Step 3: Finding books
The Online Catalog | Searching the Online Catalog | Call Numbers | Finding Call Numbers in Newman Library
The online catalog
The University Libraries have over two million books. Each book has a record entered into the online public access catalog, called Addison. Addison contains information about:
- books
- periodicals
- microforms
- most of the special collections
- government documents
- video and audio cassettes
- holdings from the branch libraries: (Art + Architecture, Vet Med, Northern Virginia Center or Storage)
After doing a subject, title, author, call number or keyword search on Addison, you can tell:
- where the book is located
- whether or not it can be checked out
- how many copies of the book the libraries own
- whether or not the book is available.
Records for materials that are kept in special areas throughout Newman Library or in the branches will be marked with a location code.
Searching the online catalog
The words you use to describe a topic may not be the same words Addison uses. To do a subject search on Addison , you must know the correct Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH). The Library of Congress publishes a set of books that list all of the subject headings available. These books can be found in both the 1st and 4th floor reference areas.
Because of their format and greater length, books - vs. journal articles - may provide more in-depth information on your topic. You can use either Addison, our online catalog, to find books on your topic.
Search Types
- subject
- title
- author
- keyword
Examples of Addison Searches
In the Addison Basic Search, select the Search Type on the left of the screen to select Keyword, Author, Title or Subject and type in
the text desired in the Word or Phrase text box.
- Select Subject - eating disorders
- Select Title - song of solomon
- Select Author - shakespeare william
- Select Keyword - children television effects (type in pertinent words without the Boolean operator "and". Addison will automatically add the "and" for words in a string search up to 60 characters in length.)
You may want to begin your book search by using the titles that appear in the bibliographies of your background information sources.
Keep in mind that the words you are using to describe your topic may not be the same words Addison uses. A keyword search may help, or you can talk to a reference librarian about finding the correct subject headings for your topic.
HINT: If you're looking for books on a person or a place, treat that person or place as a subject.
EXAMPLES:
- Search Clinton, Bill as a Subject
- Search Montgomery County (Va.) as a Subject
Addison provides online Help on every screen.
For more information on how to search Addison, see theAddison Help screens.
Call Numbers
In order for us to keep track of books, and for you to find them, we catalog each book and assign it a call number (which is like an address for the book). To do this we use the Library of Congress Classification System, which works in conjunction with the Library of Congress Subject Headings and organizes materials by subject.
Another system, the Superintendent of Documents System (SUDOCS), is used for Federal Government Documents.
Finding a call number in Newman Library
To find a book located in Newman, note the call number of a book and use the first letter of the call number to determine on which floor the book is located. Location Guides are posted on every floor, by doors and in the stairwells. For Library maps and information, go to Newman Library's Virtual Tour.
Generally, locations are as follows:
| Call Number | Floor # |
|---|---|
| FOLIO A - Z | First Floor |
| DOCS A - Y | Second Floor |
| A - E, REF ROOM | Second Floor |
| F - P, JUVENILE, SCRIPTS | Third Floor |
| Q - S | Fourth Floor |
| T - Z | Fifth Floor |
For instance, a call number which begins with PN will be on the third floor, while a Q call number will be on the fourth floor.
Go on to Finding Periodical Articles
