MATC Libraries

HOW TO FIND A BOOK

A. To search for books, first open Netscape or Internet Explorer.

B. Then type the Library website address http://library.matc.edu/ in the “Address” box near the top.

C. At the Library Home Page, click on “Books and Videos” and the following screen will appear. To search for a book by subject, type in the terms and click on the “Search Everything” button (see example below). The pull down menu on the right, next to “Library”, allows you to select which of the MATC campus libraries you wish to search.

D. Whichever method you use, the following screen will appear with your search results (see below). The first line tells where the book is located in the stacks and is referred to as the Call Number. This is the same number that will appear on the back, or spine, of the book. If you see a call number that begins with “XX”, this means that the book is on order and not available yet. All books beginning with an “R” are reference books and cannot be checked out.

E. The information on the right-hand side of this screen will tell you at which campus the book is located and whether or not it is available to be checked out. On the next page are some examples of the common codes you will see.

STACKS = The book is in the library and is available to be checked out.

CHECKEDOUT = Someone has already checked out that book.

ON ORDER = The book is not available for use yet.

REFERENCE = The book may be used in the library only and may not be checked out.

CAREER-EDU = The book is located in the career collection.

MILW-RESV = The book is on reserve and may only be used in the library. Ask at the circulation desk.

AV = This is a video. Fill out a request form at the circulation desk. The video will be acquired for the

following day and may be viewed only in the library.

(If the book you are searching for is not on the shelf, when the online catalog indicates that it should be, ask the library staff to help you. The book may have been returned to the wrong place, checked out, or it is waiting to be reshelved.)

F. Click on the “View” button to access more information about a specific book. The screen below will appear.

Our books are shelved according to the Dewey Decimal System. This system arranges books according to subject. If you find one good book, you may find others on the same subject nearby on the shelves that may help you.

G. If you are not finding what you need, you many want to try typing in other terms to describe your topic. If you are finding items, but they are not exactly what you are looking for, click on “Cross Reference” and the computer will suggest other terms to use. Click on the words that are underlined and highlighted in color next to the word “Subject” to find more books on that particular subject.

H. You may put a book on HOLD at the circulation desk. If it is already checked out you can be put on a waiting list for that book. You may also fill out an Interlibrary Loan form if the book is located at another campus (ask for the form at the circulation desk.) The book should be delivered in about 3 days.