Research Guides: TSL 510 Research Guide: Finding Books

Library Catalogs & Search Strategies

Using Libraries
Search Strategies & Tips

ODU Library Catalog
Search in the ODU Library Catalog for items in our collection in print and online through OPAL.
You can then expand your search to libraries statewide by clicking on the OhioLINK button near the top of the screen.
Columbus Metropolitan Library & its Branches
Columbus Metropolitan Library is located downtown; it's many branches are located throughout Columbus, including Shepard's branch, one block from ODU.
OPLIN: Find an Ohio Public Library Near You
Search for a public library in Ohio by county.

WorldCat (public version) This link opens in a new window
Search books worldwide! Helpful if you need just a copy of a single chapter, which might be possible through Interlibrary Loan.
Or if you are not in Ohio & want to find a copy in a library near you.

Be sure to look at our Strategies & Tips too--See the tab above!

You may need to look at books in multiple libraries. Start your searching early—this takes time!

Searching in ODU Library Catalog through OPAL:

ODU Library Catalog guide (PDF)

Here are a few tips for researching for an annotated bibliography:

A book can often provide a list of cited references or can itself be a bibliography or have a chapter that is a bibliographic essay.
A bibliography or biography or encyclopedia is a good place to start your research. Each of these items wll provide lists of works, sometimes annotated.
Public libraries are good for language dictionaries & grammar books.
Academic libraries will connect you with the scholarly research as well as language dictionaries & grammar resources.

You can focus on books on a topic or language (for example, Somali language) often with a Subject Search

ODU Library Catalog subject search

Once you do that, if you find a good resource, you can click on that book's title and view the subjects there. You may, for example find good bilingual dictionaries that way:

ODU Library Catalog search results ODU Library Catalog record with subject links