Research Guides: English 1B: Prof. Osburg: How do I find books?

1. Watch these videos to learn how to find books and ebooks at the library.

2. Try your topic using the search box below. A new tab will open. Switch the "Everything" dropdown menu to "Books & Media".

3. Need help? Click the tabs below for more directions on using OneSearch.

After clicking "Search" a new tab will open with a search results page. From there, a list of results is located in the middle of the page.

Available At: Physical items such as books will indicate a location and a call number after the words "Available at...". The call number is the letter and number combination in parentheses and should be written down to find the matching call number on the item's spine.
Access Online: Electronic articles and e-books are accessible by clicking on "Available Online". If off campus, you will be prompted to log in using your Lobos Apps information.

Screen shot of two library items found in One Search. Two Circles around the location to find the items. One available online and the other through the Main Stacks of the library.

Click on the tab "Limit to Just E-books" above these directions to view the library's online collection.

After clicking "Search", refine your results to just e-books on the left-hand side.
Under "Limit To", click on "Online Resources" to get results that can be accessed full text online.
Under "Type of Resource", click on "books".

Screenshot of online resources selected Screenshot of book filter selected

When you find an e-book, click on "Available Online" to see the full record. You will need to log in using your MPC Lobos Apps username and password.

Screenshot of the search results. Focus on an ebook record and an arrow pointing at the words Available Online.

Books in the library's main collection (not including textbooks found in course reserves) can be requested ahead of time and picked up at the Circulation Desk. (Spring 2024: Pick up requested books in the event room (Karas Room) to the right of the library's main entrance.)

Find a book you want to borrow. Click on the book's title.

screenshot of a book in Onesearch. Pointer clicking on the title to get into its record.

On the book's record, under "Get it", click on "Sign in".

Screenshot from a book record. "Please sign in to check if there are any request options. Sign in.

After signing in with your Lobo Apps account, click on "Request". Then "Send Request".

Screenshot from a book record. Get it Request: Request button to click.

You will receive an email when it is ready for pick up.

Literary Criticism

(“Brown Books” –Located on the Main Floor of the MPC Library by the bay windows)

We have a collection of literary criticism books that are excellent resources for finding multiple criticisms of authors and their works. You can use the indexes in the back of these books to search for content (always go to the highest numbered volume to see the comprehensive listings) or you can use the Online Searchable Index for these books that is listed below. If you have any questions on how to use or search these books you can ask for help at the reference desk.

Twentieth Century Literary Criticism (TCLC)

REF PN 94 .G2

Volumes 1-169

Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC)

REF PN 771 .C59

Volumes 1-122

Short Story Criticism (SSC)

REF PN 3373 .S56

Volumes 1-85

Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism (NCLC)

REF PN 761 .N5

Volumes 1-22