HOW DO I FIND A BOOK?

For books, check the library’s catalog. The catalog is like an inventory list of books available in the library.

STEP 1: USE THE CATALOG

Go to the library's home page (http:/library.mcneese.edu) and access the Library Catalog screen "Find books, etc. in the Library."

STEP 2: DO A SEARCH

To do a search, either use the default WORDS OR PHRASE option or choose AUTHOR, TITLE, or SUBJECT. Type the term in the Input box and press the SEARCH button.

TIPS:

When searching by WORDS OR PHRASE (terms describing your topic), connect terms using AND
Example: drugs and sports

When searching by AUTHOR (find books by an author), type the author's name
Example: maya angelou

When searching by TITLE (find books with this title), type the first few words of the title
Example: sound and the fury

To locate books using the Library of Congress Subject Headings, subject searches must match a standardized subject heading. If unsure of the subject, try searching by WORD OR PHRASE
Example: Lake Charles (La.) History

To learn more about the book, click DETAILS (located to the left of the record). Check Copy Info to see if the book is checked out.

Click on highlighted items in the box to the left to locate similar items by call number (Items on the same shelf), subject, title, or author.

To return to the main menu screen, click NEW SEARCH on the blue band.

ADVANCED SEARCH

To search for items in a particular collection (e.g. Serials, Reference, Documents, Archives), click the box that has the words ADVANCED SEARCH on the main screen. Click the LOCATION pull-down menu to select the collection to search. When a search retrieves a large number of results use BROWSE SEARCH in the box on the right side of the ADVANCED SEARCH screen to find results that are grouped. Use CALL NUMBER SEARCH in that same box to view titles as they are arranged on the shelf.

STEP 3: GET THE BOOK'S LOCATION AND CALL NUMBER

Information for each item looks like this:

Health risks of weight loss
Berg, Francie M.
Publisher: Healthy Weight Journal
Pub Date: 1995
Pages: 157 p. :
ISBN: 0918532442
Copy Info: 1 copy available at LAMNMAIN in STAX
Call Number: RM222.2 .B4522 1995

The Copy Info and the whole CALL NUMBER will indicate where the book is shelved. This information may be printed from your computer. Citations for several items that are listed together may be selected to be printed at one time. To do that, click the word, "Keep" in the left column, then click Kept at the top of the screen. Sort the list by author, title, or call number and select whether to e-mail or print this information.

IF THE BOOK IS CHECKED OUT, record all the information about it, and go to the Circulation Desk. You may ask for the book to be HELD (when it is returned, you will be next in line for it) or RECALLED (the faculty or staff member who has it will be asked to return it). A HOLD can also be placed online by clicking the phrase, Place Hold  box to the left on the DETAILS screen.

STEP 4: FIND THE BOOK ON THE SHELF IN THE LIBRARY

Understanding call numbers: if you're looking for call number PR 4034.P 73 1940
read it this way: PR FOUR THOUSAND THIRTY-FOUR. . .
not: PR FORTY THIRTY-FOUR. . .
not: PR FOUR ZERO THREE FOUR. . .
Look for this book in the PR 4000's, not the PR 4's or PR 40's. It makes a big difference!

WHERE IS IT?

If Location is given as "General Collection," the books can be checked out and will be found according to the call number:

Call number starts with letters A through J, go to 1ST FLOOR (south side)
Call number starts with letters K through PR, go to 2ND FLOOR (south side)
Call number starts with letters PS through Z, go to 3RD FLOOR

But watch out for other locations:

REF (REFERENCE COLLECTION): 1st Floor, Reference (north side)
FRIE (SPECIAL COLLECTIONS): 1st Floor, Archives (north side)
DOCS (GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS): 4th Floor
CIRC. DEPT.--RESERVE DESK: Ask at Circulation Desk
AV (MEDIA COLLECTION): (Videorecordings) Ask at Circulation Desk
JUVNFIC (JUVENILE FICTION): (Children's books) Go to Farrar Hall, Room 228
MUSC (MUSIC LEARNING CENTER): (Music scores/ recordings) Go to Shearman Fine Arts Building, Room 226

STEP 5: CHECK OUT YOUR BOOK

Take the book to the Circulation Desk (1st Floor) to check it out. Your McNeese ID card is your library card.

LOCATING BOOKS THAT ARE NOT ON THE LIBRARY SHELVES

NetLibrary

The McNeese Library has eBooks that can be read on a computer listed in the library catalog in addition to materials that are located on the shelves. To use eBooks through NetLibrary, bring up the web site: www.netlibrary.com. You will have to establish a personal account to view the entire book and can get a summary by clicking from the home page. To do that click Create a free account from the top of the screen of the NetLibrary screen on one of the library's computers. You can then access NetLibrary from any computer. From a record you can:

SHOW DETAILS allows viewing of the Table of Contents as well as a few pages of the book

VIEW THIS EBOOK for a limited time (approximately 4 hours - but may be checked out again if not in use by someone else)

REQUESTING BOOKS THAT ARE NOT LISTED IN THE LIBRARY CATALOG

Use the services of the Interlibrary Loan Department if you have information about a book not available at McNeese.  Materials may now be requested online from the Library's home page. Click InterLibrary Loan under Services, then "Request a book" under Contact Information.  Make sure to choose McNeese as your delivery location when you register.

WorldCat is an index that will give you additional information about books you wish to request through Interlibrary Loan. It displays which libraries own a particular book.

To access WorldCat, click Find Journal Articles, etc. from the Library Homepage, then Databases for the Library Databases page, and finally WORLDCAT.

If you are accessing any database from OFF CAMPUS, you'll need to key in your University ID and PIN when requested to do so. (This information is available from the Reference Desk.)

Search by keyword, author or title, then click on the title to access useful information such as which libraries own this material.

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This page last updated on April 17, 2007.