How to Find Books

BOOKS cover virtually any topic, fact or fiction. For research purposes, you will probably be looking for books that synthesize all the information on one topic.

Libraries organize and store their book collections on shelves called "stacks." But books also come in electronic form. The library purchases these “ebooks,” which are available via the web.

Use books…

• when looking for a lot of information on a topic
• to put your topic in context with other important issues
• to find historical information
• to find summaries of research to support an argument

 Find books…

• by coming into the library and browsing the shelves. Books are arranged on the shelves by subject. Signs and labels on the spine of the book help you find what you are looking for.
• by searching the online library catalog

The “call numbers” that you see on the spine label of the book is a combination of numbers and letters or just numbers that identify the location of the item on the shelf. GTC library uses the Library of Congress Classification System to organize its collection and the public library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification system.  

The online catalog is a database of books and other materials including DVDs, books on CD, magazines & journals, held by the library.

Library catalogs list items owned by individual libraries.If the GTC library does not have a book, you can also search the catalog of your local public library or other colleges.

You can even search Worldcat, an online catalog database in GALILEO that lists books held in libraries all over the world!

We gratefully acknowledge & credit University of Ohio BOLT
and the University of Wyoming TIP for this content