How to do research in the library?

First of all, on the computer, double click on the OPAC icon. 
This is the On-line Public Access Catalogue to all the books in the Credo library.  If you know the title of the book, enter it in the top bar and then click on “Title” in the row of buttons.   Do the same for “author” and for “series”. You can also type in the word on which you want to make a search and click on “subject”.   Another way of searching is to type a single word of a title or subject into the top bar and click on “keyword”. 

Example 1

• Type in “horses” into the top bar
• Click on “subject” found in the row of buttons.
• A list of all the books containing the word “horses” in the subject area will show up on your screen.
• Click on “horses”. You will notice that we have 7 books in this section.
• Go to the right bottom of your screen and click on “select”.  Notice that all the call numbers start with a number indicating that these are non-fiction books.  That is, these books are used for information and study.
• Find the book you want and again click on “select”.  This gives you all the information on that particular book including the call number and availability.  Write down the number of the book and find it in the non-fiction section of the library which is found on the left hand side of the room.
• Now go back to the page showing “horses”
• Scroll down to “horses-fiction”.  You will notice that we have 141 books with this subject heading. 
• Click on “select”
• You will notice that most call numbers start with “F” for fiction.  These you will find in the fiction section of the library on the right hand side of the library.  Those that start with “EF” are easy fiction and are found on the last shelf of the fiction section.  Those that start with “VR” are videos and can be found in the video section of the library near the back door.
• You can access the cataloging information on all the books, including a short summary of many of the books by clicking on “select”.

Example 2

If you enter in a wrong subject heading, OPAC will direct you to the correct one.

• Enter “cars” into the bar at the top of the page.
• Click on “subject” in the button bar.
• You will see binoculars as an icon followed by “Cars SEE: Automobiles”
• Click on “select” and you will be sent directly to “Automobiles”
• Follow the instructions as in example 1.

Example 3

If there is more information on a particular subject in a different area, OPAC will make you aware of that.

• Enter “terrorism” into the bar at the top of the page.
• Click on “subject” in the row of buttons.
• In the list you will notice binoculars as an icon followed by “Terrorism. SEE ALSO: National Geographic, November 2004.  The magazine is in the magazine archives on the back wall of the library.
• In the same list you will also see a newspaper as an icon.  This tells you that there is more information in the Pamphlet File, also called the Vertical File, near the back door of the library.  Click on “select” on the bottom right hand side of the page to get detailed information of what can be found in the file.

Do you have a question or request? Send an email to the librarian.