CSU Dominguez Hills Library -- How to Find Books, Journals, and Magazine Titles

1. Understanding how library materials are organized

       1.1. Each item (books, journals, databases, and other library materials) is identified by author(s) and/or
          title; by edition; date and place of publication as well as by publisher.

       1.2. Most titles (except fiction) are assigned subject terms to reflect their subject matters.

       1.3. A call number, consisting of a combination of letter, or letters and numbers, is assigned to each item.
          In this way, books and periodicals on the same subject can be shelved systematically in call number
               order on the library shelves. Therefore, you need to know the call number, in order to locate a specific book.

       1.4. Some library materials are published specially for reference such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, and
               some are issued in special formats such as microforms. To make then easy to find, the library tends to group the
               special types of materials together as a collection. For example, our Library has a  Reference Collection and a
               Reserved Books Collection, which are housed in separate locations. Therefore, you need to know the Symbols
               created for different Collections and the shelving locations to find them.
               (See Call Numbers, Collection Codes and Shelving Locations)

       1.5. To communicate with other libraries globally, our Library has followed the national standards to describe and
               organize library materials through an automated system, called Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC).

2. Knowing what search tool to use

       Now you know that the OPAC contains a database of library-owned materials as well as selected Internet  resources.
       Use the OPAC to look up books, journal or magazine titles. If you want to find the individual  articles in a journal or
       a magazine, you should use the general or subject-based periodical indexes. The  Library Home Page has a list of
       electronic journal databases (some with full-text). You can always ask a Reference Librarian for assistance.

3. Knowing how to look up the information

       Since each item is identified by author(s), title, and subjects, you can look up in the OPAC either by the name of the author,
       or by title (if known), and by subject (if you are not looking for a particular book.) To find out if the Library has subscribed
       to a particular journal or magazine, look up in the OPAC by the title of the journal, or magazine. The Library has a computer
       set up for searching the Periodicals Collection (i.e. journals and magazines, excluding newspapers).. In addition, the
       Library keeps a print edition of the CSUDH Serials Holdings List.

4. Understanding the information presented to you on the computer screen.

                              OPAC Screen Display (Books)

                        Local Control # : 10375922
                        TITLE : Hoover's handbook of private companies
                        PUB. DATE : c1997-
                        LCCN : 98657723
                       LANGUAGE : ENGLISH

                 CAMPUS LIBRARY     COLLECTION / CALL NUMBER     STATUS/DUE DATE
                  1. CDH                        Ref / HG4057.A28616 1998             In Library

CSU Dominguez Hills Collection Code Call Number

                           OPAC Screen Display (JOURNALS OR MAGAZINES)

                         Local Control # : 10358736
                         TITLE : The journal of Asian studies
                         PUB. DATE : [C1956-
                         LCCN : 43014717 //r853
                         LANGUAGE : ENGLISH

                  CAMPUS LIBRARY      COLLECTION / CALL NUMBER       COPY #
                   1. CDH                            PER / DS501 .J62

                         "PER" indicates that the publication is a journal or magazine.
                        PER does not appear on the top of the call number: DS501 .J62
                        Books and journals are shelved together on the library shelves.

          Library has:
              Microfilm Vol. 16 (1956)-v. 22 (1962)---------> [Holdings for v.16-v.22 are on microfilm]
              Vol. 23 (1963)-v. 29 (1970)---------> [v.23-v.29 are hard copy: Available on the shelf]
              IN STORAGE: Vol. 30 (1971)-v. 31 (1972)---------> [See Explanation Note A below]
              Microfilm Vol. 32 (1973)-v. 56 (1997)
              Full-text available beginning with vol. 16 (1956)- via JSTOR
                    (http://www.jstor.org/journals/00219118.html): [Latest 5 years not available online]
             Current paper issues kept until microfilm received.

               [The Library will keep the current paper issues until the microfilm replaces them]

              Note A - Vol. 30-31, in storage: Ask for the needed volume (s) at Circulation Desk.
                           Circulation staff will retrieve library materials in storage for you.