How to Use the Library Catalog

Use the Library Catalog to locate books, periodicals, media and other materials held by the Oviatt Library.

Basic Search

The default search mode is Basic. From the Basic search screen you can search by Keyword, Title, Author,or Subject, by selecting one of the radio buttons and typing search words in the text box below.

The default search is the entire collection. You may also limit your search to smaller sub-collections: Ejournals (electronic periodicals--not specific articles), NCOD (National Center on Deafness), TCC (Teacher Curriculum Center), Periodicals/Serials (not specific articles), Videos, Reference Room, Special Collections, or Sound Recordings by selecting a collection from the drop-down menu.

Searching for a Specific Item

Select an Author or Title search if you know the author (last name, first name) or at least the first few words of the title.

Searching for Items by Topic

There are two ways to search the online catalog for resources on a topic: by Subject or by Keyword.

A Subject search will locate materials by Library of Congress Subject Headings, which is a controlled vocabulary or standard list of subject terms. The Oviatt Library assigns Library of Congress Subject Headings to all items listed in the online catalog. Look up your topic in the multi-volume set referred to as LCSH or "the big red books," which are available at the Reference Desk on the main floor of the Oviatt Library.
Another way to find the Library of Congress Subject Heading for your topic is to search the catalog by Keyword, display the record for a relevant title, and select one or more of the Subjects listed for that record.
A Basic Keyword search will simultaneously look for words in titles of materials, in subject headings, and in notes fields.

Advanced Search

The Advanced search screen allows you to search by keyword in up to four separate fields, and optionally limit your search by language, material type, location, collection, publisher, or publication date. For Advanced search, select the Advanced tab.

To start your search:

Select the field you want to search (Author, Title, Subject, Note, or "any field") from the first drop-down menu.
Type keyword(s) in the adjacent text box. Two or more words entered together in one search box will retrieve records containing that exact phrase, unless there is no exact match. If there is no exact match for the phrase entered, the system will retrieve records contain all search terms entered, wherever they are in the record.
(OPTIONAL) For a combined search, enter additional keywords into separate search boxes and choose the appropriate Boolean operators (and, or, and not) from the pull-down menu.

Wildcards & Truncation

Use the single asterisk * truncation symbol to search variations of a word, up to five characters, for example: critic* will also retrieve critics, critical, criticism. However, to truncate a word that could have more than five characters after the root word, use two asterisks **, for example: bank** will also retrieve banks, banking, banker, bankrupt, and also bankruptcy.
Catalog Advanced Search

Searching for Periodical Titles

You can search by Periodical title by selecting the Periodicals tab.

The Oviatt Library subscribes to over 1,700 print and over 25,000 online periodicals, which include research journals, magazines, and newspapers.
For online periodicals only, search the CSUN List of Electronic Periodicals.

NOTE: Both the Library catalog and CSUN List of Electronic Periodicals offer title searching for periodicals, but not for specific articles. For access to periodical articles, search the databases listed on the Library's Find Articles and Research Data page.

Searching for Videos/CDs/DVDs and other media

Many videos, DVDs, CDs and other media formats held by the Oviatt Library are listed in the Library Catalog and located in Music & Media.
Instructional media for K-12 are located in the Teacher Curriculum Center.
Search for media by Author (director, screenwriter, producer, artist, composer, etc.) and/or Title. Media can also be searched by topic (see Searching for Items by Topic).
Limit search results to media as follows:
- For videos/DVDs: In the Basic search screen, change View Entire Collection to Videos/DVD in the pull-down menu.
- For all media types: In the Advanced screen under "Optional Limits" set the "Material Type" pull-down menu to specifiy the type of media you want.

Limiting Search Results

You may further refine your search results by selecting when it is available.

Basic keyword searches and Advanced searches can be limited prior to submitting the search, or after by selecting . Search limits include publication date, language, material type, publisher, and location. Sorting results by year is also an option.

Viewing Results

If more than one item matches a search, a results lists consisting of headings or individual titles will display.
Select the linked Title, Author, Subject, or Keyword text to display the item(s) and/or individual item record(s).
Records include bibliographic information, physical description, notes, subject headings, and location, including call number and checkout status. Click on the link to find more items by the same author, subject, or call number.

Saving Records to E-mail, Print or Download

To save records:

From a multiple item results list, select the checkboxes next to the items you wish to save, then click .
In an individual record, click .

To export records:

To e-mail, print or download saved records, click .
Choose an export format:
- "Brief Display" includes bibliographic information only.
- "Full Display" includes location, call number, subject headings, and other descriptive information.
- "End-Note/RefWorks" to export citations for use in EndNote Web, EndNote Desktop, or Refworks.
Under "Send list to" choose an export method:
- For e-mail: select E-mail and provide a "Mail To" address and subject line
- For printing: select screen (you will use the browser's print function)
- For saving as a text (.txt) file or other file format: select local disk
Click Submit.

CSUN Library Location Codes

The following location codes are used in the Library Catalog

Code	Location
Floor2, Floor3	Books
Floor2,3 Oversize	Oversized shelves, east side near central elevators (formerly FOLIO)
Floor4	Bound Periodicals
Floor4 East	Reserves, Periodicals, & Microform
Government Documents	US Documents, Reference Rm, NW corner first floor center
Media	Floor2, East Wing
Music	Floor2, East Wing
Music & Media Desk	Floor2, East Wing
Nat Ctr on Deafness	National Center on Deafness (NCOD), Jeanne Chisholm Hall, Room 234. Hours are listed on the NCOD Resource Center web page.
Reading Room	Floor2, West Wing
Reserve Room	Reserves, Periodicals, & Microform - Floor4, East Wing
Reserve Desk	Reserves, Periodicals, & Microform - Floor4, East Wing
Reference Room	First floor, center
Special Collections	Floor2, West Wing
Stored	In Automated Storage Retrieval System
TCC	Teacher Curriculum Center (formerly IML), Garden Level center, enter from first floor stairs or elevator 1
University Archives	Floor2, West Wing
Urban Archives	Floor2, West Wing

Requesting Stored Items

Materials with a Stored location code are held in the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) and may be retrieved by clicking thebutton.
When prompted, type in your CSUN User ID and Password. If you are not a CSUN student, faculty or staff member, type your name and 14-digit bar code from your valid CSUN photo ID in the area provided
ASRS retrievals may also be requested at the Circulation desk.
Allow about 10 minutes for items to be retrieved from storage and delivered to a service desk.

Placing Holds

You may place a hold on material that is currently checked out. Click the button;

When prompted, type in your CSUN User ID and Password. If you are not a CSUN student, faculty or staff member, type your name and 14-digit bar code from your valid CSUN photo ID in the area provided.

You must have an activated barcode to place holds (see Activating your Barcode for more information).

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