Research Guides: Classic Catalog: FAQs

How to search

Keyword searching using Boolean Operators
- AND - results must contain each word: puppy AND kitten
- OR - finds either word: (puppy OR kitten)
- AND NOT (book searches) excludes word: puppy AND NOT kitten

[ boolean operators ]

"public relations" AND "team-based approach"

classroom AND (discipline OR management)

("Kansas City" AND NOT Missouri) and crime

Click the title of any book in search results and underneath the contents are "LC Subject" links (function like hashtags).

[ subject headings ]

Does the library have the book "____________________"?
Click on Title - enter the exact title (can shorten to first 5 words)

Searching by Author - an author search allows you to browse for items by author.
- An author is the person, artist, composer, government body or organization responsible for the creation of the content of a work.
  - Twain, Mark
Searching by Corporate/Non-Personal Author
- A corporate author is any group or organization that is responsible for the content of a published work. They include organizations, corporations, governmental entities, and musical or artistic groups.
  - Ford Motor Company
  - United Nations
- For corporate bodies that are best known by their abbreviations, search using the abbreviated form.
  - Example: (CNN)

What are wildcards?

Use an Asterisk (shift/8) to find all variations of a word

EXAMPLE: ethic* finds any results with ethic, ethics, ethical

Use a Question mark to replace one character within a word

EXAMPLE: wom?n finds both woman and women

How do I request an item in MOBIUS or Prospector?

MOBIUS (multiple libraries within Missouri and others)
- Below the search box, click Advanced Search
  - Enter search terms
  - Limit to Book/Journal

1. After you have found the book you want, select the Request it tab to the right of your search result.
2. Select MOBIUS - KCTOWERS click submit.
3. Enter your name followed by your ID number (919#) and (NW) (Example: 919111111NW). Choose your pickup location.
4. Your book has now been requested. You will receive a Northwest email when your book is available for pickup.

PROSPECTOR
- If the book(s) is not found in MOBIUS, click Prospector
- After you have found the book you want, select the Request it tab
- Select MOBIUS - KCTOWERS and click submit.
- Enter your name followed by your ID number (919#) and (NW) (Example: 919111111NW). Choose your pickup location
- Your book has now been requested. You will receive a Northwest email when your book is available for pickup.

How do I renew items online?

Click My Library Account
Enter your name and 919# followed by "NW" --->Example: 919123456NW

check the box in the "Renew" column to the left of the title

click the "Renew Selected Items" button at the top of the table (or click the "Renew All" button to renew everything listed)

How do I search for children's books?

Click the Advanced tab
Enter search terms
In the "Specific Library Location" area, select NW Owens Juvenile (or NW Horace Mann Library)

How do I find K-12 curriculum materials?

CURRICULUM MATERIALS - are educational resources that provide curriculum and instructional experiences for K-12 students, they are used to develop lesson plans and may also be used in actual instructional situations with students

Enter keyword(s) (Math, Algebra, English, Science...)
change the location of the search results to NW Owens Curriculum Matls in the search location section.
select the submit tab to conduct your search, select the displayed search results that match your topic and use the call numbers to locate the materials within the library.

How do I search for music scores?

Click Advanced
Enter search terms
Other Format: select MUSIC SCORE

Click Advanced
- Enter search terms
- In the "Other Format" area select VIDEO/FILM

Click Advanced
1. Enter search terms
2. In the "Other Format" area, select MUSIC AUDIO

How do I find NW field studies & research papers?

Field Studies
Research Papers

FIELD STUDIES - a general method for collecting data about users, user needs, and product requirements that involves observation and interviewing. The result of a field study search will bring up past studies by NW graduate students.
- Type in your search using the format "field study" and your keywords
  EXAMPLE: if you are looking for field studies about school violence, enter
  "field study" and "school violence"
- Click Search
- Select the item that matches your topic to view the call number and location of the field study in the library

RESEARCH PAPERS - the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization and composition.
- Type in your search using the format "research paper" and your keywords
  EXAMPLE: "research paper" and "art therapy"
- Click Search
- Select the item that matches your topic to view the call number and location of the research paper in the library

How do I find primary sources?

A primary source provides direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art. Primary sources include historical and legal documents, eyewitness accounts, results of experiments, statistical data, pieces of creative writing, audio and video recordings, speeches and art objects.

Add any of these words to your search, preceded by s:

s:sources
s:correspondence
s:personal narratives
s:diaries
s:speeches
s:pictorial works
s:archiv*
s:material culture

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