Web Search Strategies in Plain English

I know we librarians are supposed to tell you that Google is an evil monster, and will get you nowhere, but that isn’t always true! Knowing how to manipulate web searches can be an excellent research skill. Take the time to watch the short video below.

Subject Librarians = human resources

Use them!  Your tuition money pays for it! 

Want in depth research help?  Each reference librarian has skill in a particular subject area.  (See the list here.)  Feel free to exploit their expertise!  Call or e-mail with your questions, and to set up an appointment for a consultation.

Reference librarians might point you to resources you hadn’t heard of or used before.  And they can teach you to use the tools of research.  They’ll help you to think about information gathering in innovative ways.

John K. Mullen ‘of Denver’

Find a biography of our namesake here, linked from the About the CUA Libraries page (full of other useful info).

Rare Books and Special Collections at CUA

Special Collections & the ‘Rare Books Room’ are located in room 214 Mullen Library.

Collections include:

• Clementine Library
• Catholic Americana
• Connolly Irish Collection
• Richard N. Foley Collection
• Order of Malta Collections
• Michael Jenkins Collection
• Monumental Brasses Collection

Check out the Special Collections Homepage for more info.

And you might also want to look into the Oliveira Lima Library (a repository of bibliographic, archival and pictorial materials that illustrate the history and culture of the Portuguese-speaking peoples from the 16th to the early 20th century).

And the Semitics/ICOR Library (whose holdings reflect the languages and thought of the Bible and the Ancient Near East; and the languages, literatures, and history of the Christian Near East).

The Mullen Library Main Reading Room

It’s where you’ll find the most recent issues of periodicals (newspapers, journals, etc.) as well as important bibliographies (which help you to locate resources, and – most importantly – find esoteric or more historical publications). You can also look up book reviews, browse atlases & indexes, and find a quiet place to study in the Main Reading Room.

See the Main Reading Room page on the Mullen Library Tour.

And be sure to check out my post on finding periodicals in print.

Where are the CUA Libraries?

Check out the campus map, with library locations noted.

See also, the Collections Location Page.

The Microfilm Room

The microfilm room and microfilm readers at the Mullen Library are located just behind the MERIC Lab. When entering the library, turn right, head towards the MERIC Lab, and then go left down the hallway beside the Lab.

What is microfilm?

Most basically, its a preservation tactic. Paper materials are scanned on to microfilm, and can be distributed, or ensure that their content is preserved.

What is available on microfilm?

Old journals, newspapers, bibliographies…. Stuff that’s generally hard to get your hands on!

How do I find books about topics in my major?

*** You might also want to see my post about the utility of subject searching. ***

The best trick is to check the Library of Congress Classification System Table.

Materials are arranged in the LOC Classification System first by general subject area (lettered A – Z), and then broken down and focused by the addition of more letters and numbers.  The ‘alphabetical designation’ of a certain subject is given in the first set of one or two letters.  Take note of this!  And then…

Use the stacks map to determine where this call number would be located on the shelves.

I suggest you then go shelf browsing!  See what we’ve got, and find out if any new topics within your major area pique your interest.

Picking up materials on Course Reserve

Sometimes, a professor will anticipate heavy use of certain library holdings – for instance, your class textbook. They may elect to put these materials on “Course Reserve.”

Reserves can be checked out for two hours at a time from the Circulation Desk – the same place you go to check out any materials.

You can look up what materials your professor has on reserve by using this form.

If you know the title of a text that is on reserve, and need to quickly look up the call number for the staff at the Circulation Desk, simply do a title search (change the drop down menu from ‘keyword’ to ‘title) on the Libraries’ Homepage.

Using the Library of Congress

You should!  Your tax dollars pay for it. 

Step One:  Check out the Library of Congress Online Catalog to see what they’ve got.

Step Two:  Take the MetroRail to Capitol South, and you’ll be across the street from the library – just go a little bit uphill.  You can also get off at Union Station and walk five blocks south, if you want to stay on the Red Line.

Step Three:  Enter the Madison Building (the very modern-looking one) and register for a Reader Card.  The reader registration room is just past the security gates – hang a quick left.  You’ll need to bring a valid driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or passport.

Step Four:  Walk across the street to the Jefferson Building (the very grand, historic looking one, with the fountain in front), and head to the Main Reading Room.  Here you can fill out a call slip for the book(s) you’d like to use (go to the center kiosk), and a staff member will retrieve your items for you.

Since the library is a quiet place, they won’t announce when your item(s) are available.  Just keep an eye out to see when they’ve been placed on the desk.

Note:  You can’t check books out directly from the Library of Congress.  If you’d like to look into obtaining materials for use at home, please use the Inter-Library Loan Request Form.

More information for researchers about using the Library of Congress.

It’s also worthwhile just to go sightseeing at the Library of Congress!  The main reading room is a gorgeous environment to read in.  Gifts and souvenirs are available in the Jefferson building, if you’re thinking of presents to send back home!