From the Libraries' homepage (http://library.ttu.edu/ul), click on the "Find Books" icon.

• Search for a book by Keyword(s):

Type in what you know about the topic you need information on and go. The computer will look for the word(s) you typed and give you a list of records that contain those words.

• Click in the search box and type your keyword(s).

• Click on the go button to perform your search.

Type only key words for your topic.  In general this means nouns.  Leave out anything unimportant such as "in," "of," "effects," etc.  If you need some help finding keywords, stop by the Reference Desk in the University Library or use  Ask a Librarian via chat on the TTU Libraries' Home page.

For a few tips on creating good keyword searches, check out our search strategies tip sheet!

• Search for a book by Title:

Use this option if you know the title of the book you want.

• Click on the drop-down arrow in the "Field to search" box and select Title Words.
• Click in the search box (Type word or phrase) and type the title of the book.  For example, "students guide to efficient study."
• Click on the go button to perform your search.

You must spell all the words in the title correctly.  And if the title begins with an article like "A," "AN," or "THE," don't type the initial article.  If you are unsure about the title, do a keyword search.

 • Search for a book by Author:

Use this option if you know the author of the book you want.

• Click on the drop-down arrow in the "Field to search" box and select Author.
• Click in the search box and type the author’s last name, followed by his first name.  For example, Twain Mark.  
• Click on the go button to perform your search.

You must correctly spell the author's name.  A quick way to check your spelling is to try a search in Google -- if you've spelled something wrong, Google asks you "did you mean..." and often provides the correct spelling!

 • Search for a book by Subject:

Use this option to find books on a topic or subject.  For example, study skills.

• Click on the drop-down arrow in the "Field to search" box and select subject. 
• Click in the search box and type your subject.

Subject headings are determined by the Library.  Using subject headings is like using the yellow pages in the phone book -- you have to know what words are being used for particular topics.  For example, in the yellow pages you must look under "child care" to find a list of local daycare centers.

To ask a librarian about finding books on your topic, you can:
stop by the Reference Desk in the University Library, call 806-742-2236
or (toll free) 1-888-270-3369, or email/chat via Ask a Librarian online service.

We are here to help you!  And remember, creating just the right search to find the information you need can sometimes be difficult.  So, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!

TTU Libraries are not responsible for the content of external sources. For questions about this page, contact Jon Hufford, Coordinator for Information Literacy. [v] (806) 742-2238 X277 [f] (806) 742-1964 [e]

This page last modified on 17 Oct 2006, 10:52.