Guide to Searching the University Libraries' Catalog

The University Libraries' catalog contains several drop down lists that are used to select limit or search type options.

Online Catalog Search Options:

  • Author (either personal name or corporate author such as United Nations)
  • Title (books, videos, slides, films)
  • Topic (by keyword)
  • Journal Title
  • Subject Heading (Library of Congress heading)
  • Call Number 
  • Course Reserve list search

Below is the BASIC Search screen. This is used to input search words and set search options using lists. Note links (tabs) to Guided Keyword and Course Reserve search options. See the Quick Guide chart below to determine how and when to use the various search types. 

An illustration of the Basic Search Mode screen of the WMU Libraries online catalog

Quick Start Guide for the Online Catalog

Read down left column and across.

Tips on searching the library catalog. Read down left column and across
TO FIND MATERIAL IN WestCat... 
On WestCat main menu: NOTE
BY AUTHOR NAME  (for example author name:, Clancy, Tom)   Use Basic Search (Select search type Author from SEARCH BY list.) Or use Guided Keyword  Input last name first for personal author name search.
BY CORPORATE AUTHOR (for example United Nations)  Use Basic Search (Select search type Author from SEARCH BY list.) Or use Guided Keyword A corporate author is an organization like: Central Intelligence Agency or Ford Motor Corporation
BY TITLE (for example Gone with the Wind)  Use Basic Search (Select search type Title from SEARCH BY list.) Or use Guided Keyword Omit any initial article in the titles such as: A, An, or The
BY JOURNAL TITLE (for example Journal of Counseling)  Use Basic Search (Select search type Journal Title from SEARCH BY list.) Omit any initial article in the titles such as: A, An, or The
BY KEYWORDS IN TITLES, SUBJECTS OR NOTES   Use Basic Search (Select search type Keyword-relevance or Keyword-Boolean from SEARCH BY list.) For example: gifted and assessment) Or use Guided Keyword. WARNING Any phrase searches must be in quotation marks, for example "acid rain"
BY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS  (see Lib. of Congress Subject Headings for help.)   Use Basic Search Select Subject Headings search type from SEARCH BY list.) Or use Guided Keyword  WARNING: If you fail to use a recognized subject heading your search will fail.
BY CALL NUMBER (for example: LB 1028.A6x)  Use Basic Search Select search type Call Number from SEARCH BY list.)) Or use Guided Keyword  Each call number such as LB1050 represents a specific subject area in the collection.
BY A SPECIFIC LIBRARY COLLECTION OR LOCATION (for example to search only video & film collection limit to Videotapes Coll., Sangren)  Use Basic Search then use the Simple Limits list to set search limits. Drop down lists will allow you to limit by location, collection, or materials type.
BY COURSE RESERVE LIST  Use Course Reserves  Drop down lists will allow you to limit reserve search by instructor and/or course number or both.