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Seven Steps to Library Research: Find Books

Seven Steps to Library Research - A step-by-step guide to efficient research using your MSJC Library.

Start Your Research Here




Finding Books with OneSearch

Use OneSearch, the Library's catalog, to search for books on your topic. Enter the main keywords for your topic and review your search results. You can use the "Refine Your Results" section on the left to narrow your results. 

OneSearch Refine Your Results screenshot

For print books, click on the title to review the book's summary or table of contents, if they are available, to be sure it will work for your assignment.

Print or write down the title and author along with location information: library, shelving location, and call number. If you need help finding an item on the shelf using the call number, check out our Understanding Call Numbers page. Or ask a librarian for help!

Note the current status (Available, Not Available, On Loan, etc.). You can request items that are checked out or available at a different campus to be held for pickup at your preferred campus library. Sign in to your library account from OneSearch using your mymsjc username and password to place a request, or ask a staff member for help.

For eBooks, click the title or Available Online link to review the book and access it.

OneSearch search results screenshot