Title Search Examples:

Type as much of the TITLE as you want, starting with the first word (initial articles are not necessary), for example:

• much ado about nothing
• much ado abou
• sonata for clarinet
• 2001 a space od

NOTE: If you are unsure of the exact TITLE, try a KEYWORD search instead.

Journal Title Search Examples:

Type as much of the JOURNAL TITLE as you want, starting with the first word (initial articles are not necessary), for example:

• journal of biological chemistry
• journal of biolog
• callaloo
• jama

NOTE: Your results will be more accurate if you are able to provide more information.

Author Search Examples:

Type the LAST NAME first, for example:

• wilde, oscar
• wilde

You can also type in the names of artists and composers, government bodies, companies, or the names of organizations, for example:

• picasso
• american medical association
• united states army
• general motors corporation

Subject Heading Examples:

Type as much or as little of the SUBJECT HEADING as you want, for example:

• sports medicine
• sports
• united states foreign economic relations china
• dickens, charles
• cleveland ohio
• world war, 1939-1945 -- bibliography

NOTE: The SUBJECT SEARCH is a search by Library of Congress Subject Headings only. This type of structured, subject language searching is most useful when a search in KEYWORD results in too many or no hits.

Library of Congress Call Number Examples:

Type as much of the CALL NUMBER as you know, for example:

• QA 1 S87
• BF 1
• QP
• QP 376
• QP 376 D38

Dewey Call Number Examples:

Type as much of the CALL NUMBER as you know, for example:

• 822
• 822.33
• 822.33 S8

SUDOC Number Examples:

Type the SUDOC NUMBER, for example:

• PRVP 42.2:G 74
• EP 1.2

NOTE: The Superintendent of Documents classification system is used for U.S. government documents. The system is generally organized based on agency. Using correct punctuation (.,:,/) will help ensure an accurate search.

Other Call Number Examples:

Type as much of the CALL NUMBER as you know, for example:

• CD 00-09
• User Guide

ISBN/ISSN Examples:

Type the complete ISBN/ISSN/REPORT NUMBER, with or without punctuation, for example:

• 0-39451-598-6
• 0394515986
• 0098-7484
• 00987484

GPO Item Number/LCCN Examples:

Type as much of the GPO ITEM NUMBER or LCCN as you know, for example:

• 89-18623
• 126A
• 97640067

NOTE: GPO is short for Government Printing Office. LCCN is short for Library of Congress Card Number.

OCLC Number Examples:

Type the complete OCLC NUMBER (WorldCat Accession Number), for example:

• 12346
• 35879251

NOTE: For those using the FirstSearch WorldCat database, the WorldCat Accession Number is an OCLC Number.

Genre Search Examples:

Type as much or as little of the Genre term as you want, for example:

• Biography
• Documentary
• Suspense
• True crime stories

NOTE: This type of structured, genre term searching is most useful when a search in KEYWORD results in too many or no hits.