How Do I... Guide
- How do I search for a book?
- How/Where do I find a book in the Library?
- How do I find items on course reserve?
- How can I get materials not available or accessible at the MTA Libraries?
- How do I search for articles?
- How do I search for films or videos?
- How do I renew my books?
- How do I access electronic journals?
- Why are most of the journal indexes/databases restricted to Mt A. users?
- Why isn't the article I want available online?
- Why can't I find any books/articles on my topic?
- How do I find an answer to a question not included here?
You can search for books (by title, author, keyword, subject or call number) by using the Library Catalogue. Links to the catalogue appear at the top of the right side banner that appears on just about every page of the Libraries' website.
The About the Library Catalogue page provides an overview of search features and functionality. You can, of course, also ask a librarian for assistance if you have any questions.
What is Included in the Catalogue?
You may search the catalogue for the Libraries' holdings of books, e-books, journals,
magazines, newspapers, government information and A-V materials such as music CDs and films on DVD.
Some older items can only be found by searching the Library's card catalogue. As a general rule, you should search both the online catalogue and the card catalogue for items published prior to 1980. The card catalogue is located on the main floor of the R.P Bell Library.
What is not Included in the Catalogue?
You cannot search for magazine, journal or newspaper articles in the Library's catalogue. See How
do I search for articles?
How do I find a book in the Library?
Most library materials* are arranged in the Library according to the Library of Congress Classification scheme. This scheme allows materials of similar content and topic to be shelved together. In other words, books are shelved according to subject.
To find an item in the Libraries' collections, search the Library Catalogue and make note of both the Call Number and the Location. The "Location" will tell you in what section of the Libraries the item is shelved (Reference, Book Stacks, Reserve Room...) and the Call Number will allow you to pinpoint the precise placement of the item on the shelf.
The following two guides provide an overview of the LC Classification Scheme:
- Library
of Congress Classification System
An overview of the LC Classification as it is used at the Mt.A Libraries
- Library of Congress Classification
A more detailed descrition of the LC Classification system
Please note that at Mount Allison, French-language Canadian Literature is catalogued in PQ, not PS.
The R.P. Bell Library Floor plans provide a pictorial description of the arrangement of materials in the building.
The Library Directory provides a list what is located on each floor of the Library.
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* Current issues of journals and newspapers received in print are displayed alphabetically in the current display shelving. Back issues of all journals are shelved according to call number in the journal stacks. Some titles may only be available on microfilm. The University's main microfilm collection is housed in the Microform Room on the ground floor of the R.P. Bell Library.
How do I find items on Course Reserve?
All items on course reserve may be found by using the Library Catalogue.
Once in the Catalogue, click on Course Reserves. You then have the option of searching for materials
by: Instructor, Course Name, or Course Number. Once you have identified
the item(s) that you need, simply ask for it at the Circulation desk.
Items on course reserve in the Music Library are also accessible via
the Library Catalogue; ask for them at the Music Library Circulation
desk.
When requesting items on course reserve, please ask for the item by AUTHOR, and specify whether it is a book, a photocopy, or a binder.
How can I get materials not available or accessible at the MTA Libraries?
Research materials (including books and articles) that the MTA Libraries do not own or to which we do not have electronic access may be requested via Interlibrary Loans (ILL).
To place an ILL request, please read the instructions on the Interlibrary Loans page and the ILL policy and then complete the ILL web form (accessible from the ILL page).
The Inter-Library Loans Department is located behind the Circulation Desk in the Main Library.
How do I search for articles?
You can search for journal, magazine and newspaper articles using a Journal Index or Database.
You cannot search for journal articles in the Library Catalogue (see What is included in the Library Catalogue, above).
It can be helpful to think of the process of searching for articles as a two-step process:
Step 1: Identify the relevant article(s) and the journal/newspaper/magazine in which it was published.
- You can do this by consulting a Journal Index or Database to identify articles you are interested in obtaining. Details below.
Step 2: Find out where the article(s) is available
- Search the Library Catalogue or Journal Finder to determine if the Library owns, or has electronic access to the publication (journal, newspaper, magazine) in which the articles appear. Details below.
Since more and more journals, newspapers and magazines are available in digital format the libraries' full-text databases, step 2 will not always be necessary.
Please note that certain databases provide full-text access to some articles but not others. If the full-text of the article you want is not available, then simply move on the Step 2.
Using a Journal
Index of Database
Journal indexes and databases permit you to search for articles published in academic journals, magazines and newspapers. The Mt.A Libraries provide access to dozens of these indexes and databases. Some are subject- or discipline-specific while others are more general or multidisciplinary.
Journal Indexes and Electronic Databases can be accessed through the Library's home page by clicking on"Find Articles". You can then browse a list of indexes by Title of by Subject. If you're not sure which database to search, use the Subject List and click on the subject area most relevant to your research.
