Library Catalog Quick Start Guide

When I search the library catalog, what am I searching? The library's catalog consists of a number of "collections" including:

• The library's collection of over 60,000 books, periodicals, journals, CDs and DVDs, and other "physical" items "on the shelves."
• Around 100,000 eBooks from many of the the library's full-text subscription database collections, including: Skillsoft Books, EBSCO and Knovel
• Special collections including: Library Literature Searches, VTRC Technical Assistance Reports, and VDOT Videos.

There are many ways to search the catalog. This guide will focus on the three basic search modes (Simple Search, Browse Search, and Advanced Search).

Note: **VDOT OneSearch** (the library's federated search tool simultaneously searches a wider range of resources -including the library's catalog and all subscription databases) is also available in the list of search options. Go here for more details about using OneSearch.