Every book has a location at the Yeary Library (
The books are in order by call number, which is simply a number assigned to a book based on its content.
To find a book, search for call numbers in the book catalog.
Go to the library website at www.laredo.edu/library.
Click Book Catalog.
This is the book catalog. You can find books, media, and periodicals using the book catalog.
You can search by title, author, subject or word or phrase.
If you are searching by topic, do a word or phrase search. Type in your search terms. In this example, we will do a search for books on “Capital punishment.” Keep in mind that you may need to do several searches to find what you need. A person searching for books on “Capital Punishment” could also use the search term “Death Penalty.”
You may limit your search to a specific library or search ALL libraries. We will search all libraries.
Click the “Search” button.
The book catalog generates a list of results. In this example, there are 123 books and many pages of results.
To refine your search, click “Limit Search” and add additional search terms. Type “and history” and click “Search.”
There are now 26 books from which to choose.
The call number, title, author, availability and library are listed for each item.
Let’s take a closer look at the record for the first book.
The top number is the call number. This is the most important piece of information when locating a book. Write this number down. The title is listed followed by the author’s name. The next piece of information is very important. It tells you how many copies are available and at which library. If the book you want is at another campus, you may request that the book be brought to your campus. See the tutorial titled “How to request books or articles from another LCC campus” for more information.
If the book has been checked out, the record will show “No copies currently available” and will provide an estimated wait.
If the book is located in the General Collection, it can be checked out. Books located in the Reference Collection and Special Collections can be used in the library. For items located in the Media Center, please contact the Media Center staff about their availability.
To find out more information about a book, click on Details. Let’s look at the second book listed.
This screen provides much of the information you need to cite the book.
Click on Catalog Record. This screen will list additional subject terms you can use in your search, and often will provide a table of contents or summary of the book.
Once you have a list of books and their call numbers, you may begin searching for the books on the shelves. Ask a librarian or reference assistant for help if needed.
LCC Libraries
7/2007