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BC 302: Broadcast Research and Writing II (JP Stierman): Books

Catalog

Graphic of computer with card catalog on screen.

From the WIU library homepage, there is a section that lets you search for most of the items that are available by the WIU libraries.  You can access information like:

  • The Library Catalog
  • Databases
  • Journal and Article Information 

All the tabs let you access some or all of the recorded information about content the library has. These tabbed areas are basically individual search engines that point in some way to most everything the library has. Look at the screenshot to the right.

Subject Headings Defined

Subject headings are a controlled vocabulary. A single term or phrase is determined by an authority (Library Congress or a database vendor) to describe a subject. For example, try searching for the subject "sources" in West-Cat and note that the subject term "sources" is added to a library item when it is considered by the Library of Congress to include primary sources. This can be very useful as you look for history in primary sources.

Other useful Library of Congress Subject Headings include:

  • military life
  • social life and customs
  • world war, 1939-1945--social aspects
  • material culture
  • social conditions
  • golf--history
  •  

 

WestCat/I-Share

WestCat
An online catalog of the University Libraries’ books, periodicals and other library materials. Searchable from the library homepage (http://www.wiu.edu/libraries). If WestCat does not have what you need, search I-Share, a catalog of 76 libraries, mostly academic, in Illinois. WestCat, I-Share, and WorldCat all use Library of Congress Subject Headings.
 

I-Share
I-Share has changed. To use I-Share, create an account. Though a pain at first, having an account will make the book borrowing process much easier than in the past.

Accessing the Catalog

From the Libray Homepage

Screenshot of the Westcat interface from the WIU libraries website.

The WestCat Catalog Tabs

From the Westcat homepage

WestCat Banner

WestCat Menu

The library WestCat catalog has a series of tabs at the top of the page. These tabs are links to helpful tools available that will assist you with searching the catalog.