Using the Catalog
(University Libraries, May, 2004)

Table of Page Contents

Using the Catalog

The catalog for University Libraries provides access to approximately 2,500,000 titles owned by the library system. You may search the catalog by:

  • Author
  • Title
  • Subject
  • Keyword or Phrase

Access to the catalog is available through the University Libraries' website at http://libraries.ou.edu.

The catalog contains records for items found in the University of Oklahoma Libraries system. These materials include:
 

  • Books (print and electronic)
  • Periodicals (journals, magazines, and newspapers)
  • Microforms
  • Audio-Visual Materials (CD-ROMs, DVDs, Videos, etc.)
  • Government Documents (1976-present)
  • E-Books
  • Newspapers
  • Internet Resources
  • OU Theses and Dissertations
  • Maps
     

Searching by Topic

Quick Search:
 

  • Select search type keyword.
  • Enter your search term(s) in the window. (EXAMPLE: civil rights)
  • Select "Search Everything" from the drop-down menu. (HINT: If this search yields too many sources, re-do the search as a subject search.)

     

Advanced Search Commands

For combining terms:
 

  • Adj

Narrows search by locating records in the catalog where the words are next to each other, in that order. EXAMPLE: civil adj rights
 

  • Same

Narrows search by locating records in the catalog where both words are in same field of an entry (such as the subject or title field). EXAMPLE: civil same rights
 

Truncation commands:

  • $ symbol used at the end of a word to replace one or more characters

Broadens search by locating records in the catalog with the root word. EXAMPLE: ceremon$ The example ceremon$ will find records with the word ceremony, ceremonies, ceremonial, etc.

  • ? symbol used at the end or in the middle of a word to replace one character

Broadens search by locating records in the catalog with variations on the word. EXAMPLE: wom?n The example wom?n will find records with the word women, woman, womyn, etc.

Power Searching within the Catalog
 

Advanced Search Screen (click the "Switch to Advanced Search" button):

The “Advanced Search” screen guides you through the process of combining keywords and allows you to limit your search by format, language, date, etc. To perform an advanced search:

  • Select search everything, author, title, subject, series, or periodical title from the left pull-down box.
  • Enter search term(s) in the search window.
  • Select AND, OR, XOR [either word, but not both—rarely used], or NOT from the right pull-down box.
  • Enter search term(s) in the next search window, and select search everything, author, title, subject, series, or periodical title from the left pull-down box.
  • When you have finished entering the terms necessary for your search, click the Search button.
  • EXAMPLE: (see illustration below); search everything: civil rights AND search everything: United States

     


    Limiting Your Search

    If necessary, you may also use the limit your search by library, language, publication year, location, etc. (EXAMPLE: pubyear: 1950-1970)

Searching for Items by Author

An author search looks for items written or edited by a particular person.
 

  • Click either the keyword or browse button.
  • Type in the name of the author: last name, then first name. (EXAMPLE: King, Martin Luther, Jr.)
  • Select "author" from the drop-down menu.

     


    If your first search does not yield the intended results, try another type of search, such as browse rather than keyword. To find books about a person (literary criticism or biographies), follow steps 1 and 2, but then perform the search as a subject search.
     

Searching by Title

  • Click either the browse or exact button.
  • Type in the title of the book, leaving out "a," " an," or "the" if it is the first word in the title.
  • Select "title" from the drop-down menu.

     

Looking at Catalog Records

Once you have found an item in the catalog that you would like to view, you will need to note several pieces of information in the item's record to locate the material in the library.

An item's record looks like this:


1. In which library or special collection the item is housed

There are multiple libraries and collections that may house the item you desire. In this example, Bizzell is listed as the item's home; however, there are other branch libraries or special collections that may appear. Here are a few of the most common units you may see:

  • Architecture Library
  • Chem-Math Library
  • Engineering Library
  • Fine Arts Library
  • Geology Library
  • Government Documents
  • History of Science Collections
  • Law Library
  • Physics-Astronomy Library
  • Western History Collection

You will need to note the library housing the item before you will be able to locate it on the shelf. Each branch and collection has its own hours of operation; more information about these units and their collections is available from their websites.

