This tutorial demonstrates how to find a book by a specific author, using the Pfau Library Catalog.

For this example, I'm looking for books by Jacques Derrida. I know he wrote about Deconstructionism, a literary theory. In the Catalog, the default search option is "Keyword." But I'll need to change it, by using the pull-down menu. "Author (last name first)" is the best option when you know the author's full name.

Keywords for the search go inside the text box. For this example, I'm looking for books by Jacques Derrida. I know he wrote about Deconstructionism, a literary theory.

Type the author's name inside the text box. Remember, for this search, the last name must go first! I'll type: derrida, jacques

The results screen displays a list of his books, most recent first. Pfau Library owns 65 books by Derrida.

By scrolling down, I can look at the titles of the books, to which ones I want.

Title number 9 on the list is "Deconstructionism in a nutshell: a conversation with Jacques Derrida." That's a title that might interest me. The status "Available" means the book is not checked out to anyone else.

To have this book delivered from Pfau Library to PDC, I need to fill out the Book Request Form available from the PDC library page. To learn how, view the tutorial: How Do I Get a Book Delivered to PDC?, text only version.

To find more information about any book title, just click on it. I'll click on our "Deconstruction in a nutshell" book. On the "item information" screen, check for interesting Subject headings. If you find an interesting Subject Heading (in this case, "Deconstruction), click on it to find more books.

This takes you to an alphabetical list of subjects; the subject you clicked on will be in the middle of the list, not at the top. Pfau Library has 70 books about Deconstruction. Click on the subject "Deconstruction" to display them. Now I can find more books that might help me understand Derrida's theory.

Summing up:

1. Change your search from Keyword to Author
2. Put author's last name first
3. Fill out a book request form for delivery to PDC
4. Check for Subject links that might help with your research

You've reached the end of this tutorial lesson.

Return to the OLLIE tutorial page.