The best place to begin seeking information is in the Reference Room on the Main Floor. Here you will find PCs with access to MaagNet (our online catalog), the OhioLINK Central Catalog, the OhioLINK Research Databases (periodical indexes or full-text databases), CD-ROM databases, as well as reference books--encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, manuals, directories, and periodical indexes--and reference librarians to direct you to the appropriate resources.

• Using MaagNet
• SUBJECT or WORDS (keyword) Searching
• Narrowing your search
• Broadening your Search
• Locating and Checking Out Books
• Sample Arrangement of Books by Call Number
• Viewing Your Circulation Record

To determine what materials we have in Maag Library, consult MaagNet (online catalog). Examples of the types of materials found in MaagNet are books, government documents (state and federal), some audio-visual materials, sound recordings, maps, and music scores. MaagNet may be searched by author, title, subject, words (keywords in the title, abstract or contents), or call number.

MaagNet also contains periodical holdings--names of magazines,  journals, or newspapers to which Maag Library subscribes , with information on volumes or years the library holds. You cannot find information in MaagNet on individual articles within those periodicals. (You would need to search a periodical index or database for that information). See Finding Periodical Articles for assistance.

SUBJECT or WORDS (keyword) Searching

To search for materials on a certain topic, you may do either a SUBJECT or a WORDS (keyword) search. Keep in mind that they are two different types of searches that may produce very different results.

In MaagNet, SUBJECT searches use controlled vocabulary (subject headings assigned by the Library of Congress). If you search by subject , you may wish to consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) located behind the Reference Desk to determine what subject headings to use for your topic. This type of search usually results in a high number of relevant records. Enter the subject heading as it appears in the LCSH.  If you do not have success with a subject search or want to broaden your search, try a WORDS search.

A WORDS search is usually very broad and will usually retrieve many records that may not be relevant to your topic. This type of search will retrieve records in which your word appears in the title, subject heading, or contents notes of a record. If you retrieve too many records, you may want to narrow your search. If you retrieve too few records (check to make sure you have spelled your terms correctly), you may wish to broaden or expand your search. (See the corresponding sections below). An effective search strategy is to find a relevant record and look at the subject heading. Click on the subject heading to find other records on the same subject.

Narrowing Your Search

If your search retrieves too much information, you may narrow your search by ·

• using two or more keywords, e.g., human cloning retrieves records with both human and cloning
• excluding terms you don’t want to appear, e.g., floss not dental will retrieve all items using the term floss (as in the title The Mill on the Floss) but not in the context of dental floss
• using the LIMIT command. You may limit your search by :

• Language (English, French, German, etc.)
• Material type (e.g., audio-visual, map, microform)
• Words in the author
• Words in the title
• Words in the subject
• Publisher (e.g., Simon & Schuster)
• Where the item is located (Serials, Microforms, Government Documents, etc.)
• Publication date (after [year] and before [year])

If you have retrieved too few items, you may wish to broaden your search by

• using the connector OR between words, e.g., native or indigenous
• truncating terms with an asterisk (*), e.g., aborigin* retrieves aboriginal, aborigine, etc.

When you have found the references to the material you want, note the call number and location listed in MaagNet (usually in a box below the bibliographic information). In this box you will also see the status of the material. Most books and other library materials are assigned a Library of Congress Classification Number (call number). Each call number begins with a letter which represents a broad subject area. Consult the Maag Library Building Guide to find which subjects and/or call numbers may be found on which floor. Once you have located the books or documents you need, you may check out any items (that normally circulate) at the Circulation Desk, Main Floor. For items not available in Maag Library, check the OhioLINK Central Catalog.  See Borrowing Books for more information.

Sample Arrangement of Books by Call Number

Books are shelved as in the order below:

Viewing Your Circulation Record

You must have a library barcode on the back of your valid YSU ID to view your record. If you don’t have a barcode, you may apply for one at the library’s Circulation Desk. (This is the number that begins with 21217...).

Maag Library does not send out overdue notices or notifications for OhioLINK book requests. You must view your record for this information. You may also use this feature to view the status of your circulation record and verify information including:

• your name (make sure it is spelled correctly)
• items checked out and their due dates
• items on hold (including OhioLINK book requests)
• fines

• check out materials at Maag Library
• borrow books through the OhioLINK Central Catalog