It is possible to do a quick and dirty search of the Libraries' resources by using the general search box on the left side of the Libraries' Home page. Results will be sorted into various categories, such as articles, books, databases, guides, etc. to follow up on. To do a more traditional search read on.
Below the general search box, click on Books and Media to search for physical, paper/cloth bound books, paper/cloth bound journals, physical media, such as DVDs, or individually cataloged electronic items.
In Books and Media, click on the down arrow on the right side of the form where it says "Catalog." Choose the type of search you want to do. In the box to the right put in your search terms. Enter author's name either last name, first name or first name last name. Omit initial articles in book titles; include them as they occur within the book title itself. To search by L.C. subject heading, it may be better to use the Browse Alphabetically Browse by Subject lower down in the list than Catalog: Subject, because those results will show the surrounding subject headings, and number of hits retrieved. After you receive your results, notice that you can filter them in various ways, by using the facets along the left side of the page.
Advanced search allows for combination of more than one search aspect, such as author and title, subject and keyword, or several lines of keywords (any field), such as women OR gender. Use the asterisk (*) to pick up additional letters in a word. Byzanti* will retrieve Byzantine or Byzantium, for example. You can also confine your results to particular parts of our Collections, by using the Location area on the lower right side of the screen.
Below the general search box, click on E Books and Journals to search for journals in electronic form or individual electronic books that will have been received by the Library in a package. You may need to check both books and Media and E Books and Journals to find your electronic book.