Search for a Specific Book

Use the catalog search box on the Library home page to find print books and eBooks by searching for the title, author, or the subject with keywords. This will search for books held by the PSU Library, Summit Libraries, and selected eBooks.

Search for Print Books and eBooks

After you run your search, select print books and/or eBooks under Resource Type. If the option to limit your search to print books or eBooks is not shown, you can expand the list by selecting Show More.

Search for Print Books on the Shelf at the PSU Library

Go to the top filter, Availability, and select On the Shelf at PSU for books that you can check out immediately.

Browse for More Books on Your Topic

PSU Library has five floors of books! Since our books are shelved by subject, it is best to search the catalog to find a few books on your topic, then browse the shelves around that book to find more pertinent books. Enter keywords that describe your topic. Determine a relevant book, then look at the full record to find Subjects (under Details). Select a relevant subject link to find more books on your topic. This image shows the Subjects highlighted under Details in the full record.

Find the item on the shelf by the call number and the location. Once you find the book, intellectually browse the area for more books about your topic.

Request Books from Summit

Sometimes PSU does not have a book available, but you can still request the book from another Summit library. When you request a book through Summit, it takes about 3-5 business days to get it at the PSU Library. You will be notified at your PSU email. Remember, you cannot request e-books through Summit.

Search for eBooks

Search the PSU Library catalog for eBooks. Under Resource Type, choose eBooks.

Search for eBooks

Search the PSU Library catalog for eBooks. Select eBooks under Resource Type. Select the link for Online Access. For more information about eBooks, visit the Library's guide about Finding and Using eBooks.

Is this Book Scholarly?

There are several clues to determine whether a book is scholarly or not:

Publisher: Who is the publisher? Do they specialize in this field? Is it published by a University Press such as  Oxford University Press, or Indiana University Press? Take a look at the publisher’s website if you are unsure of their subject.

Bias: Does the publisher have a religious or political affiliation? Consider how this affiliation might affect the scholarship or content of the book.

Authority: Who is the author? Do they have credentials that give them authority on the subject? Are they recognized by other scholars in the field?

Cited Sources: Scholarly books will have cited references or a bibliography. Most books written for general audiences will not. Consider the quality of the sources. Note if the bibliographies include scholarly journal articles, primary sources as well as other scholarly books by experts in the field.

Content: Consider accuracy, bias, audience appropriateness, graphics, charts, and illustrations. Note a book's structure or paratextual organization such as preface, introduction, table of contents, conclusion, and index. 

Search for Reviews and literary criticism of books and articles to learn more about the background and context of the work. These reviews are usually written by scholars and provide additional information.

Search for Textbooks

Search the PSU Library catalog to see if PSU Library or a Summit library holds a particular textbook. Note that not every textbook can be loaned through the Summit system. This image shows a search in the PSU Library catalog for a specific textbook.

Your textbook may also be available on Course Reserve. Select the Course Reserves tab to the left of the main search box, then type in your course number, the title of your textbook, or the last name of your professor. This image shows where to search for an item on course reserve.

Search for Books on Your Topic

Enter a keyword that describes your topic. Keep your search simple to find a book that is relevant. When you find a suitable book, select the item to read the Table of Contents under Details. Look for a chapter on your topic. 

Write down the general location of the book and the call number. When you find a relevant book, be sure to intellectually browse the shelves around it for more books on your topic.