A library catalog is a database that contains records of all materials owned by a library. It allows users to search for books, ebooks, audiobooks, videos, and other materials. Catalogs are searchable by author, title, subject, and keywords. Subject searches use controlled vocabularies to retrieve related resources. Call numbers organize physical materials by subject on the shelves according to classification systems like Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress.

1. Searching the Library
Catalog
Library Catalogs, Library Classification

2. Searching the Library Catalog
 A library catalog is a database of all the materials a library owns that are
available for customers to use.
 Through a search of the catalog, you find the books that your library has
shelved in the stacks and eBooks that are linked directly to the record for you
to use.
Rio Hondo Library Catalog

3. Searching the Library Catalog [p. 72]
 Library Catalogs have a very broad scope, and the depth of the material, the
number of items they have on a particular topic, varies with the size and
purpose of the library
 Will include primary and secondary sources.
 Primary sources:
 First hand accounts, letters, photographs
 Secondary sources:
 Books, background sources in digital and print formats
 Books and background sources in digital or print formats will make up the largest
percentage of the records in the database.

4. Searching the Library Catalog
 Library Catalogs have a broad scope
 The number of items they have on a particular topic varies with size and
purpose of the library
 Public libraries offer materials for general readers:
 Fiction, Hobbies
 Childrens’ books and materials
 DVDs, Videos, and audiobooks
 College libraries contain:
 Scholarly sources
 Books geared to curriculum offered (if our college offers a certificate or
degree in a subject or field, we will have books and materials to support it)

5. Searching the Library Catalog
 Catalogs offer basic search functions such as searching by author, title,
keyword, or subject.
 You do not have to enter a keyword into each search box but can pick and
choose which ones you want to use.
 You can also use the drop-downs on the right-hand side to change the fields.

6. Common Catalog Searches
 Keyword Searches – using a phrase or keywords to find records
 Field searching in specific fields
 Author
 Title
 Subject
 Keyword

7. Searching the Library Catalog
 Our RHC catalog offers options through a drop down menu
 A library catalog can contain
 books
 DVDs
 Ebooks
 Other types of formats/objects: artworks, music recordings or
films are two examples

8. Fields in RHC Catalog
Subject field searching
is a great way to find
books or background
sources about a topic.
Author Search to find
books by specific
author
Keyword Search – can
be good to use starting
a search, and to find
subject terms

9. Keyword Searching
 Keywords: one word or a few words that describe your topic or subject
 Keyword searches can help you find relevant subject terms in book records

10. Keyword Searching
 You will often begin a catalog
search with Keyword Searching
 A Keyword search looks for words anywhere in the record. Keyword searches
are a good substitute for a subject search when you do not know the
standard subject heading.
 Keyword may also be used as a substitute for a title or author search when
you have incomplete title or author information. You may also use the Guided
Keyword search option to combine search elements, group terms, or select
indexes or fields to be searched.
(from http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/help/clio/keyword.html

11. Subject Field Searching [p. 73]
 Discussed in Chapter 4
 Use keywords to find subject terms
 Subject Terms are controlled vocabulary
 P. 61, Chapter 4 definition of controlled vocabulary:
a prescriptive list of approved subject terms
 If you search by subject in an academic library catalog you can take
advantage of the controlled vocabulary created by the Library of Congress.
 Controlled vocabulary consists of terms or phrases that have been selected to
describe a concept.

12. Library of Congress Subject Headings

13. LC Subject Headings Online
 You can find these subject headings online.
 A search in LC Subject Headings for same topic: click here to see subjects
for Pet Therapy LC Link
 Website: http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects.html

14. Subject Terms – Controlled Vocabulary
For example, the Library of
Congress has selected the phrase
“Motion Picture” to represent
films and movies.
Enter the phrase “Motion Picture” into the search box.
Controlled vocabulary
is important because
it helps pull together
all of the items about
one topic
[p. 18, Information Literacy User’s Guide]

15. Browse Feature [p. 73]
 Many catalogs offer a browse feature.
 This allows you to browse through lists of authors, titles, subjects, and call
numbers.
 To perform a browse search for subjects, you enter a keyword into the browse
search box, and the result it retrieves is an alphabetical list of subject terms
on either side of your keyword.
1. Rowley, William, 1585?1642?--Oeuvres de collaboration.
2. Rowling, J. K.
3. Rowling, J. K.--Characters--Harry Potter.
4. Rowling, J. K.--Criticism and interpretation.
5. Rowling, J. K.--Film and video adaptations.
6. Rowling, J. K.--Influence.

16. Browsing a Catalog
 RHC Catalog Browse for Author Headings

17. Numbers of Records - Library Catalogs
 Library catalogs contain fewer records than databases and definitely less
resources than the Web.
 See much smaller search results [136 books] compared to millions you would
find on Web
Keyword search for “renewable energy”

18. Other Library Catalogs
CSU Los Angeles Catalog Whittier Public Library
Examples of other library catalogs

19. Other Library Links
Available from Other Libraries link on Catalog Home

20. Retrieving Materials
 Call Numbers are used to put physical materials on the
shelf in order in most libraries
 This is usually by subject
 Example of Dewey Decimal
System

21. Library of Congress
 Divides knowledge into 21 broad categories
 Each letter category represents a subject
 These are broken down into more specific subject areas
Example of Subject subclasses in LC system

22. Call Numbers
 Library of Congress -- letters and
numbers are used for book numbers
 Dewey Decimal -- numbers are used

23. Dewey Decimal System
 Divides knowledge into 10 broad categories
 Broad categories include: 100 philosophy and religion
300 social sciences 700
 These are broken down into more specific subject areas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Decimal_Classification

24. Browsing the Shelves
 The Dewey System was
developed in part to provide
open access to shelves for
patrons. Prior to this, library
shelves were restricted to few
patrons and materials had to be
retrieved.
 Today we can ‘browse the
shelves’ but before the Dewey
system, this was often not
possible.
https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Dewey_Deci
mal_Classification

25. Other Links – Library Catalogs
 RHC Library Catalog
 http://rioh.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/
 How do I find books -- RHC Tutorial
 http://www.riohondo.edu/library/wp-
content/uploads/sites/22/2015/04/rhc_research_tutorial_files/web_f
iles/books.html
 Other Libraries – RHC Library Catalog link
 http://www.riohondo.edu/library/wp-
content/uploads/sites/22/2015/04/rhc_research_tutorial_files/web_f
iles/books.html

26. Other Links - Classification
 Library of Congress Classification
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress_Classification
 Library of Congress Classification Outline
 https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/
 Library of Congress Description of Classification
 https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcc.html
 Dewey Decimal Classification
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Decimal_Classification
 Dewey Decimal Basics
 https://www.nypl.org/blog/2007/12/13/dewey-decimal-basics