Use the library catalog to search for materials available through your college library, including:
- books (online, digital audio, & print)
- videos (online)
- articles (online)
Try a basic keyword search when:
- You have a narrow or complex topic. In many cases this means entering two or more search terms to describe your topic.
- You have only partial information about the author or title.
- There is no appropriate subject heading for your topic, or you are unsure of the correct subject heading.
Try an author, subject, or title search when:
- You know the exact author, subject, or title.
- You get too many results for your topic search. Try a subject search instead.
- For example, a too-broad search might be: "children." Try a more specific subject search, such as: "children and early reading instruction."
- You get too few results for your search. If your topic is too specific, you may retrieve few or no results. Try to think of a broader subject area or broader search terms to use for your topic.
- For example, a too-specific topic might be: "the impact of divorce on the academic performance of children." Try a broader subject search, such as: "children and divorce."