A
library is a big place, filled
with thousands or even hundreds of thousands of books. How do you
find just the
books you need? A
librarian is
always there to assist you, but you might want to find a book on
your own by browsing the shelves or checking the catalog, which is
usually in a computer on a table, easy to access and use.
- Investigate. If this is your first time in a library that is
new to you, take some time to look around and get to know the
place. Notice the signs in the building and the overall system. If
it's a larger building, look for maps or directories near the entrance.
- Notice that shelves and areas are marked with the types of
materials that are in them. Pay particular attention to sections
that interest you.
-
Old-style card catalogs in the library at Yale.
Consult the catalog. Many libraries now have computerized catalogs
available on computer terminals throughout the building. Some might
still have an old card catalog on index cards in drawers. Either
way, there are some standard ways to search a card catalog.
-
A title search.
Title search. If you know the book's title, you can search for it.
In a paper card catalog, you will search alphabetically. In
general, though, ignore "a" or "the" if it is the first word. Thus,
The Count of Monte Cristo will be filed alphabetically under
"Count". Computerized catalogs vary, but you will usually select a
title search and type in at least the first few words of the
title.
-
An author search.
Author search. If you know the author of the book, or if you are
interested in other works by a favorite author, you can search for
that. Authors are usually listed by their last names.
-
A subject search on a broad topic.
Subject search. If you know what you want to read about, or you're
searching for particular information, but you don't know the title
of a specific book, try a subject search. A subject that is too
broad may turn up too many results, including other related
subjects. A subject that is too narrow may not be cataloged. If you
don't find quite what you want the first time, try searching on
different words.
- Keyword search. Most electronic catalogs will let you search on
a keyword or words. For example, searching on the keyword "French"
would find any book with that word in the title, be it about French
cooking, French tourism, or French kissing.
- Notice whether your book is checked out. Many computerized
catalogs, especially, tie in to the circulation database to tell
you whether a book is on the shelves or is unavailable. If it is
checked out, seeing that now can save you a trip.
- Make notes. When you find the book you want in the catalog,
write down the call number and
any other information about the location of the book. Most
libraries offer scraps of paper near their catalogs. This
information tells you where to find the book.
- Remember that Non-fiction books will be shelved separately by
some kind of classification system (the most popular are the
Dewey Decimal System and the Library of Congress
Classification system.) Each book is given a number according to
its subject matter. The books are then arranged in order on the
shelves by these numbers.
- Fiction books are arranged alphabetically by the author's last
name. If you look for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by
title, the catalog will tell you to look for the book in the
Fiction section under Adams. Some libraries divide out certain
genres of fiction, such as mystery, romance, westerns and science
fiction. If your book is one of these, write that down, too.
-
Go find the
book(s) you have chosen. Follow the signs in the library, then
the labels on the ends of the shelves, and then the labels on the
spine of each book to locate your book.
- Remember that if you have found a non-fiction book on a topic
in which your are interested, only some of the rest of the library
stock will also be in the same area. Oversize books and special
collections may be housed elsewhere.
- Consider new possibilities. If you're not sure what
to read, there are many ways to find suggestions and possibilities
in a library, too.
- See what other books your favorite authors have written. Read
the summaries or browse in the books to see if they interest you,
and consider checking them out. Usually a writer that has written
one good book probably has written more.
- If you can't remember any particular author, just browse the
shelf, picking up random books, reading the information inside the
cover, reading the first page or more, to see if you are interested
in the book. You can narrow it down by browsing in a particular
section, genre, or subject that interests you.
- Look at the library displays to see if any of the books
featured there catch your interest. Also look around to see if
there is a section or display for new books.
- Try the reference section. The library has books there that
list, categorize, index and rate books.
- Tell a librarian what you like to read. He or she may be able
to make some recommendations.
- Look in the periodicals section, where you can find magazines
with book reviews like Publisher's Weekly or even People and
Rolling Stone. You could also check out the New York Times book
reviews section. Or, see what magazines you gravitate towards and
find out if there are books on those topics.
- Check out the computer databases. Some U.S. libraries subscribe
to a huge online database about books called NoveList, for
example.
- Look for award-winners. There are lists available of everything
from Pulitzer winners to book club features. If you'd like to read
something outside of your usual genres, award winners are a great
place to start.
- Reread an old favorite. Harry Potter is still light, fun
reading.
- If you have trouble finding the book you want, ask the librarian for
assistance. The Library staff are there to help you.
- If the book you want is checked out, you may be able to find
out when it is due. You may also be able to put a hold on the item
so that it will be set aside for you when it is returned. The
librarian can also try to locate it at another library. You would
then have the choice to obtain it at the library if it is nearby,
or the librarian may be able to get it for you on interlibrary loan
if it is only available at a distant location.
- Ask the librarian to show you a list of the best sellers or
check the external links below.
- Just because a book isn't a best seller doesn't mean it isn't
good. Bestseller lists can be misleading since the list measures
how many copies of books get bought by the bookstores and not by
bookstore customers. Since the library is free, this is a good
chance to try out new authors and lesser known books.
- There are comfortable chairs in the library. Find a few books,
that you think might interest you, take them with you, sit and read
them.
- If you're still not sure what you want, check out a few
different books and explore in more depth them at home. Don't
overdo it, of course, but one of the great things about libraries
is that you can take home three books and read only the one that
really catches your interest. If you're looking for specific
information, it's an especially good idea to try several different
books on the same subject and only read the relevant sections in
each.
-
Find a pleasant spot to sit.
Unless you are in a hurry, relax and enjoy being in the library,
perusing the shelves, getting information and reading through the
books.
- Ask the Librarian about different groups, events, or speakers
that will be at the library.
- Many libraries offer much more than just books. Browse around
and ask about the offerings at yours. Here is a sampling of other
items that are available in libraries:
- Audio books on tape, CD or MP3.
- Music recordings on CD.
- CD-ROM computer software (often instructional).
- Magazines and newspapers.
- DVD and VHS videos.
- Framed artwork.
- Pamphlets, brochures, maps, atlases.
- Telephone directories.
- Engraving tools.
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Warnings
- Make sure you have a valid library card in each library, or you
will not be able to check a book out. If you do not have one, then
before looking for a book, sign up for one. It takes only a few
minutes of your time. Make sure you have something with your
current address on.
- Mark your calendar immediately when you check out a book and
get in the habit of making a weekly check of what materials you
have checked out. Libraries stop being free very quickly if you
don't return materials on time.
[edit]
Things You'll Need
- A list of the authors you are interested in
- A list of previous books that you enjoyed reading
- A library card
[edit]
Sources and Citations
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