FINDING BOOKS

Catalog Basics

A library catalog is a listing of materials contained within the respective library, e.g. books, AV materials, and  scores of music -- but not of articles in magazines.  The Hartfield Library uses an electronic card catalog that allows you to search for books held at the KCTCS libraries and other large university libraries.  Although the Hartfield Library no longer uses a card catalog, the following discussion addresses the card catalog since some libraries are still not automated.

Card catalogs are divided into three sections: (1) Author; (2) Title; and (3) Subject.  When using the card catalog, follow these steps:

1.      If you are searching for a book whose author or title is known to you, look in either the AUTHOR or TITLE catalog.

2.      If you wish to know what the library has on a given subject, go to the SUBJECT catalog.  Most SUBJECT catalogs are organized using the LCSH.  Many books are listed under obvious subject headings like “Kentucky,” “Beatles,” or “Literature.” Sometimes, however, the library may use a different term as a subject heading than the term you are considering.  For example, books on body language are listed under “Kinesthetics.”  The best way to deal with this problem is to consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings.

When using either an online catalog, such as Voyager, or a card catalog:

3.      Record the entire call number from the copy availability screen on Voyager, or from the upper left-hand corner of the catalog card.  Be sure to include any location symbol found next to or above the call number for direction to items shelved in special locations.  Listed below are location symbols and their meanings:

AV - Audio Visual Distribution Center, second floor
HE/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS - Special Collections, second floor
HE/STACKS - General Collection, second floor
HE/OVERSIZE – General collection, second floor at end of the alphabet
HE/INDEX – Index table located in Reference area, first floor
REF - Reference Collection, first floor
RESERVE - Circulation Desk, first floor

4.      Call numbers not preceded by a symbol represent materials shelved in the main stacks.

5.      If the book is not on the shelf, scan the surrounding books to make sure that the book has not been mis-shelved.  Also, check nearby tables to see if it has been used recently and is waiting to be re-shelved.  If you still do not find it, go to the Circulation Desk and ask for the book to be traced.  You will be notified when it is found.

WHAT CATALOG CARDS TELL YOU ABOUT BOOKS

Filing arrangement in a card catalog:

Filing arrangement is alphabetical, with some exceptions:

• If the first word in a title is “a,” “an,” or “the,” (or the foreign equivalents), disregard it.  When using Voyager, this rule also applies.
  
  

•  Abbreviations such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., etc. are filed as though they are spelled out.
  
  

• Names beginning with M’, Mc, and Mac are filed together as though spelled Mac (in the usual place in the alphabet, following Mab).
  
  

• Numerals are filed as if they are spelled out, in the language of the rest of the title (9=nine).  On Voyager, you have to type in both versions to find your desired information.
  
  

• Acronyms and initialisms are usually filed in the front of each letter of the alphabet.
  
  

• Filing is usually word by word, e.g. Indian Hills precedes Indiana.