Finding books on a topic in OneSearch
You can start looking for books about a topic by using OneSearch's basic search on the University Libraries' homepage.
Type your search terms in the OneSearch search box, then click the red button.
A number of filters are available in the column on the left side of the results page. Near the top of this column, find the "Content Type" filter and check the box for "Book/eBook." If book/ebook does not appear among the top four or five options within the filter, type "book" in the text box above the filter, then check "Book/eBook."
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Optionally, you can check one or two additional boxes in the "Refine your search" filter.
- "Library Catalog" will ensure your list of results is restricted only to books available at Ball State University Libraries.
- "eBook Full Text Online" will restrict your results to electronic books, which you can link to and read online.
- Alternately, "Physical Books in Library Catalog" will restrict your results to printed books, removing ebooks from your list.
On your list of search terms, electronic items will be marked with a "Full Text Online" button. Printed items on your lists of results will be accompanied by location information: One of the campus' four libraries, a collection (or area) within that library, and the item's call number.
You will find more filters on the left side of the search page, such as "discipline" and "subject terms," which you can optionally use to continue refining your search.
Finding a specific book in OneSearch
If you are looking for a specific book - or for that matter a specific article, film, or other kind of item - you can also use OneSearch to determine whether it is available in the University Libraries.
Type the title of the book and it's author's last name in the OneSearch box. For example:
If University Libraries has the book, it will usually appear near the top of your list of search results. You might need to apply the "Book/eBook" option in the "Content Type" filter on the left side of the results page.
On your list of search terms, electronic items will be marked with a "Full Text Online" button. Printed items on your lists of results will be accompanied by location information: One of the campus' four libraries, a collection (or area) within that library, and the item's call number.
If the book you're looking for doesn't appear on your list of results, University Libraries might not have a copy. If you are unsure, you may contact the Library Information Desk to determine whether that is the case. If University Libraries does not own the book, it might be possible to borrow a copy from another library via interlibrary loan.