How do I...? 

Search PILOT by entering your terms into the search boxes as shown below:

If your search was successful, you will see a list of records for available items. Here's a sample record which contains information on how to locate the item and find more like it:

(To learn how to read Library of Congress call numbers, click here or on the image above.)

You can do additional things from within a PILOT record, such as:

• Place a ‘Request’:  you can request a book that is checked out be 'held' for you when it is returned
• Text yourself a call number: send the book's call number to your cell phone via text messaging
• View ‘Account Info’: view a list of the books you have checked out and renew them before they are due      
• Set ‘Search Limits’:  limit your search by date, location, language, format, etc. 

• Use ‘UBorrow’: search another PASSHE library’s catalog and request a book from them

More search tips and strategies:

• View a brief tutorial and play a game to learn how to read Library of Congress call numbers here.
• Experiment with different search terms, search options, and search limits

• If you get unexpected results, make sure the correct operator is selected: 

'Any of these' means OR
'All of these' means AND
'As a phrase' means the words must appear in that order

• If you get no results, check your spelling (PILOT does not spell-check!)
• If you get MORE results than you want, NARROW your search: pick more precise keywords, limit to a specific field, like a title keyword search, or add more keywords to your search
• If you get FEWER results than you want, BROADEN your search: pick broader terms, search by Keyword anywhere, or use fewer search terms
• Give yourself some extra time. If you use UBorrow or request a hold, the item might come as quick as 3 days, or as long as two weeks
• Re-search is to search more than once!  Search for resources, then read/skim what you’ve found. Search again
• When you’ve found a book you like, look for the book’s “subject terms” (sometimes called descriptors).  Then you can do a subject search with these terms
• Never underestimate the value of a book!  For research, you may not need to read the entire book or even an entire chapter.  Use the index or table of contents to find what you need

• Ask questions of your instructor, peers and librarians! 

For more help, contact a reference librarian

• Remember that you can always get help with your research from your friendly Reference Librarians! Stop by the reference desk on the 2nd floor of Andruss Library, call 570-389-4205, find us on Facebook (sign in first), or send an email request to Ask a BU Librarian using this page. You can also make an appointment for a individual consultation with the subject librarian for your class. Ask at the Reference Desk for more information.

Adapted from Ann Marshall, University of Rochester.