2. The location of the item within the given library or collection

Once you know in which library or collection the item is housed, you will want to look at the location of the item within that library or collection. In this example, the location given is "REF_COLL" indicating that the item is available in Bizzell's reference collection. Some of the common locations listed in the catalog include:

  • Archives Area (abbreviated ARCHIVE in catalog)
  • Atlas Area (abbreviated ATLAS in catalog)
  • Audio-Visual Area (abbreviated AV_AREA in catalog)
  • Current Periodicals (abbreviated CURR_PER in catalog)
  • Government Documents Stacks (abbreviated GOV_DC_STKS in catalog)
  • Microforms Area (abbreviated MICROFORM in catalog)
  • Internet
  • Reading Room (abbreviated READ_RM in catalog)
  • Reference Collection (abbreviated REF_COLL in catalog)
  • Stacks

3. The item's call number

Each item within the library has a unique call number. University Libraries primarily uses 3 types of classification schemes to organize print resources. These are:

  • Library of Congress classification (Example: E 185.61 .C6124 2000)

Library of Congress call numbers are composed of letters, numbers, and decimals. Items about the same subject will be grouped together in this system.

  • Dewey decimal (Example: 325.26 B57p)

Dewey decimal call numbers are also comprised of numbers, letters, and decimals but begin with numbers rather than letters. Items about the same subject will be grouped together in this system.

  • Superintendent of Documents classification (Example: Y 4.SE 2:106-2-11)

Superintendent of Documents call numbers are used for Government Documents and are comprised of letters, numbers, colons, commas, decimals, and slashes. The documents are arranged by the issuing unit, not by subject.

In addition to these common types of call numbers, you may also see call numbers that do not follow traditional classification schemes. Examples include: Microfiche Serial 123, Microfilm Serial 123, Unclass (used for newspapers), Video Cassette 123, and Internet. These call numbers work in the same way as the other call numbers in that each item has a unique call number, but often they denote items in a format other than the traditional print format.

Finding Periodicals in the Library


Once you have searched a database or index and found citations to journal articles, you will need to use the catalog to find out where the journals are housed within University Libraries.

Remember, to find articles, you will need the journal or magazine name, date, volume, issue, and page number for each article. To find out if OU owns the journal or magazine, check the catalog.

  • Choose the browse or exact button.
  • Type the title of the periodical in the box.
  • Select "periodical title" from the drop-down menu.

     


    After you have done a title search, you will get a screen similar to this:

     


    From this screen, you cannot tell where a particular volume of a journal is located within University Libraries. You must click on the details button. Then, you will get a screen like this:

     


    If you do not find the volume/year needed on the first record, check the next record. You may have to check several records before finding the exact location of the issue you need! Once you get the call number from the catalog, go to the floor, branch library, or special collection where your magazine or journal article can be found:
     

  • If the periodical is in one of the branch libraries or special collections, go to that library or collection for assistance.
  • In Bizzell, current issues are in the Current Periodicals Room on Lower Level One, under the call number.
  • In Bizzell, microfilm and microfiche are also filed in the Current Periodicals Room, Microforms Area.
  • In Bizzell, the call numbers "unclass" are filed alphabetically in paper or on microfilm in the Current Periodicals Room & Microforms Area.
  • In Bizzell, if your article has a call number but isn't in the Current Periodicals Room, the journal or magazine will be filed with the books.

If the call number for a periodical is "Internet," you will be able to access it online using the links provided in the catalog record.
 

Finding Materials in University Libraries

When trying to find items in Bizzell Memorial Library, use the following location chart as a guide:
 


Each type of call number is shelved differently within the building. Until you become familiar with where items are housed within Bizzell, you can get help finding materials in any of the following ways:

  • Look at the map on the kiosks just inside either entrance to the library. The directory and maps will help you locate areas and services within the library as well as call number locations.
  • Pick up a "call number locator" bookmark at either the circulation desk or the reference (information) desk. It lists call number ranges and on which floor these call numbers may be found.
  • Ask any library employee for assistance.
  • Look at the signs at each stairwell landing listing the call number ranges and services located on that floor.

Each branch library is laid out differently so you may want to take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the layout of the library during your first visit. Each library has employees that can help you find materials.