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General Guide to Library Research

How to Access Millions of Items

Use the Library Catalog to find books, ebooks, videos, articles & more.  

We are a member of Summit, giving you access to millions of items -- delivered right to Oregon Tech! These are included when you search our catalog.

 

Sign In, for Best Results

Before searching, sign in to:

  • See all available options to get full text
  • Easily request items through Summit or Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
  • Seamlessly get into databases and ebooks
  • "Pin" items to come back to later

Catalog with arrow pointing to "Sign in"

Understanding Your Results

The results screen lists brief information about each item.

Click the Title of any item to see more details and view access options.

Screenshot of results screen with format of item, availability, and save links highlighted

Refining Your Results

After searching, you can refine your results. Popular options include:

Screenshot of Refine my results catalog bar

Availability

Full Text Online & Open Access = read online now
Held by Library = physically located in the library

 

Resource Type

Narrow to particular types of resources
Online studentsTry Article, Ebook or Evideo

 

Date

Focus on a particular publication date or range

 

Library

Find items physically located at your campus library

 

Getting Print Books (and other physical items)

After clicking on a specific title:

  • Use the call number to get item from the shelf OR

  • Use Request option to place a hold and pick up item at your library

 

Screenshot showing where to find the call number of a book and where the Request button is.

Getting Summit Items

Summit gives you access to millions of items from other schools in the northwest. Summit items appear when you search the library catalog but they don't have a call number. Instead, you'll see "Get It from Other Institutions". To start a request, sign in (if you aren't already):

How to get it screen for Summit Items

After signing in, you'll see a "Request through Summit" option:

Screenshot with arrow pointing to "Request through Summit (About 5 days)" link

Click on that link and follow the prompts to request the item. Summit items arrive within 5 days and you'll get a notification email. Just come to the help desk in the library to pick up your Summit item.

Accessing Ebooks & Evideos

After clicking a specific title, look for link under View Online:

Screenshot showing the "View it" section of the ebook record, with a link to access it through Ebook Central

Ebooks can be read on any computer -- no special device required.

Accessing Articles via the Library Catalog

The catalog also provides access to articles.

When full text is available, you see options in the View Online section:

Screenshot showing a list of three database names as clickable links, with the words "Places it found the article. Click link to read." superimposed on the image.

If full text is not immediately available, you'll see a link to request the item:

Screenshot of article page with an arrow pointing toward the link to request through interlibrary loan

Sign-in using your TechWeb login, and we'll email the article to you when it arrives.