Health Sciences - Evidence Based Research Guide: Find Books & eBooks

If you just want to browse parts of the library's collection to discover books of interest, knowing what call number section to look in will help you. Books in OCC's Coulter Library are organized by Library of Congress Classification System. Each call number starts with a letter of the alphabet. Each letter represents a subject area. For the health professions you may be interested in the medical-related subject headings (R is the general classification for Medicine, below are some relevant medical sub-classifications)

• RD 1-811 Surgery
• RM 695-893 Physical medicine. Physical therapy (including massage, exercise, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, thermotherapy, electrotherapy)
• RT 1-120 Nursing (RT 89-120 Specialties in nursing)

Enter a book title, keywords or topic into the search box. Select "Books & eBooks from the drop down menu. (Figure 1). Click on "Search."

Figure 1

At your results list, use any of the limits in the left side bar to further refine and narrow your list to fewer results.  You can filter to eBooks that are Available Online or to physical books Held by Coulter Library. You can also use the pull down menu labeled Resource Type if you are looking specifically for videos or music. (Figure 2).

Figure 2

When you select an eBook, click the link within the book record to either view online or download the entire book or individual chapters or pages. 

To locate a physical item that is IN the Coulter Library, be sure to write down the Call Number so you know where to locate it on the shelves.

Librarians are always available to assist you with finding both reference titles that you can use while in the Library and/or circulating items that you can check out. 

About your search results: 

•  If you see the word “Media” in the call number column, the item is a CD or DVD.
•  If you see “REF” in front of the call number, the item is a Reference work. Reference titles are shelved in the Reference area on the second floor and must be used in the library.
•  If you are not getting any search results: check your spelling. If your spelling is correct, try your search using other keywords. If you still are not getting results, ask the librarian for assistance.