How to Search the Library Catalog
Once you decide on your topic, it's time to start exploring! This is the information-gathering stage and that it's all part of the learning and research process for your paper. The act of exploring your topic will help you refine and strengthen your argument.
The University of Michigan Library has millions of books and media. To find the best resources for your research, you should search or browse the library’s catalog for our collection of books, journals, DVDs, music and musical scores, electronic resources, and more.
Watch the video below to learn how to search the library's catalog.
Hot Tip: For more guidance on how to effectively search the Library Catalog, check out the Library Catalog Searching page.
Using Library Search
U-M Library Search is a search interface that allows you to search across several information categories curated by the Library. You use this interface to find items that the Library owns or subscribes to, such as:
- books
- journals and magazines
- articles
- dissertations
- audio and video recordings
- indexing databases
- archival material
- data sets, and
- Library web pages
Many of the Library's online resources are discoverable and accessible through Library Search.
Image of Library Search, https://search.lib.umich.edu/everything
The starting point is the Everything search, which allows you to input search terms in a single search box and to display a small number of results from:
- Library Catalog Search -- to find all items owned by many campus libraries, including U-M Flint library (an inventory of our collections)
- Library Articles Search -- Library's article search engine, spanning many different disciplines; to find links to full text citations
- Library Databases Search -- great for finding accessible links by known database names, e.g. PubMed or JSTOR
- Library Online Journals Search -- to find links to online journal subscriptions
- Library Guides & More Search -- to find web pages about libraries, policies, request forms, research help guides, etc.
You can switch categories of information for specific results by clicking the category name below the main search box either before you start your search or by clicking on a specific category box once results display. Note: Library Search works best with current versions of Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers.