A Pollak Library Research Guide
Rob Sage, Reference and Instruction Librarian
Pollak Library 124
(714) 278-4057
rsage@fullerton.edu
 

Information Found in Books

Books can provide a good overview of a topic, as well as in-depth information. A book often includes a bibliography or list of additional resources (other books, articles, films, etc.).  It is important to note the date of a book to ensure that you are reading current material. More current information may be available in periodical articles, newspapers or news services.

To find books in the CSUF Library

Use the Library Catalog to find books on your topic in the CSUF Library.  You may search for an item by author, title, subject, and call number, as well as any word in the title, subject, and content notes. If you are having difficulty finding materials using a subject search, use a word search instead. Do not hesitate to ask the librarians at the reference desk for help.
Information you will find of value in the Library Catalog are:

• Where the item is located (in the stacks, reference, business tables or some other area),

• The call number (where the book is filed on the shelf) 

• The status (whether it is on the shelf, missing or checked out to another borrower).  If the book is out to another borrower, please place a “recall” on the book at the circulation desk.

One of the nice features of the Library Catalog is that you can email records to yourself. Press the button labeled “Export".

 Materials in this library are classified and shelved by the Library of Congress classification system. The Library of Congress system puts books on similar subjects together on the shelf.  

Some useful subject headings to find books on finance are:

Finance
Banks and banking
Investments

Finance Reference Sources

The business tables provides, in one location, the most frequently used reference materials on business.  Many useful and unique sources on stocks, bonds, mutual funds and company financial information may be found on the business tables.  Click on the above link to access descriptions of our accounting and investment collection on the business tables.

To Find Books in Other Libraries:

CSUF library does not own all the books published in the world.  If this library does not own the book you need, you can obtain it from another library. To locate and borrow books from other libraries

• Try Link+ and request items online. Link+ is a shared catalog of 11 CSU libraries, the Claremont College libraries and other libraries. You may request books online from LINK+. Please pick these books up at the interlibrary loan office. Remember - your CSUF ID card can be used at any CSU Library to borrow library materials. This means that if you live close to another CSU Library you may go in person to borrow materials. This is much faster than interlibrary loan.

• Try other libraries and library on-line catalogs such as the University of California's Melvyl. Melvyl is a shared catalog of the nine University of California campuses. Materials found there can be requested from Interlibrary Loan.

• Other places to look for books are Books in Print and WorldCat. Books in Print is a database that lists books that are currently published and available for sale. Worldcat lists books from libraries worldwide that have contributed records to OCLC.

  Created: February 2002  Updated: 20 May 2008

Prepared by Rob Sage: rsage@fullerton.edu
An instructional page of the Paulina June & George Pollak Library at California State University, Fullerton.
(c) 2007 California State University, Fullerton. All rights reserved.