Searching the Catalog
You can locate research materials by searching the library's catalog on the library homepage: https://lbbl.nsu.edu/
WorldCat Discovery searches the LBBL Catalog and libraries world-wide. This search will also return results for articles within journals.
1. Enter your search terms and click the green "Search" button to search WorldCat Discovery. By default, the system will use a keyword search looking for your terms across materials available through the library.
2. The results list has multiple options for refining the search that can be customized using the filtering options contained in the left-side menu or the "Group & Refine This Search" menu on smaller screens.
3. In the filtering menu, check the boxes to apply limits and refine your results. For example, check the box for eBook and select "Last 5 Years" under "Publication Year" to limit the results to available eBooks which have been published in the last 5 years.
4. Accessing materials:
Electronic Items (eBooks, articles, and streaming video/audio): Click the green button labelled "View eBook / Full Text / etc" to go straight from the results list to the electronic resource.
- For additional information, click on the name of the item to view the full record.
- Many electronic items can be found in more than one location; click "Alternate Links" to view additional options for accessing the materials.
Physical Materials in the Library (this includes books, DVDs, periodicals, and items held within the Children's Library, Herbert A. Marshall Collection, Reference Collection, and Archives Collections): Items in the library are organized using the Library of Congress Classification System and their call number (used to locate the item on the shelf) is displayed on the results list.
- For additional information about the item, click on the name of the item to view the full record. If the item is located in the Herbert A. Marshall, Reference, or Periodicals Collection, these items must be retrieved by library staff. Please visit the Information Services desk on the first floor for assistance.
5. WorldCat Discovery has broad search capabilities which make it very useful for discovering a wide variety of materials, even if they are not available at the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library. To discover materials which are available at other libraries, click "Libraries Worldwide" in the filtering menu. If you find resources that you need that are only available at other libraries, you can place a request with our Interlibrary Loan department to request to borrow the materials.
Note that you may need to authenticate through OpenAthens using your MyNSU login credentials in order to access content.
For more information, visit the following guide How to Access Databases from Off-Campus.
Use the search box to run a keyword search for databases included in the A-Z Databases List or click the link See the full A-Z Databases List to browse the full list of available online databases. This search will only find the database. You will need to navigate to the database to search within it.
Research Guides are helpful overviews of library resources, research techniques, and time-saving strategies organized by course, subject, or specific topic such as using the library or navigating current events topics like AI. These guides are built by your NSU librarians and are tailored to your courses and research using the specific resources available to you at NSU.
Use the search box to run a keyword search for your terms across all of the library's Research Guides or click the link See the full Research Guides List to browse the full list of available Research Guides.
How To Find Items On The Shelf In The Library - Library of Congress Classification
Step 1 - Finding the Call Number:
When you search the library's catalog, your results will include Access Options. Physical items housed in the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library will often include a location and a Library of Congress call number.
The Access Options box will let you know where an item is located. "Circulation Stacks" means the material could be located on the 2nd or 3rd floor of the library. Items marked Herbert A. Marshall Collection, Reference Collection, or Archives require staff assistance to retrieve. You may request assistance on at the Information Desk located on the first floor of the library.
The string of letters and numbers, located at the bottom of the Access Options box, create the Library of Congress call number for that item that will lead you to the item's exact shelf location.
Step 2 - Breaking Down the Call Number:
Now that you have a call number, breaking it down into its parts will tell you not only about the item's location but also the topic that the item is classified under.
Starting from the top of the call number, when written on a spine label as shown above:
- The first line is the class or subclass and is represented in letters:
- Call numbers are in alphabetical order moving from left to right and top to bottom on the shelves. A full listing of the classes/subclasses that may be used on the first line can be found here: Library of Congress Classification Outline
- Call numbers are in alphabetical order moving from left to right and top to bottom on the shelves. A full listing of the classes/subclasses that may be used on the first line can be found here: Library of Congress Classification Outline
- The second line is the topic and is represented as a number:
- Within the class, topics are ordered by numbers (including decimals if included) counting up from zero by moving left to right and top to bottom on the shelves.
- Within the class, topics are ordered by numbers (including decimals if included) counting up from zero by moving left to right and top to bottom on the shelves.
- The next line(s) - there may be one or more lines between the topic number above and the publication date line below that begin with a decimal point followed by a letter then numbers or a letter followed by numbers. These lines narrow the topic, specify the author, or identify the title of the work:
- First, read the letter. Next, read the numbers as a decimal number moving left to right. For example: .C75, .C76, .C77, .C778, .C78 is the proper shelf order.
- First, read the letter. Next, read the numbers as a decimal number moving left to right. For example: .C75, .C76, .C77, .C778, .C78 is the proper shelf order.
- Publication date and additional lines:
- The last line is usually the item’s publication date, however there may also be a line for the copy number, volume number or other additional information line. These are read left to right in numerical order.
Note: Library of Congress Classification call numbers are assigned to items based on their topic. This means that if you find a book that you are interested in on the shelf, you may want to browse the shelf to the left and right of your item for related materials.
Step 3 - Locating the Item on the Shelf:
Now that you have a call number from your item search, a general location in the building, and an understanding of how to read the call number, it is time to head to the shelves.
You will encounter call numbers in the stacks written in two ways, as a single line and in multiple lines. When reading a call number written as a single line, split the letters and numbers of the class and topic (BX4406.5 becomes BX 4406.5) then read the spaces as line breaks to translate them to the multiple line format. Or, vice versa, to translate from multiple line to single line format:
- Single line (such as in search results and on the ends of shelf rows):
- Multiple lines (such as on a spine label on a book):
To find your item on the shelf, go to the location specified in your item record from your search, locate the shelves with the correct range call number using the signs on the ends of the shelves, then locate the spine label of your item on the shelf by following the call numbers to its exact location.
If you need any assistance, please contact any library staff member and we will be happy to assist you!
Special Collections / Exceptions:
Some items, such as those in the Herbert A. Marshall Collection, require the assistance of library staff to retrieve. Visit the Information Desk located on the first floor of the library for assistance.
