Understanding Research

Finding Books

ODU Library Catalog info

OhioLINK Library Catalog info

Finding Articles

Module 2: ODU Library & OhioLINK Catalog Info

Question 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

1. Which items will not be found by using the ODU Library Catalog?

B. Articles
The catalog can be used to find books and to find the titles of magazines, journals, and newspapers. However, you cannot use the catalog to find the articles within those publications. You must use a Research Database to find articles.

Go back to ODU Library Catalog Info

2. Which is an advantage of a keyword search?

A. It searches for your terms anywhere in the records.
A keyword search allows you to type in your own word to describe your topic and to search for those words throughout the library catalog records. It is highly recommended that you begin your research with this type of broad search.

Go back to Topic Searching

3. Which of the following searches is the best to use if you are searching on the topic of steroid use by athletes?

C. steroids and athletes
This is the only search, of the three listed, that ensures that your search combines both search words. With choice (a) Steroids alone, you would find many items that have nothing to do with athletes or sports. Choice (b) using the word OR would search for either word but not both words—you would find anything and everything on athletes and anything and everything on steroids.

Go back to Keyword Searching

4. Do an author search and find out whether the ODU Library has any books by Bishop Fulton Sheen. Does the ODU Library have any books by him? If so, how many?

A. Yes! By the time of this writing, the ODU Library had 33 books by Bishop Fulton Sheen. If you could not find any books by that author, try again. On the ODU Library Catalog page, first select AUTHOR from the drop-down menu in front of the search box, then type in the following: sheen, fulton

Back to Searching By Author

5. Do a title search and find out whether the ODU Library has the book Sources: Notable Selections in Education, edited by Fred Schultz. Does the ODU Library have this book?

A. Yes! If you did not find it in the catalog, try again. On the ODU Library Catalog page, first select TITLE from the drop-down menu in front of the search box, then type in the following: sources: notable selections.

Back to Searching By Title

6. How can I limit my search to books in just the Reference Collection?

You can limit using the Modify Search button. Once you click on the Modify Search button, select Reference for your LOCATION. The catalog will then search for books only in the Reference Collection. This can help you find, for example, encyclopedias or guide books on your toipc. Try it for yourself - you will find this a very useful feature!

Go back to Limiting Searches

7. Is the book The High Price of Materialism available in the ODU Library to be checked out? What is the book's call number? And where would you find the book in the ODU Library?

If the STATUS of the book is AVAILABLE, then yes, it is available to be checked out. The CALL NUMBER is 302.17 K154. The book's LOCATION is in the Main Stacks.

If you were unable to find the book, go back to the tutorial page titled When and How Do I Search by Title?

Go back to Why is the Library Catalog Record so Important?

8. Will the OhioLINK catalog tell you if Otterbein owns a book you want?

A. Yes.
The OhioLINK catalog includes information about books, videos and other items that are located at over 80 college and university libraries in Ohio. You can search for a book and find out which libraries own it and whether it is available for borrowing.

Go back to OhioLINK Catalog Info

9. Do you need to re-type your search words from the ODU Library Catalog into the OhioLINK catalog?

B. No
When you have already typed in your search words in the ODU Library Catalog, you can search those same words in the OhioLINK catalog by simply clicking on the OhioLINK button at the top of the screen. This will transfer your search into the OhioLINK catalog.

Go back to Connecting to the OhioLINK Catalog

10. If the University of Cincinnati owns a book that you want, do you have to go to that campus to pick it up?

B. No
When you find items in OhioLINK that are available for borrowing, you can specify which library you want the item delivered to. You can choose to have it delivered to the ODU library or any other OhioLINK library location. When you are finished using the item, you can return it to our library and we'll return it to the appropriate library for you.

Go back to Borrowing from OhioLINK