Locating Books | Library Home Page

Using the Online Book Catalog

Where do I look up books?

The book catalog for the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Library is an online database that is accessed through the Internet. You may search the book catalog from any computer that has a link to the Internet.

How do I get to ECTC's book catalog?

Click in the Address or Location field and type in the following URL: http://kctcs.kyvl.org

OR

Use the library home page. Click on the Library Book Catalog link under Quick Links.

The following screen should appear...

How do I search the catalog?

Setting Limits

Click on the drop down arrow next to Limit Search to Single Library. Click on Elizabethtown CC in order to highlight it. You will then be searching only the holdings at the ECTC Media Center.

You may also choose to search all the holdings of all the KCTCS libraries. If you wish to do this, leave the default at All KCTCS Libraries.

Choosing a search category

The Keyword option should display in the Search By field. This is the default search option and is the best selection if you are looking for materials about a particular topic.

If you are looking for a specific book and you already know the title, click on the drop-down arrow next to Keyword. Click on the Title option so that it is highlighted.

Searching

Click in the blank search box. This is identified with the number two and the word Search For. Type in a word or a combination of words. Click on the Search button (or hit the Enter key.)

If you wish to search on a topic that consists of more than one word, use quotation marks. The search engine will only pull records in which the exact phrase appears.

Examples of phrase searching:

"welfare reform"

"capital punishment"

"world wide web"

If you want to find books on assisted suicide, click in the Search For field. Type in the phrase "assisted suicide."

When you hit the ENTER key the following screen appears:

How do I pull up the book record?

Click on the underlined title of a book. This will pull up the book record.

What will the book record show me?

You will see the author, title, location (Elizabethtown CTC,) location within the library (stacks or reference,) the call number and status (whether or not the book is checked out.) Write down the call number listed in the book record. 

Here is an example of a book record...

How do I locate the book?

Write down the call number. Look at the information next to the word LOCATION. The book record above displays the word STACKS. Take the number back to the general shelving area in the library (designated by the STACKS signs.) Use the letter range signs on the ends of the shelving units to find the proper section. Use the spine labels on the ends of the books on the shelves to determine the appropriate section. Use the call number you have written down to locate the book. You may ask at the circulation desk for assistance in locating your book.

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