The Search:
Below you will find topics on choosing search terms, how to search your library catalog, and how to find the books you want.
Search Terms - Deciding which terms you will use:
Below is a sample list of subject terms that you can to search our library's catalog. Searching by subject is one way to find information on your topic. Try to think of some on your own. It is a good idea to keep track of the terms you use and which ones gave you the best results. Remember, we are here to help you, so if you have any questions Ask a Librarian.
Confederate States of America -- History
United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Women -- Confederate States of America
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
How to search the library’s catalog:
The easiest way to search the library catalog is by using a Super Keyword search.
- Look at your topic and decide what word(s) best describe your topic.
- Use one or two of the words that best describe your topic to perform the keyword search.
- List the keywords in order of importance.
- Remember that the more words you use to perform your keyword search the fewer results you will get.
For example, you can enter the keywords Lewis and Clark, if you are looking for information on the Lewis and Clark westward expedition.
How do I find what I want in the library? What do all the letters and numbers mean on the spine of books?
Above each call number, you will either see a letter or no letter. You may be wondering what the letters and numbers mean. The letters represent the area of the library that those particular books are located. The numbers are Dewey Decimal numbers that tell us exactly where a book is on the shelf. They represent different subject areas. So if you see something on your topic in one area of the library, you can take that same number and see if there are more books on your topic in another area of the library.
J is for Juvenile... These are located in the Children's area.
Books with a J in the call number (i.e. J 973.7302 ARMSTRO 2005) are juvenile books. Some of these books are more general about the topic, and some are more specific. The quality of the information is just as good as an adult book. The difference is that it is easier to read and not as much detail as the adult books on the subject. Juvenile non-fiction books are located in the juvenile section of the library.
E is for Easy Reader... These are located in the Children's area.
Books with an E in the call number are for little kids and will not be useful for your assignment.
Y is for Young Adult... These are located in the Teen area.
Books that have a Y in the call number are for teens and are available in the teen area. This collection is somewhat limited, but it is available for you to use as well.
No letters means it's Adult... These are located in the Adult area.
Books in the adult non-fiction section are another option for selecting materials for this assignment. These call numbers are similar to the juvenile non-fiction books- they don’t have a “J” in front of the call number (e.g. 973 JOHNSON 1998).
R is for Reference... These are located in the Reference area.
Reference materials are located in the Reference area of your library. Reference materials cannot be checked out. They can only be used in the library. If you see a reference book that is not available at your library, Ask a Librarian, and we will make sure the book gets to your library.
Don't Forget!
You may come across a book that you really want for your assignment, and the location is “Bellingham”. You can request this book by phone, in person, or online by logging into My Account and have it sent to your local library branch. For example, if you live in Lynden, you can request that it be sent to the Lynden Library.