How to Find Books
To search for books, use Discovery or the catalog.
The catalog searches for books, ebooks, and other materials that are physically housed in the libraries. Using the Advanced Search may help you narrow your results. Remember to think creatively when entering search terms. Start with a narrow search term and then broaden it as necessary. (The old saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is usually true when searching the catalog!)
If a blue URL hotlink appears in a record, the book is available electronically. Records for print-only books will display a call number and the location "stacks."
To Search for Materials in the Catalog:
Select the catalog tab on the homepage and enter keywords or the title of what your are searching for
Click the search icon and then a results list will appear. Search Results can be refined using the filters on the left side bar.
Tip: If you are having trouble finding books in the library catalog but can find at least one book or article related to your topic, look at its bibliography or notes to see what works its author consulted, then search for them in the catalog.
Discovery searches multiple resources, including the catalog and many databases, all at one time. This is a great tool if you are looking for more than just books, but will require using one of Discovery's limiters, located in the left-hand column of your search results page, to focus your search.
Where do I find books in the stacks? Most of the LSU Libraries' books about history are located in the "C" (Auxiliary Sciences of History), and "D" (World History) call number ranges on the second and third floors of LSU Library. However, the nature of this assignment will have you looking in other sections, such as "N" (Fine Arts) and "U" (Military Science). You may find books in other locations, including Hill Memorial Library (Special Collections). If you need help locating a book, consult a stacks directory near the elevators or ask a librarian.