Skip to Main Content

Library DIY

Search for a Book

This image shows the Quick Search search bar, where users type in their search keywords, and the checkbox filters that allow users to search by item type or format.

Quick Search is your best bet to find print and online books in the library's collections. First click on the search box to display the additional filters below. Then click on:

  • Books/ebooks
  • Full-text online (OPTIONAL: use this filter only if you want just ebooks to display in your result list)

Then type in your search keywords. These could be topic keywords, or an author's name.

Finding eBooks

Look in the center of the results page in Quick Search to browse for the book you want. The image below is an example of how an ebook looks in Quick Search. Click on the Full Text Online to get to the online book text and start reading. You may need to log in with your IslandID if you are off-campus or click through several screens to check out an ebook.

This image shows an entry for an ebook in the Quick Search results list. The Full-text button to click and read the ebook text is located underneath an image of the book and its title, author, and publication information.
 

Print Books

Print books in the Quick Search result list will not have a link to online text. You'll need to either write down or take a picture of the book's call number and location. Call numbers allow you to find the precise location of the book on the shelf. Most of the library's print book collection is located on the 2nd floor, but in the example below, the book is in the Popular Reading section, which is located in the 1st floor Atrium area. Carry the book to the 1st floor Circulation Desk and present your ID to check the book out!

This image depicts how a print book's location information is displayed in the Quick Search result list. The library's call number, which allows you to find the book on the shelves, is displayed under the book's image and title, author, and publication information. The specific book location is also displayed to the left of the call number. The library catalog also indicates if a book is checked out or available for checkout.