New Books in the Library

   Below is a list of some of our new books in the library. The new books are found on a display table to the right as you walk into the library. If you need assistance to find a particular book, please ask someone at the circulation desk.  

Using the UAM Library Online Catalog

   Before the Internet explosion, finding a specific book in the library meant using the card catalog. Usually located in an easily accessible part of the library, the catalog was divided by author, subject or title. If you wanted to read a book by a certain author, you found that author in the card catalog. Then, you could see which books by the author were available in that library. The same was true for finding books on certain subjects. Finding books with a specific title simply meant looking for that title in the card catalog. The card for that book would give location information.  

   The card catalog has been replaced by the online catalog in many libraries and specifically, in the Fred J. Taylor Library and Technology Center. I have listed some frequent questions with answers to assist those who would like to learn how to use the online catalog. 

   How do I use the online catalog to find out if the library owns a specific book?  

   Suppose you want to know if the UAM Library owns a certain book, such as “The Client” by John Grisham. You can find this information by using the library’s online catalog. Use any computer that has Internet access and pull up the library website (www.uamont.edu/library). An icon that says “Library Catalog” is on the left of the screen. Click on that icon and you will find a screen that allows you to search the library catalog in a number of ways. 

   To find a specific book, just click on the Title button and type in the title of the book, in this case, “The Client.”  If the library owns the book, a screen will appear to let you know where to find the book and if it is available. On the right side of the screen you see that the book is available. On the left of the screen you see that the book is located on the second floor in the main collection. The middle of the screen tells you the call number for the book. 

   If the library owns more than one version of the title, a screen will appear with the versions listed and you will have to choose the version you need. The screen showing availability and location will appear when you choose a particular version. 

   How do I use the online catalog to find out if the library owns a specific book?  

   Find the library catalog using the instructions from the previous question. Click on the Subject button and type in the subject for which you are looking. You will get a list of books that deal with that subject. You may choose one of the titles and click on it. This will bring up the screen that tells you where the book is located and if it is available.  

   How do I use the online catalog to find out if the library owns books by a certain author?  

   Click on the Author button this time. You will get a list of all the books by that author that the library owns. Click on one of the titles and you will bring up the screen with the location and availability.  

   You should be getting the idea by now. The catalog is user friendly and has helpful instructions built in. Take a look around and see what your library has to offer!