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Mastering Research: An Intro to Searching, Book Hunting, and Article Discovery

Discover search strategies and learn how to search the library's catalog and databases.

Finding Books

 

Tarleton Libraries uses Global Search to find items in the library catalog (including print books, eBooks, journals, movies, and more) that are located in the library's collection. To start your search, visit the library homepage and input your keywords into the Global Search bar. 

The Global Search engine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you hit enter, you will come to a results page that looks like this:

A screenshot of library catalog results.

Click on the title of the result you think may work. If it is a print book it will look like this:

A single item result in the library catalog.

Note the information at the bottom of the screen. This will let you know what library the book can be found, its call number, and its location status. Be sure to write down the call number and take note of its location because you will need those to find the book.

However, eBooks look a bit different.

An example of an eBook found in the library catalog.

It has much of the same info, but it says "Online Access" under status. To access the item, click on the link in purple that states "Tarleton students, faculty, and staff only: click here to access.". It is important to note that if you can't access an eBook or it says unavailable, the library may only have one digital copy that may be in use.

If you are looking for a specific book and the library does not have it, you can always use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and we will try to get it from another library. For more information, visit the ILL libguide.