Today, most libraries use an electronic system to catalog books. Although the procedure for finding a book may be different for each book, in most libraries in the United States, the Library of Congress Classification system is used to organize books. To find a book, you must first look in the library catalog. When you have identified it, you must use the listing number to find it. If you can't find it, ask the librarian to look it up or request an interlibrary loan if the book is not available.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Search the Catalog
Step 1. Find a computer at the library
Today most libraries have electronic catalogs available on their computer terminals. Find a computer and go to the main library page. On this page, there should be an option to search for books, articles, magazines, newspapers, and publishers. It's usually at the top of the page.
Computers often have the library's home page set as the home page. Otherwise, type the address of the library in your internet browser
Step 2. Find the title
Do this if you know the title of the book you are looking for. Type the title in the search bar. Skip the articles at the beginning of the title when you type it in the search bar.
For example, if the title is "The Fall of the Roman Empire," write "Fall of the Roman Empire."
Step 3. Search for the author
Do this if you don't remember the exact title of the book, but you do know the author's name. Authors are usually classified by their last names, so you can write the full name or just the last name. All the works that the author has written and that are available in the library will appear.
- Books, newspaper articles, lectures and other works related to the author will also appear. You can filter the list to narrow down the results. Filter the results by clicking on the books.
- You can use this method also if you are interested in other books by a specific author. Write the name of the author and search among the books that appear in the search engine.
Step 4. Search by topic
Do this if you don't have a specific book or author in mind, but are interested in a particular topic. If you're searching by topic, use a few keywords to narrow your search.
For example, if you are interested in immigration, you can enter in the search bar "US immigration", "European immigration" or "Mexican immigrants"
Part 2 of 3: Gather Important Information
Step 1. Click on the title of the book
Do it when you have found it. This will redirect you to a new page with specific information about the book, such as its status and where it is located. To access this information, you may need to enter an ID and password if you are in a private library, such as a university library. If you are a university student or library employee, please enter your information.
If you are in a public library, you may not need to enter an ID and password. If you do, ask the librarian for this information
Step 2. Make a note of the book's location, catalog number, and status
These are the 3 most important pieces of information that you should write down, since they tell you where the book is in the library and if it is available.
- For example, you can write down the location: Anderson Library Shelf, the cataloging number: QA 600. K57 2009, and the status: available or not available.
- If the book is on the "shelves" it means that it is a circulating book that you can borrow for a specified period, such as four weeks.
- If the book is in the “reserves”, it is a “reference” book or it is among the “special collections”, it means that you can borrow it, but you cannot take it out of the library.
Step 3. Use the catalog number guide
Do this if the book is available (not borrowed). Identify the first 2 letters of the catalog number. Then look them up in the guide. The guide will tell you which section and on which floor it is.
- For example, a book that begins with QA might be in the blue section of the fourth floor.
- Look for the cataloging number guides on the computers or at the front desk.
Step 4. Look at the library map
Do it if you don't know where the section you are looking for is. You can find the maps at the reception. The map will show you how to get to the different sections of the library, using the reception desk as a point of reference.
Alternatively, you can ask an employee to take you to the correct section
Part 3 of 3: Finding the Book
Step 1. Look at the labels at the end of the shelf
The shelf labels are arranged alphabetically. Use these tags to locate the shelf where the book is located. Labels typically contain a range of letters and numbers, for example, QA 100.74. B50 to QA 300.70. A30. If the book's catalog number belongs to that range, you should search that shelf.
For example, if the book's catalog number is QA 200.86. S50, it is within that range and is on that shelf
Step 2. Look at the numbers on the spines of the books
The books are also arranged alphabetically, so use the catalog number to find the one you are looking for. The catalog number is usually found on the bottom of the spine. The number must exactly match the system listing number.
Since the books are organized by subject according to the Library of Congress Classification system, check out the other books in that same section if you want to find others on the same subject
Step 3. Ask an employee
Do this if the system indicates that the book is available, but you cannot find it. It may be misplaced or you may have looked in the wrong place. Most libraries are very large and it is normal for you to get confused. The clerk will search the book for you.
Tell the clerk: “I looked for a book in the blue section, but couldn't find it. The system tells me that it is available, but it is not there. Could you help me confirm?
Step 4. Apply for an interlibrary loan
If the clerk confirms that the book is not available, you can request an interlibrary loan. You or the employee will have to fill out a request form detailing the name of the book, the author and the year it was published, as well as your contact information. Usually it will take 5-7 days to arrive.