How do I find an item using the title?

• Double click on the library catalog (this is the tree icon on all of the computers in the library).  If you are not in the library, go to:   http://catalog.hilbert.edu
• Make sure the option for “Titles” is selected.
• In the blank search box below, type in the title of the item you are looking for. Example:  Prisoner Reentry and Crime in America
• Using this example, you will retrieve one record: "Prisoner Reentry and Crime in America" edited by Jeremy Travis and Christy Visher

How do I find an item using the author?

• If you know the author of the item you are searching for, select the option for “Authors” and type in the author’s last name, then first name.
• Example: You are looking for a book written by William Pfaff, but are uncertain of the title.  Select the option for “Authors”, and then in the search box, enter:  “Pfaff, William”.  You will retrieve three documents. The correct book title you are actually looking for is:  "A Chronicle of Fear, Anger, and Failure:  The Bush Administration’s War Against Terror"

How do I search by subject?

• To search for all the books we have on a broad subject such as fire investigation, select the “Subjects” option above the search box.  Next, type “fire investigation” into the search box.  You can browse through the list of available titles the library owns.

Other catalog search options:

• If you click on Set Limits in the upper right hand corner of the main search screen of the catalog, you can specify certain limits that may aid you in your search.  For example, you can:
• Specify a range of publication dates.  Example: 1999 to 2005
• Specify a language (English or French)
• Specify material format such as book, sound, non-print, etc.
• Specify place of publication (country or state)
• Specify a certain location of the collection within the library, such as Second Floor, Reference, Oversized, Reserve, etc.
• After you select the limits you want to use, don’t forget to click on the Set Limits button on either the top of the bottom of the page in order to set your limits. Also, make sure you check the empty box next to each appropriate limit you are selecting in order to activate it.
• You can also select the Browse option at the top of the main search screen of the catalog to utilize other search methods such as ISBN, ISSN, call number, publisher, etc.
• The Combination Option (also located on the main search screen of the catalog) allows you to use Boolean to search for materials within the catalog.  This is useful when you know an author, and/or part of the title, and/or the subject of a certain book or other matieral.
• Example:
  In the first search box, enter "contemporary";  select “Title”
  In the second box, enter "Doerner";  select “Author”
  In the third box, enter "police";  select “Subject”
• Result:
  Contemporary Police Organization and Management:  Issues and Trends edited by William G. Doerner and M.L. Dantzker

How do I find a DVD:

• After opening the library catalog, select Set Limits on the top of the page.
• Select “Format” & “Any Non-print”.  Follow the instructions to search for title, or author (director, actor) above.
• When searching for a magazine or journal, select “Serial” under the “Format” option.
• When searching for a book on tape, select “Sound (non-music)”.
• When searching for a music CD, select “Sound (music)”.
• Remember, if the library does not have a specific book or other material you are looking for, you can always request the item via InterLibrary Loan (ILL).  Also, if you need help, please ask a librarian for assistance

Section 3 Questions

Using the McGrath Library Catalog, please answer the following set of questions for Section 3:

1. Name the author of the following book title:

• Good to Great:  Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t

2. Find the title of a book written by Andrew J. Bacevich.

3. Using the Set Limits option in the catalog, limit your Format to Any Non-print and then perform a search          for the DVD:  "The Thin Blue Line".   What is the full call number?

4. Using the Set Limits option in the catalog, limit your Collection choice to Reference, and then perform a Subject search for "women and history".  Scroll through the list of results and find the title Handbook of American Women’s History.  What is the call number, and where would you go in the library to find this title?

You can find the answers to the questions here.