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How to Use Catalogs & Databases

Detailed step-by-step instructions (with videos!) for using the library's catalogs and databases

How to Find Audio Sources

Places where you can find streaming audio sources.

All-in-One Search: All Library Databases

All-in-One Search: All Library Databases is a broad tool for searching multiple library resources at once. Gather information from books and ebooks; articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers; theses/dissertations; reports; reference works; & more. This search system will mix the different types of sources into one list of search results.

Here's a link:

Searching from the Basic Search Page (Main Page)

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  1. Access library services, such as Ask a Librarian, and Advanced Search from menu icon
  2. Enter search terms in the search box and click the Search button

Searching from the Advanced Search Page

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  1. Change "All Fields" drop-down to search by title, author, etc.
  2. Enter search term(s) in box(es)
  3. Change "AND" drop-down box to adjust AND, OR, NOT options to search for all words, any words, or exclude words
  4. Click the "Add a row" link to add more search box rows, if needed
  5. Publication date range: enter dates to limit results by date
  6. Show content type: check box(es) to limit by content type, such as book, ebook, article, etc.
  7. Language: click the drop-down to limit results by language
  8. Show only: check box(es) to limit by full text, peer review, etc.
  9. Exclude from results: check box(es) to exclude specific types of sources from the results, such as newspaper articles, book reviews, etc.
  10. Expand your results: check the box to include results that the library doesn't have; this can be useful for knowing what else may be available and making interlibrary loan requests
  11. Click the "Clear Form" link if you need to clear the options and start over
  12. Click the "Back to basic search" link to return to the basic search page (main page)
  13. Click the Search button to start the search

Reviewing the Search Results

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  1. From the top:
    • Use the search box to tweak search terms, if needed
    • Click the link for the Advanced Search, if more detailed tweaks are needed
    • Click on the folder icon for saved items (articles, ebooks, etc.)
    • Click on the menu icon for additional services
    • Look at the number of results to see if there are too few or too many
    • Click on the "Relevance" link to change the sorting option to sort by date
    • Check the box for "Add results beyond your library's collection" to show items that might be useful to request from interlibrary loan
  2. From the left-side menu:
    • Refine your source: click on options to refine results by source characteristics (full text, peer-review, etc.)
    • Content type: click on options to limit the results by content type (newspaper article, book/ebook, journal article, etc.)
    • Discipline: click on options to limit results by subject or discipline; click on the "More" link to show the full list of disciplines/subjects available
    • Publication date: enter dates to limit results to items published within a specific date range
    • Subject terms: click on options to limit results by subject terms, which are related to how the sources are indexed or categorized
    • Language: if sources are in several languages, options will appear to limit the results
  3. From the right-side options:
    • Look for definitions from Encyclopædia Britannica
    • A Related Topics section will suggest topics or phrases that the system thinks are related to your search terms; may be useful for adjusting the search when the results aren't quite right
  4. For each source:
    • Click on the "Preview" link to view a preview of the source (a panel will open below the source's title)
    • Icons: there are several icons with additional options
      • Click on the quotation mark (citation icon) for the citation generator
      • Click on the email icon to email the source information to yourself or someone else
      • Click on the folder icon to save the source to your account
      • click on the ellipses icon to export the source information to a citation manager (Zotero, etc.)
    • Availability: look for the availability or source location information
      • for print books, this will be a call number to locate the book in the library
      • for electronic sources (ebooks, articles, etc.), this will be a link to the database that has the source
    • Source title link: click on the title of the source to go to the full text for that source
      • for print books, the link will go to the library catalog

Previewing a Source

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  1. Click on the "Preview" link to view a preview of the source
  2. If the source is an article, an abstract will appear. Otherwise, a brief excerpt from a book or longer source will appear
  3. There will also be source information that will be using for citing your source or locating print sources - publication date, call number, etc.
  4. Click on the "Permanent Link" link to view a permanent link to the source in Charger Search: All Library Database. This link will always work. (Copying the URL from the location bar in the browser won't always work because those URLs tend to time out.)
  5. Click on the "Preview" link again to close the preview

Viewing the Full-Text of a Source

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  1. From "Full Text Online"
    • Click on the link for "Full Text Online"v to be taken to the item's summary page
    • Sign in with your MyCN login information
    • The summary page will be from the database where the item is hosted (such as Gale, EBSCO, etc.)
    • Depending on the database, the full text may be on the summary page (Gale, JStor, etc.) or you may need to click a button on the side for the "PDF Full Text" or "HTML Full Text" (EBSCO and others)
  2. By clicking the title:
    • Click on the title of the material you would like to view to be taken to the item's summary page
    • Sign in with your MyCN login information
    • The summary page will be from the database where the item is hosted (such as Gale, EBSCO, etc.)
    • Depending on the database, the full text may be on the summary page (Gale, JStor, etc.) or you may need to click a button on the side for the "PDF Full Text" or "HTML Full Text" (EBSCO and others)

Overdrive LogoOverDrive, Inc. is a digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, online magazines, and streaming video titles. The American company provides secure digital rights management and download fulfillment services for publishers, libraries, schools, corporations and book retailers.

