The UCSC library catalog is CRUZCAT (cruzcat.ucsc.edu/) and it includes materials at the McHenry and the Science & Engineering Libraries . It helps you you to locate books, government publications, maps, music scores, films and more and can even tell you if an item is checked out or not. It does not, however, help you locate journal articles or include the full text of articles.

Another resource for locating books is the MELVYL Catalog (melvyl.cdlib.org), an even bigger online catalog that lists most of the library materials held at the nine UC campuses and other California academic libraries.

CRUZCAT Search Tip

When looking for items on a topic or subject, you might want to consider trying a KEYWORD search (cruzcat.ucsc.edu/search/X) instead of a Subject search. Combine multiple terms with the words "and" or "or". Keyword searching is a bit more flexible in the way it searches and may retrieve a wider variety of results as you begin your research.

Get ideas for additional search terms

MELVYL and CRUZCAT use Library of Congress Subject Headings (large red books at the Reference Desk) to describe each item. These subject headings are slow to change and sometimes seem removed from contemporary usage; they are, however, extremely useful in locating books and articles. A quick look through these volumes can be a useful step in locating useful key words and phrases to search on

Find your book in the Library

The Library has a useful guide "Use Call Numbers" (library.ucsc.edu/ref/howto/call_numbers.html) that will help you learn how to read a call number as well as locate where your book is located in the building.