The Ohio State University

What is the Libraries' Catalog?

The OSU Libraries' catalog has the information you need to find books, videos, journals, and other materials available in OSU Libraries on the Columbus and regional campuses, as well as thousands of articles you can read online. The catalog is available to anyone at no charge and can be accessed from the OSU Libraries' Web site. (You must be affiliated with The Ohio State University - a student, faculty or staff member, for example - to borrow materials).

---

What does the Catalog provide?

• The location and current availability of the print, audio visual, online, and Web materials owned by the OSU Libraries
• Links to full-text resources
• Ability to request and renew materials
• Ability to broaden your search to the OhioLINK state-wide catalog, OSU Libraries' Interlibrary Services (for non-OSU and non-OhioLINK items) and other catalogs (WorldCat, CIC Libraries)

---

How do I search for the items I need?

You can search the Catalog by:

• Keyword
• Title of the item
• Author
• Author/Title
• Subject
• Medical subject
• Number (call number, ERIC, ISBN/ISSN, SuDoc)

---

How can I limit my search and make it more specific?

Use the Limit/Sort option at the top of the screen. You can limit your search by:

• Language
• Material type
• Words in the title, author or subject
• Sound or video recording
• Publisher
• Publication year
• Location of items

---

How can I request an item listed as "Available?"

Just click the "Request this item" link, and enter your name and University ID. Items you request can be sent to the University library of your choice, or delivered to your Columbus campus dorm or office.

---

How can I search the collections of other Ohio academic libraries?

Use the OhioLINK catalog for items at more than 85 Ohio academic libraries. (Search for your item in the OSU Libraries' Catalog first to be sure it is not available at Ohio State). To switch to OhioLINK, click on the "OhioLINK catalog" button at the top of the search results screen.

You can request any available OhioLINK item for checkout by clicking "Request this item," selecting Ohio State from the listing of institutions, and entering your name and University ID. Items will be delivered to the location you specify in 3-5 days and can be returned to any Ohio State library.

---

How can I request a book that someone else has checked out?

Click on "OhioLINK" catalog to see if a copy of the item is available from another Ohio academic library. Available items can be requested and sent to any OSU library or Columbus campus office or dorm in 3-5 days.

---

How can I renew my checked out items?

From the Libraries' Web site, click on "My Record." Then click on "Items currently checked out" and then "Sort by Due Date" to see which items are due first. Renew individual items or simply click on "Renew All."

---

How can I find out when new items are available?

Log into My Record at the beginning of your session, and perform any type of catalog search. Then click on "Save to My Record." You can save up to 25 searches. If you want to be emailed when new items are added to the Catalog that match your saved searches, click "Preferred Searches" from within "My Record" and check the "Mark for email" box for that search.

---

Where can I get help?

Library staff are available to assist you with Catalog searches and other questions. See Ask a Question.

---

Tips for Better Searching

By Title

• Accurately spell the first few title words.
• For very long titles, type only enough words to achieve relative uniqueness.
     Example: tewnty thousand leagues retrieves
     Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
• For very short titles, type a verticle bar (|) at the end of the title to eliminate longer titles beginning with those words.
     Example: time| retrieves: Time magazine

By Author

• Search by Personal Name, Corporation/Organization, or Government Agency.
     Example: american bar association

By Keyword

• Use double quotation marks to search for a phrase.
     Example: "art therapy"
• Use truncation to find words with the same root letters.
  Use ? to replace a single character
  Use * for the root word plus 1-5 characters
  Use ** for more than 5 characters
     Example:
     wom?an finds "woman," "women"
     art* finds "arts," "artists," "artistic," etc.
     art** finds "artificial," "artillery," etc.
• Use AND and OR to search multiple words.
     Example: stocks and bonds (finds both words)
     Example: men or boys (finds either word)
• Use AND NOT to exclude words.
     Example: dogs and not poodles
• Use NEAR for words close to each other, in any order
     Example: art near therapy finds both words

Updated: 7/23/08, sam