CHAPS Research Guide

The library catalog is the best place to search for books. You can search the catalog using the search box provided above or by going to the Library Home Page and using the QuickSearch or "Advanced Search" option. 

In the Advanced Search:

• Select your search type  (words anywhere, title, author, subject)
• Enter your search terms (Add additional lines for terms as necessary)
• Enter any refining characteristics  (resource type, language, publication date)

If you need a book quickly, use the "Select Library" dropdown menu to the right of the results to limit your search to books that are in your most convenient library.

If the book is not available at your local library branch, you can request the item for delivery by clicking on the Book Delivery/Recall button.

If the book is not available at Rutgers, you can request the item for delivery from another university through the EZ-Borrow service.

If the book is not available on EZ-Borrow, you can request the item for delivery from another library through the Interlibrary Loan service.

If you cannot find the book in the Rutgers Catalog and need information about the book before requesting it from another library, look for the book on WorldCat.

Sound Recordings and non-circulation books (BOOK-N) are requested by clicking on the Book Special Request button.

Expanding or refining your search

AND, OR, & NOT - use all CAPS

AND:  Refines a search. Searches for "museum" AND "architecture" will only return results that contain both "museum" and "architecture".

OR: Expands a search. Searches for "museum" OR "architecture" will return results contain either "museum" or "architecture" and both terms together.

NOT: Refines a search. Searches for "museum" NOT "architecture" will only return results  that contain "museum". Any articles/books that contain "architecture" will be excluded.

Wildcards

? or * - searches for word variations.  "Wom?n" will search for women, woman, and womyn. "Ident*" will search identify, identified, and identifying.

Parentheses

Used to create complete search inquiries. ie: automobiles OR (cars and motorcycles)