Research Guides: Music Capstone: Finding Books

Why You Need a Search Strategy

The library catalog and databases work differently than search engines like Google and Bing.

They won't correct spelling errors. They don't respond well to long search phrases because they do not search the full text of a website. Follow the tips on this page to get the best results from our library tools.

Fix Your Search Results

Zero search results?

Check your spelling. The catalog is very picky.

Did you search for a long phrase? Use the fewest number of words possible.

Too few search results?

Try changing your search terms, or search other libraries with Prospector.

Too many search results?

Add an additional search term to get more specific.

Search the Kraemer Library Catalog

Use the Kraemer Library Catalog to find books, ebooks, DVDs, streaming movies, CDs, and streaming music owned by the library. You cannot find articles in the catalog! Need articles for your assignment? Search in a database .

Kraemer Library Catalog Search

Advanced Search

A Quick Guide to Searching the Catalog

Start your catalog searches for a topic by doing a Keyword search. A keyword search:

Finds results in all fields of a book record: Title, Contents, Summary, Subject, and more
Also finds your search terms in book chapter titles
Lets you combine multiple topics in one search so you can find books where they overlap

Why you should not start with title search or subject search:

Title Search - Does not search for words within a title, only matches exact titles
Subject Search - Only matches assigned subject headings (tags) in one field of a book record

Don't judge a book by it's title. Use the catalog record to determine if it's worth going upstairs to look at the book.

Check the copyright date in the Publisher field to make sure the book is current enough for your topic.
Make sure the book is Available. If it is checked out, try to find another copy with Prospector.
Determine if the book is relevant by checking the Contents, Summary, or Subject fields.

Use one book you like to find others! Any of these methods will help you locate books on a similar topic:

Click the subjects - you'll get a list of other books that share those subject headings
Click the call number - books on similar topics are shelved next to each other
Borrow keywords from the record - if you see better search terms in the result, try using them in a new search

Find a Book on the Shelves

To find a print book, first identify the correct section of the library by checking the location of the book. Most books are in the "Main Collection" which is on the 3rd floor.

Reading LC Call Numbers

N - describes the subject area: read in alphabetical order
66 - describes the topic: read as a whole number
.B634 - describes the author's last name: read in alphabetical order, then the number as a decimal
1999 - date of publication: read in chronological order

If you are unable to locate the book or the book is missing, ask for help at the Circulation Desk.