Catalog Q & A

Q. "Hmmm. I'm confused. I'm searching for a book in the library catalog and I get over 1,200 results. Can the library really have that many copies of one book?"
A. Our library catalog (LINCC) now searches the library's holdings plus the contents of the many online databases to which the MDC Libraries subscribe. This combined search will give you magazine and journal articles as well as books, ebooks, DVDs, and any other materials that match your search criteria. Most of the 1,200 items you retrieved are probably articles rather than books.

Q."Okay, but what if I only want to find out if the library has the book I'm looking for?" A. No problem! There are several ways to limit your search:

The easiest way is to open the "Limit to" drop-down menu and select the desired material type (e.g. "Books") prior to performing your search.

Another way is to perform your search, then look for the desired material type in the "Refine My Results" box on the left side of the screen.

Q. "The catalog looks a little different than it did before. What else has changed?" A. One of the most useful of the catalog's several new features is the availability of Example Citations.

This can really come in handy if you have to compile a bibliography or list of works cited for a research paper. Once you've located an item, click the "Details" link to view its full description, then click the "Example Citations" link on the right side of the screen for formatted citations in MLA, APA, Chicago, and other styles.

Q. "There used to be an 'Article Search' tab, but now it's gone. How do I search for articles?" A. You can select "Articles" from the "Limit to" drop-down menu to perform a multi-database search for articles, but if you have a favorite database (like Opposing Viewpoints in Context or Academic Search Complete), you can still search the databases individually by clicking the "Databases A-Z" or "Databases by Subject" link at the top of the screen. Remember, to gain access to articles you must log in with your Borrower ID (your MDC student or employee number) and LINCC PIN (the last 4 digits of your MDC student or employee number).

Q. "What if I need help?" A. Call (305) 237-2077 to speak with a Kendall Campus librarian, or visit the Reference Desk on the second floor of Building 2. Or, try the Ask-a-Librarian virtual reference service.