It is not necessary to use capital letters or punctuation marks.

erikson erik

Watson John B

You can search for the name of an association, organization, or company as an author. When such an entity (as opposed to an individual) is listed as the author of a work, that entity is known as a corporate author.

american psychological association

united states congress house

Author Search Tips	Examples
Type the last name first. It is not necessary to use capital letters or punctuation marks.	erikson erik Watson John B
You can search for the name of an association, organization, or company as an author. When such an entity (as opposed to an individual) is listed as the author of a work, that entity is known as a corporate author.	american psychological association united states congress house

Title Searches

A title search retrieves a specific work when you already know its title. If more than one work matches the title you enter, you may get a list of titles, especially if the work has been published in different editions, translations, etc. If you are searching for a large number of specific works (for example, a list of books from a bibliography), searching by title is often more direct and efficient than searching by author. If you are unsure of the exact title, try the Word search option.

Title Search Tips Examples

It is not necessary to use capital letters or punctuation marks, nor is it necessary to enter the complete title, especially if it is very long. The first few words are often sufficient to find it in the catalog.

Categorical Perception

forty studies that changed psychology

Do not use initial articles ("a," "an," "the" in English; "le," "la," "les" in French; etc.) in a title search.

Language Instinct (instead of The Language Instinct)

Title Search Tips	Examples
It is not necessary to use capital letters or punctuation marks, nor is it necessary to enter the complete title, especially if it is very long. The first few words are often sufficient to find it in the catalog.	Categorical Perception forty studies that changed psychology
Do not use initial articles ("a," "an," "the" in English; "le," "la," "les" in French; etc.) in a title search.	Language Instinct (instead of The Language Instinct)

Subject Searches

A Subject search retrieves a list of works about a particular topic. In most library catalogs, Subject searches are based on subject headings listed in Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). The catalog will often provide a suggestion for a correct subject heading if the one you enter isn't used in the catalog. A librarian can also help you identify useful subject headings for your topic.

Subject Search Tips Examples

Type all or the first part of the subject heading.

pheromones

If you are searching for works about a person, type their last name first.

Freud Anna

You can also search for the name of a place, country, company, organization, or event as a subject.

Psychology -- History -- England

Subject Search Tips	Examples
Type all or the first part of the subject heading.	pheromones
If you are searching for works about a person, type their last name first.	Freud Anna
You can also search for the name of a place, country, company, organization, or event as a subject.	Psychology -- History -- England

If you are unsure of the exact subject heading, first use the Word search option. You can then identify several LSCH subject headings by looking at those that have already been assigned to useful items identified through a Word search.

Word Searches

A Word search retrieves a list of works that have a particular word or combination of words in the author, title, subject heading, and notes portions of the catalog record. Word searches may help you locate a specific work when you can remember only a word or two from the title, or have a vague idea of the subject you are seeking.

(Key)Word Search Tips Examples

Use * to substitute for characters at the end of a word. This feature, known as truncation, will find variations of the root of the word.

psycholog*
(results: psychology, psychological, etc.)

Use "and" between words to find works that have ALL of your terms.

depression and men

Use "or" between words to find works that have ANY of your terms.

development or growth

You can combine "and" and "or" in one search phrase; use parentheses to group terms connected with "or."

teen* and (emotions or hormones)

© 2000 Five Colleges of Ohio

(Key)Word Search Tips	Examples
Use * to substitute for characters at the end of a word. This feature, known as truncation, will find variations of the root of the word.	psycholog* (results: psychology, psychological, etc.)
Use "and" between words to find works that have ALL of your terms.	depression and men
Use "or" between words to find works that have ANY of your terms.	development or growth
You can combine "and" and "or" in one search phrase; use parentheses to group terms connected with "or."	teen* and (emotions or hormones)