Search by Keyword

The library catalog's default search setting is set to keyword.

Begin by identifying the key words in the question or the subject you wish to find materials for. Here is an example:

Research question:

I am looking for books about Russian folk tales.

Begin by identifying important words in the question.

For example:

Russian AND folk tales

Go to the library catalog to perform the keyword search. Remember to think about different terms (synonyms) which may prove to be more effective during the search process. Folk tales, for instance may be changed to, or searched in conjunction with related keywords such as folklore, myths, or legends..

You will probably also want to focus on a specific work or works (a poem, book, or play, for example) or on the works of a specific author or authors once you have done some more background research. Once you have found a work or an author to focus on, you can also search for literary criticism related specifically to those authors or works.

Author search:

Mishima, Yukio

Using the author as a keyword search will find books both by and about Yukio Mishima, for example.

Work search:

Hedda Gabler

Using the title as a keyword search will find both that book or work, as well as books containing criticism of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, for example.

Search by Call Number

If you know the call number of the book you are looking for, you can use it to find similar materials. Searching by call number allows you to go directly to a book's bibliographic record, while gaining the ability to search the shelves virtually from the comfort of your own desk or home.

Every item in the library has been assigned a call number. These numbers tell us the subject area of the material, the location of the item in the library, and the physical order of the books on the shelf. It is these numbers that allow you to see all of the titles of the books located next to the searched item on the shelf.

Give it a try!

Go to the library catalogue and search by the call number PT2621.A26 A258

As you can see, this call number is associated with the novel The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka.