Catalog Search Features

Searching the Library Catalog

The Library Catalog can help you determine if the University of Chicago Library owns a particular item, such as a book, journal, newspaper, DVD, music recording, etc. The Library Catalog will provide information to help you find the item within the library, such as the call number and location, as well as the availability of an item.

"Begins With" Search

The "Begins With" search allows you to browse through an alphabetical listing of subjects, authors, titles, etc. to find the book you need. It is the easiest way to locate a book if you know the exact title or the author's entire name. Below are some suggestions for using the "Begins With" search.

• Title: When browsing by title, skip any initial articles at the start of the book's title (for example, "a", "an", "the" or their non-English language equivalents). For example, lord of the rings rather than The Lord of the Rings.
• Author: For author searches, enter the author's last name first. For example: dickens, charles.
• Call Number: The call number browse allows you to virtually browse the stacks. It is also helpful for identifying a book by call number or for determining the availability of items in a series (See Call Number Browse).
• Subject: The subject browse uses Library of Congress Subject Headings. These subject headings, in general, begin with a broad topic and then narrow down through sub-topics. For example, if you were looking for books on marriage, the "Begins With" subject search would point you to other terms you can also use, such as betrothal, common law marriage, and honeymoons. In addition, it would point you to additional sub-topics, such as Marriage -- India.

Author "Begins With" Browse Search

Keyword Search

Keyword searching is helpful when you are unsure of the the exact title of an book, know only the part of the author's name, or are unclear about what subject heading to use when searching the catalog. Be aware that using common or broad terminology may result with many unwanted results.

On the basic search screen, the Library Catalog offers many different types of keyword searches. "General (Keyword)" looks for any record which contains the words you have entered in the search box. However, you can also define the fields which the catalog searches (such as subject, title, author only, etc.) for better results. The Advanced Keyword search allows you to combine several types of keyword searches. You can also set limits by language, type of material, location, and date of publication.

Advanced Keyword Search Screen

Understanding Your Catalog Record

Once you find an item you are looking for in the Library Catalog, you will be taken to the full record. Bibliographic details about the publication (such as title, author, place of publication, subject headings, etc.) are included at the top of the record. At the bottom of the record, you'll find the items' circulation status (also known as holdings).

Library Catalog Record

The Circulation Status includes several key pieces of information to help you locate an item at the Library.

• Location: The location is the Library building or collection where the item is housed. If you click on the location, in the catalog record, it will open a map or call number guide to help you locate the item in the building.
• Call Number: The number which helps you locate a book on the shelf (think of it as the "address" of the item). Learn how to read a call number.
• Copy Number: Often the Library has more than one copy of an item. This number helps you locate the correct copy.
• Status: The status of the item tells you whether an item is available for you to use. If you are unsure of what the term means, you can click on the status to retrieve a list of definitions and instructions for obtaining the item. In most cases, the item will be "Not Checked Out" which means that it is available in the Library, or "Checked Out, Can be Recalled", which means that the item is currently unavailable, but can be recalled it from the current borrower so that you may use it.
• Due Date: If the book is checked out, the record will let you know when the book is due. Some items may show "Indefinite Loan", which means the item is currently checked out to a faculty member. You can still recall these books like a normal loan.

Additional Assistance

If you need further assistance locating an item at the Library, Ask a Librarian.