How to Use the Library

Online Catalog (OPAC)

How to use the library’s online card catalog:

Ø     Decide how you want to search – by author, title, subject or keyword.

Ø     Spell your search terms correctly.

Ø     Look for synonyms for your topic.

Ø     Enter your search term and then click the button for the type of search you want to do.

The HIT for your search will be highlighted.

The subject search for cats indicates that there are seven items matching your search term.

Ø     Click on the highlighted line to see what 7 items are available.

This screen shows you the title, author, call number and checkout status of each item.

Ø     To find more information about a particular item, double click on it.

Ø     Once you have located items in the OPAC, write down the full call number. A complete call number includes both the fiction designation or Dewey Decimal number plus the author letters.  For example:

398.2 GRI          or           FIC BAR

Dewey Decimal System

The Emerson library is organized by the Dewey Decimal System.  Take a multimedia tour of the D.S.S. at Dewey to the Rescue! or

try this ThinkQuest activity at Do We Know Dewey?

000 Generalities
100 Philosophy & psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Language
500 Natural sciences & mathematics
600 Technology (Applied sciences)
700 The arts
800 Literature & rhetoric
900 Geography & history