Introduction

Library Catalog

Title Search

Author Search

Keyword Search

  -- AND, OR, NOT

  -- Phrase Search

Subject Search

Limiting

Truncation

Saving Searches

Printable Checklist

Introduction

Using the library's resources can seem overwhelming--especially when you consider all the different ways you can search for information. Out of all the available resources, the ISU Library Catalog is one of the most important tools you will use for research. The goal of this tutorial is to demonstrate how you can use the online catalog to find the materials you need.

After completing this tutorial, one will be able to:

Know what records and fields are, and why they're important.
Do a title or author search.
Use keyword and subject searching.
Use phrase searching to make a search more specific.
Use Boolean operators to combine search terms.
Limit searches.
Use truncation to pluralize or expand a word past its root.
Save your searches and access your search history.