Here's a link:

Searching from the Basic Search Page (Main Page)

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  1. From the top:
    • Click on the Subject link to browse by genre
    • Click on the Collections link to browse by eBooks, audiobooks, or magazines
    • Click on the Kindle Books link to browse books available on Kindle
    • Click on the Search button to pull up the basic search bar
    • After opening the search bar, type and enter a search query
    • Click on the Notifications bell to your notifications
    • Click on the Books button to view your loans, holds, and other account items
    • Click on the My Account drop-down to go to specific account locations
  2. From the main page:
    • Scroll to browse recommended items and subjects

Searching from the Advanced Search Page

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  1. From the Advanced Search area:
    • Enter search terms in the Title or Author boxes
    • Filter results by
      • Date added
      • Format
      • Subject
      • Awards
      • Availability
      • Language
      • Audience
    • Enter an ISBN for a specific item in the ISBN box to search for it
  2. From the Levels area:
    • Filter by specific levels such as:
      • Interest Levels
      • Lexile Measures
      • ATOS Levels
      • Text Difficulties

Reviewing the Search Results

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  1. From the main reading area:
    • The Search results area will state how many results were found
    • Use the squares and lists buttons to choose how the results are displayed
    • Click on the Sort by relevance drop-down box to change sorting options
    • Click on the Cover Art to be taken to the item page
    • Click on the Author link to be taken to all of that author's works
    • Click on the Borrow link to borrow the item from the results page
    • Click on the bookmark link to save the item to a list on your account
  2. From the left-side menu:
    • Filter the results by:
      • Availability
      • Audience
      • Date added
      • Ebooks
      • Audiobooks
      • Magazines
      • Subject
      • Language
      • Lexile MEasures
      • Text Difficulty

Viewing the Full Text of a Source

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  1. From the main area:
    • View the cover art for the item
    • Click on the author link to taken to other works by that author
    • Click the stars to rate the item
    • View the availability
    • Click on the Borrow button to borrow the item
    • Click on the Read a Sample button to read a short excerpt from the item
    • Click on the Add to Wish List button to add it to your wish list
    • Click on the Add to History button to mark it as something you have already read
    • Read the Description and Details to get a summary of the item
  2. From the right-side:
    • View what Formats the item is available in
    • Click on the Subjects link(s) to see other works with that subject heading
    • View what Languages the item is available in
    • View what Levels the item is classified as
  3. From the bottom area:
    • View recommended items based on things you have looked at
      • Click on the Cover Art to be taken to the item page
      • Click on the Author link to be taken to all of that author's works
      • Click on the Borrow link to borrow the item from the results page
      • Click on the bookmark link to save the item to a list on your account

Classical Music Library logoClassical Music Library is a database that provides access to streaming audio of classical music.

Here's a link:

Searching from the Basic Search Page (Main Page)

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  1. From the menu, you can browse your collections, disciplines, titles, publishers, playlists, clips, or go to the Advanced Search page
  2. From the top search box, enter search terms for the either Classical Music Library or All of Alexander Street
  3. From the main Search box, enter search words to search within the collection
  4. Click on the Advanced Search go to the Advanced Search page
  5. Scroll to browse time periods, composers, and featured playlists

Searching from the Advanced Search Page

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  1. Enter search term(s) into the search box(es)
    • Use the Words Anywhere box for a general search
    • Use boxes such as Composition, Author, or Genre for more specific searches
    • Use the Select terms drop-downs to use preselected search terms
  2. Filter your results by:
    • Collection
    • Format
    • Time Period
    • Content Type
    • Original Language
    • Subtitle Language
    • Date Published/Released
    • Date Written/Recorded
    • Place Published/Released
    • Place Written/Recorded
  3. Use the Relevance drop-down to sort your results
  4. Click the Search button to search
  5. Click the Clear link to clear options and start over
  6. Enter search words in related box (title in the title box, composer in the composer box, etc.)

Reviewing the Search Results

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  1. From the main section:
    • Enter search terms in the search box to search within results or change search by searching in the collection
    • Click the Title/Album drop-down to view Title/Album or Segment/Track
    • Click the Relevance drop-down to change sorting options
    • Click the linked title to view the audio page
    • The details about the audio are below the title
    • Hover mouse over the See details button to see more details about the audio
    • Click the plus, envelope, and share icons to save to list, email, or share
  2. From the left menu:
    • Change the toggle to include sample content (not subscribed)
    • Limit to a specific sub-section of Classical Music
    • Limit by collection categories:
      • Composer
      • Person Role
      • Composition
      • Music Key
      • Soloist/Performer
      • Ensemble
      • Conductor
      • Director/Producer
      • Instrument Played
      • Genre
      • Place Written/Recorded
      • Date Written/Recorded
      • Publisher
      • Date Published/Released
      • Original Language

Previewing an Audio Description

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  1. Hover mouse over the See details button to see more details about the audio
    • See details about the audio, such as composer, ensemble, etc.
    • Options to work with the audio: cite, email, add to playlist, embed, etc.
    • Sample the audio

Viewing the Full Audio Track

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  1. Audio track with controls are at the top of the page
  2. Left side:
    • See the Title and description
    • Options for using audio file: cite, email, share, etc.
    • See Related Items
  3. Right side:
    • Move between tabs for:
      • Details
      • Tracks
    • On the Tracks tab, there is additional information appears below the track title about the specific track within the album

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