Additional information can be obtained through the How to Find Articles on Your Topic research guide.
How to Find
the Articles Uncovered by Your Search
Once you have searched one or more databases and have identified articles you wish to access and read, use
the Library Catalogue or Journal Finder to
check if the Library owns, or has electronic access to the journals, newspapers
or other publications in which the articles appear.
Some indexes provide a "Check Library Holdings" button (actual name of button may vary) which will do this step for you. Although this feature may speed up your research, certain items owned by the Library may not be found. It's usually a good idea to double-check Library holdings by searching the Library Catalogue.
How do I search for films or videos?
You may search for films and videos using the Library Catalogue, the same way you would search for a book (see How do I search for a book above).
To limit your search to only films and videos, use the Limit by Type drop-down menu on the Advanced Keyword Search page and select DVD or Video, depending on which format you are looking for.
You can also limit your search to films and videos when performing a Keyword Search by including the word "videorecording" as part of your search.
For example: hitchcock and birds and videorecording
For DVDs, include "dvd" as part of your keyword search.
For example: lynch and dvd
How do I renew my books?
You may renew your books in person at the Circulation Desk or by phone by calling 364-2568 (R.P. Bell Library) or 364-2561 (Music Library). You may also renew your books online using the Library's Online Catalogue.
To renew books online, access the Library Catalogueand click on "My Account." You will then be prompted to enter your Library Card Number (the 13 digit barcode number on your MTA ID card) and your PIN (you may obtain a PIN at the Circulation Desk if you do not already have one). Once this information is entered, you will have access to your Patron Account Information and may be able to renew the items listed in your account, providing that you have not exceeded your fine limit, that your books have not been requested or recalled by another patron, and that you have not exceeded the number of allowable renewals (varies by item). After you have completed the renewal process, you should verify that all of the records for the items you wanted renewed have been updated.
For more information, contact Access Services Staff at 364-2568 or circ@mta.ca or the Music Library at 364-2561 or musiclibrary@mta.ca.
How do I access electronic journals?
On Campus Only:
Many of the journals available electronically at Mount Allison can be accessed from on campus using the Library Catalogue. Simply look for the "Electronic Access" field and click on the URL provided.
On and Off Campus:
Journal Finder allows you to search for journals, magazines and newspapers available in full-text library databases such as JSTOR, Project Muse, Science Direct, etc. Journal Finder is most helpful when you already have the complete citation for the article you wish to read (that is, when you know when and where is was published).
You can also access articles from full text journals by browsing or searching the library's full text databases. These are all accessible via the "Find Articles" page. Databases with full-text content are identified with the FT symbol.
In order to access these databases from off campus, you need to prove that you are a member of the Mount Allison community. When you're off campus, this means logging on with your user ID and password.
Why isn't the article I want available online?
Not all of the indexes and databases to which the library provides access include full-text content. Also, those databases that do include full-text content don't always have the full-text for all volumes and years of a given journal title.
In some cases, the library may have a print subscription to a journal, magazine or newspaper.
The simple answer is that not everything is available electronically. Certain scholarly and non-scholarly publications remain accessible in print only.
topWhy can't I find any books/articles on my topic?
It's entirely possible that you have stumbled upon a topic that has received very little attention. If the topic is very new (for example, if you are working on a recently published novel or a story that has just recently appeared in the news), then there may be little published on the subject.
Other factors to consider include where and how you are searching.
Where have you been searching?
Which catalogues have you tried searching? Have you tried searching for both books and articles? Which journal indexes have you searched? Is the index you have chosen appropriate for your topic? Are there other databases you might also try? Have you tried searching other library catalogues? Have you limited your search to only those databases that include full-text articles? (if so, see Why isn't the article I want available online? above).
How have you been searching?
topBy title? Have you tried alternate spellings? Dropped the initial article (The, An...) from the title? Double checked your citation information?
By Author? Have you entered the author's last name first?
By keyword? Have you tried using different keywords (synonyms, alternative spellings...)? Are you combining your keywords using boolean operators (and, or, not)? Sometimes, the words chosen to search for a topic may not be the same ones used by the author – try thinking of as many different ways to describe your topic as you can. See the Preparing a Search Strategy guide for more details.
By subject? Have you found at least one book (or article) on your topic? If so, take a look at the Subject Headings (or descriptors: terms assigned to a record to describe what it's about) – you can click on these to find other books in the library catalogue (or other articles in the database) on the same or similar topics.
How do I find an answer to a question not included here?
Ask a Librarian!
You can speak to a Librarian in person at the Research Help Desk or in the Reference Librarians Office (Room M11, Main Floor) in the Library; by phone by calling 364-2564; or ask your question by e-mail by sending a message to infodesk@mta.ca or musiclibrary@mta.ca.
During the fall and winter terms, you can also ask questions using the library's live chat service.
Contact details for all librarians is available on the Ask a Librarian page.