• Do not use too many words in your search; more than three is usually too many
• If you get no hits, your words may be too specific; broaden your search by using the more general subject to search; you might retrieve books that include the information for which you are looking. For instance:
       
             Suffolk Downs - no hits retrieved versus
             Racetracks - four hits retrieved
   
• Use the drop down menu options to tighten your search (author, title, etc.)
• Spell things correctly - there is NO automatic spell check
• Stay aware of adding or leaving off a plural  "s" on words - there is NO automatic single search for both plural & singular versions of the same word. For instance:
       
             architect - 974 hits retrieved versus
             architects - 2,139 hits retrieved
   
• Put a "?" at the end of a word to search the stem i.e. architect? will search architect, architects, architecture, architectural, etc.
   

Using Subject Headings:

Subject headings can help you find books more precisely about your topic. Once you find a book listing that looks good to you, follow these steps to find the subject headings associated with it

1. Click on the title from the results list.
2. Click on the Detailed Record tab
3. Near the middle of the record is the hyperlinked Subject Headings list
4. Click on the heading that best suits your topic.
5. An alphabetical list of subject headings appears.
6. Click on one to see all of the books tagged with that subject heading.

If you are not sure of the exact terms, please consult a Reference Librarian for assistance with the Library of Congress Subject Headings.

Reading Call Numbers to Locate Your Books:

WIT Alumni Library uses the Dewey Decimal system to organize its books. Books about the same topic have similar call numbers falling under these broad categories:
 

000 – Computer science, information, &  general works 100 – Philosophy and psychology 200 – Religion 300 – Social sciences 400 – Language

500 – Science 600 – Technology 700 – Arts and recreation 800 – Literature 900 – History and geography

These subjects are broken up into subcategories by using more numbers to specify the topic. For instance:

• 600 – Technology
•   620 – Engineering
•     624 – Civil Engineering
•       624.1 - Structural Engineering & Underground Construction
•          624.15 - Foundation Engineering and Engineering Geology
•             624.151 - Engineering Geology
•                624.1513 - Rock and Soil Mechanics
•                   624.15136 - Soil Mechanics
•                      624.15136 .L58 2008 - Soils and Foundations by Cheng Liu and Jack B. Evett.

The final number in the above list is a specific book held Wentworth Alumni Library. Except fiction and reference materials, all books are arranged numerically on the second floor.  The higher the number after the decimal point, the later it will come on the shelf. For instance, 624.151 comes before 624.56.

Make sure you browse the shelf to see whether neighboring books might help with your research.

rz 08/08